From: jc@optimla.aimla.com (John VanHoozer)
Newsgroups: rec.climbing,rec.backcountry
Subject: Re: Big new landfill next to J-Tree?
Date: 8 Jan 93 16:18:37 GMT
Organization: OptImage Interactive Services Co., L.P.

In article <24651@hacgate.SCG.HAC.COM>, tucker@shiva.edsg.hac.com (George Tucker) writes:
|> In article <eric.726372688@milton> eric@milton.u.washington.edu (Eric Hirst) writes:
|> >OK, here's the article I mentioned in a previous rec.climbing post (I'm
|> >putting on rec.backcountry now as well).  It appears to be from a Sierra
|> >Club or Wilderness Society type publication, dated November/December, but
|> >again I don't know the exact source and would appreciate if somebody could
|> >fill that in.  I would also appreciate comments from others more familiar
|> >with the project.
|> >
|> >**************************************************************************
|> >GIANT LANDFILL PLANNED NEAR JOSHUA TREE
|> >
|>  
|> >Mine Reclamation Corporation, the company proposing the project, would create
|> >the landfill at the site of an abandoned mine. Cities and counties in southern
|> A very large abandoned open-pit mine, not exactly pristine wilderness.
|>  
|> >"We keep calling it a giant experiment," said Bob Moon, Joshua Tree's
|> >chief of resources management.  According to Moon, there is little scientific
|> >information on the effects of landfills in places as pristine as the Joshua
|> >Tree area.  "We don't think they can prove beyond a shadow of doubt that it
|> >wouldn't have a significant impact on the monument," he said.
|> Within Joshua Tree there are also many old abandoned mines, several roads,
|> old ranches (some I believe still occupied), etc.  It is no more pristine 
|> than much of the surrounding desert area, although it has better protection
|> for the future even if people continue to inhabit Southern California
|> despite taxes, regulation, and bad cops.

Your argument is irrelavent.  Yes there are old roads, mines, and domiciles
with in the park perimeter.  Does that mean that we should trash it more?

As an example,  look at the Channel Islands National Park.  The closest of 
these is the island of Anacapa, 20 miles west of Ventura, Ca.  There is 
an old Light house there (operational,too) which pre-dates the park, much
as the mines, roads, and residents of J-Tree do.  Sea birds fly something
like 35 miles (each way) to get to the landfill in Ventura and return to the
islands.  The island is covered with plastic, paper, chicken bones, and other
crap.

This may or may not happen in J-Tree.  Do you want to find out?

|>  
|> >Noise from the project will be audible in wilderness areas of the park.
|> >The landfill will be visible from the park, especially as it grows into
|> >an artificial mountain in the project's later years.
|> If it is visible from any area frequented by humans, it would be the area
|> at the extreme southeast portion of the road (if I remember the map
|> directions correctly).  I have visited that area only once and was 
|> unable to spot the mine.  Most tourists spend their time at the other
|> end of the park.

Only once and couldn't spot the mine?  I can see that.  But the land fill
will be huge when it is running full tilt.

|>  
|> As I understand it, there is a widespread opinion that this is the
|> best site for a major landfill IF one must be created somewhere.  This
|> does not mean that the specifics of the existing proposal are optimal,
|> or that other means of reducing waste are superfluous, but it does
|> mean kneejerk opposition may be misplaced.  Do you know a better site?

It may well be the best site for the trash.  But will it be the best site for
the park?

|> 
|> 	 George Tucker        tucker@shiva.hac.com
|> 	Signature line awaiting FDA approval.
|> 

-- 
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John C. VanHoozer			     |
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Disclaimer:
   Opinions expressed are mine alone.

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