To the Editor:
Laytonville, California, is a small rural community located in northern Mendocino County, along US Highway 101, the primary corridor connecting California’s north coastal region to the San Francisco Bay Area. This remote yet accessible location became the site of a landfill that has posed significant environmental and public health challenges.
Between 1968 and 1993, the Laytonville landfill, located adjacent to the Cahto Tribe Rancheria and a long established neighborhood, was used as a disposal site by entities such as PG&E, Caltrans, and Remco Corp. Unfortunately, the landfill was constructed without a liner to protect groundwater and was operated illegally as a burn dump, releasing hazardous smoke and ash into the community.
After the landfill’s closure in 1993, Mendocino County installed the first cap to prevent rainwater from seeping through the waste and into the groundwater. However, this cap has required multiple repairs and modifications including one planned for next year. In addition, the community continues to have concerns for methane and other gas emissions from the site.
Since the closure, oversight and remediation efforts by Mendocino County and the State of California have been challenged by staffing, technical and budgetary limits. While the Cahto Tribe has received limited federal grant funding through federal and state agencies including U.S. EPA and the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) for assessment, broader studies that include more of the community have been limited at best.
The community surrounding the landfill has long reported anecdotal evidence of unusually high cancer rates, and an informal 2018 survey by Greenaction for Health & Environmental Justice found that men and women in the area are 4.6 and 4.2 times more likely, respectively, to have cancer compared to state averages.
To raise awareness and catalyze change the Laytonville Alliance for Environmental Justice is hosting a Town Hall Meeting on Thursday, January 30, 2025 (see attached flyer for details). The meeting will feature Dr. Dietrick McGinnis, Ph.D., a respected expert in the assessment and management of groundwater and soil contamination. Dr. McGinnis will provide an informed assessment of the situation and discuss risk and possible solutions.
Local, state, Tribal and federal government authorities with jurisdiction over the Laytonville landfill have been invited to attend.
For further information, please contact us at 707-357-6045 or [email protected]. Thank you for considering this opportunity to help make a difference.
Jon spitz, Laytonville Read More Details
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