The owners of the regional landfill near Graham are asking for permission to keep it open another 25 to 35 years. Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department has received an application to modify the solid-waste permit for the Landfill Recovery Inc. (LRI) landfill, which is located near the intersection of State Route 161 and 304th Street. The department is asking for the public to submit comments on the proposed change by June 30 as part of its review of LRI's request. If approved, the modification would change the permit's duration from a fixed 10 years to a period equaling the remaining operational phase of the landfill's life, which is projected to be another 25 to 35 years, according to Health Department officials. They and LRI said the number of years depends on factors affecting the landfill such as Pierce County's population growth, economic activity and the success of recycling and diversion programs. The current permit was granted in 2006 and is scheduled to expire Feb. 6, 2016. The privately operated landfill opened in December 1999. Through 2011, about 10.7 million tons of waste were hauled to the 320-acre site. That left the landfill's remaining capacity for waste at 20 million tons, according to the Health Department. In the company's written request that was made to the Health Department in March, John Rodgers, an LRI vice president, stated there would be no changes to the landfill's design, uses or the way it's operated. The Health Department said environmental monitoring and other conditions for the landfill, including annual reviews of the permit, will continue. Andy Comstock, environmental health manager for the Health Department, said the agency will base its decision "on thoughtful consideration of any potential impacts. We want to hear any comments or concerns from the community regarding this proposal.GÇ¥ Comments can be made to Comstock by e-mail at ehsolidwaste@tpchd.org or by postal mail at Environmental Health DivisionGÇôWaste Management, Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department, 3629 S. D St., MS 1045, Tacoma, WA 98418-6813. More information about the proposed, current and previous LRI permits and solid-waste regulations is available on the Health Department's web site at www.tpchd.org/lri. LRI owns and operates the landfill, which is used by commercial haulers. The general public doesn't have access to it. LRI was formed in 1977 after the county privatized its solid-waste disposal system. Until 1977, the county operated the Hidden Valley Landfill, located near SR-161 between Graham and South Hill. The site was leased by the county from a private developer until it was taken over by LRI. It now is a recycling center owned by LRI. LRI is part of Waste Connections Inc., a solid-waste services company based in Folsom, Calif. It has businesses throughout the U.S.
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