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Mr. Robert McClellon <br />June 15, 2012 <br />Page 2 <br />As both the permitting authority and the solid waste Local Enforcement <br />Agency with jurisdiction over Forward Landfill, the County's departments may not <br />ignore Forward's failure to operate legally and responsibly. Clean San Joaquin rightfully <br />expects that San Joaquin County will faithfully enforce all laws, regulations, and permits <br />governing the operation of Forward Landfill. <br />As soon as possible, please inform us of all steps that the County has taken <br />or intends to take to investigate this illegal activity and to enforce all applicable laws, <br />regulations, and permits. This letter constitutes a petition to the San Joaquin County <br />Environmental Health Department, as the Local Enforcement Agency, requesting a <br />hearing pursuant to Public Resources Code section 44307 to review the Department's <br />failure to act as required by State and local laws and regulations regarding solid waste <br />facilities. See Section II.A of this letter. Section III of this letter constitutes a request <br />under the California Public Records Act for any records relating to the activity on the <br />proposed expansion site, including communications between Forward, Inc. and the <br />County or its departments regarding this issue. We respectfully request that the County <br />expedite its response to this Public Records Act request. <br />I. Landfill Activities on the Proposed Expansion Site. <br />The proposed expansion site is an active agricultural parcel separate from <br />the current permitted landfill. Nevertheless, Clean San Joaquin has observed significant <br />landfill activities on this agricultural land, including the use of heavy machinery to <br />transport and dispose of substantial volumes of material from the current landfill onto the <br />expansion site. As you know, Clean San Joaquin's documentation of this illegal activity <br />includes video evidence and eyewitness accounts. <br />In response to Jeannie La Forge's calls, County staff explained that <br />Forward appeared to be building an emergency access road to the landfill. In addition, <br />staff verified that Forward was disposing of cannery waste on a portion of the expansion <br />site. (Telephone conversations between J. La Forge, R. McClellon, and J. Funderburg, <br />May 17, May 21, and May 24, 2012). Staff also informed Ms. La Forge that the County <br />intended to take enforcement action against Forward in connection with these activities. <br />We have reviewed the video evidence and eyewitness accounts and can find <br />no plausible explanation for Forward's activities on the 184 -acre site. This is a major <br />grading and road -building operation, and there is simply no conceivable agricultural <br />purpose for such a project. Although Jeannie La Forge discussed these activities with <br />you and John Funderburg on numerous occasions, we have no knowledge that the County <br />has taken any enforcement action against Forward in connection with these activities. <br />SHUTE MIHALY <br />&' WEINBERGERLLP <br />