Benton County commissioners continue appeal hearing on Coffin Butte landfill expansion after hours of opposition testimony

The Benton County Board of Commissioners on Oct. 28 continued a public hearing on Republic Services’ appeal of a planning commission denial of a conditional-use application to expand Coffin Butte Landfill, and left the written record open until Oct. 29 at 4 p.m. and the hearing continued to Nov. 4 at 1 p.m.

Opponents — including nearby residents, engineers, planners, environmental groups and local elected officials — told the board they believe the applicant has not met the county’s burden of proof under Benton County Code 53.215 (criteria addressing "serious interference," character of the area and undue burden on public services). Speakers cited multiple ongoing state and federal investigations, local health and safety concerns, and the county’s long history with the site.

"This is our last shot," said Jeffrey Kleinman, attorney for Valley Neighbors, during the evening session in which more than three dozen people testified. Kleinman urged the commissioners to treat eyewitness and community testimony as probative and said conditions proposed by staff do not reliably demonstrate the applicant can meet applicable land-use standards.

Academic and technical witnesses described environmental risks they said were insufficiently addressed in the application. Reading a written statement by Dr. John Selker, a water-resources…