THE SIGNAL

“Chiquita Canyon faces growing concerns”

A lawyer representing Castaic and Val Verde residents suing L.A. County and Chiquita Canyon Landfill trying to shut down the facility over its nauseating smell was grateful that Judge Stephen Goorvitch is considering the plaintiffs’ arguments.  

Goorvitch ruled in June that residents did not have standing to challenge the conditional use permit the county granted the landfill in 2017.  

However, Oshea Orchid, a Castaic Area Town Council member and attorney, said Wednesday the judge is considering the evidence from the plaintiffs — that the excavating, drilling, opening up the scrim, and all of the other work to deal with the landfill’s reaction — is causing a community health impact and should be something that’s subject to an environmental review and subject to challenge by the plaintiffs.