Las Vegas NowAppeals panel: No landfill near Calf. nat'l park
Associated Press - November 10, 2009 10:45 PM ET
JOSHUA TREE, Calif. (AP) - A federal appeals court panel has upheld a 2005 court decision that effectively halted the development of what would have been 1 of the nation's largest landfills near Joshua Tree National Park.
The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals on Tuesday let stand a ruling that prevented development of the Eagle Mountain Landfill.
Kaiser Ventures of Ontario wanted to develop the dump, which would have received 20,000 tons of trash daily.
Two farmers sued more than 20 years ago to stop a Bureau of Land Management deal necessary for the development. The National Parks Conservation Association later joined the case.
Environmentalists say the ruling protects the endangered tortoises, bighorn sheep and other desert wildlife.
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