Toyon Canyon Landfill facts for kids
The Toyon Canyon Landfill was a controversial landfill wholly within Los Angeles' Griffith Park. Filling began in 1957 and ended in 1985. A lawsuit in 1959 attempted to stop the project but was unsuccessful. A summary of the lawsuit is available here. There was a move in the 1980s to expand the landfill into Royce's Canyon, but that was defeated.
Landfill gas is collected from the decomposing waste and used for power generation. The landfill is managed by the Los Angeles Bureau of Sanitation which plans to have "low intensity open meadow area intended for passive recreational activities". The landfill was 'closed' (to the specifications of the regulatory agencies) as of December 31, 2008. The landfill will be maintained and monitored in accordance with SCAQMD 1150.1, provisions of AB 32, and other regulations for at least 30 years. The landfill is being landscaped with native plants (such as: Toyon, Oak, California poppy, Lupine, among others), while non-natives (such as mustard and tumbleweed) are being actively removed.
In June 2012 the Los Angeles Regional Water Quality Control Board approved a revised Waste Discharge Requirements (permit) for Toyon Canyon, after opportunity for public input. It took effect July 1, 2012.
The landfill is clearly visible from the California Routes 2 & 134 and Interstate 5 freeways in Los Angeles and from the surrounding hillsides. It's also visible on Google Earth. ( 34° 8'38.36"N 118°18'6.29"W)
During the May 2007 fire in Griffith Park, the helispot was used to help fight the fire. At times there were two choppers on the pad and one waiting to tank up.
Technical data
- Filled Area: 90 acres (360,000 m2)
- Total Weight of Trash: 16,000,000 tons
- Total Volume of fill: 30,700,000 cubic yards
- Type of Material Disposed of: Class III waste (residential garbage, street sweepings, Construction and demolition waste)
- Number of Gas Extraction Wells: 200 approx.
- Active Groundwater Monitoring Wells: 13
- Landfill Gas Migration Monitoring Probes: 16 (single and multi-depth)
- Ambient Air Monitoring Stations: 2
- AQMD Site permits (on AQMD's site with emissions and compliance data): LA City, Power Plant - current, and Power Plant - older.
- Power Generation Equipment: 2 internal combustion engines
- Power Plant Owner: Montauk Energy
- Power Plant Operator: SCS Engineers
- Landfill Gas Flare: John Zink 8-foot (2.4 m) diameter, 5 burner tips, 2000 cfm capacity (on standby).
- Regulatory Agencies: United States Environmental Protection Agency, Cal. EPA, California Integrated Waste Management Board, California Air Resources Board, SCAQMD, State Water Resources Control Board - Los Angeles, City of Los Angeles - Industrial Waste Management Division, and City of Los Angeles - Environmental Affairs Department - Local Enforcement Agency.
Movies and television
Like much of Los Angeles and Southern California, Griffith Park has been used in countless movies and television shows. Toyon Canyon, the adjoining section Mt. Hollywood Drive, and associated areas have appeared in the following (among others):
- Ghost Whisper - several times
- E.R. - doubling for Croatia
- Terminator 3
- Grey's Anatomy - the crash that leads to the death of Dr. McDreamy
- Scorpion - 2 episodes
- Mad Men
- Jericho
- Criminal Minds
- The Unit
- Splinter
- The Fast and the Furious
- 2 Fast 2 Furious
- The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift
- Sons of Anarchy
- numerous commercials for cars
- a music video
- several student films
