Editorial: Cleanup delay is terrible

Wednesday, May 17, 2000 | 9:20 a.m.

Last year it seemed as if there finally would be a resolution to cleaning up the old Sunrise Mountain landfill. After all, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency ordered Republic-Silver State Disposal Inc. and the county to immediately take steps to resolve the situation. While the landfill had stopped receiving garbage in 1993, flooding in September 1998 sent polluted debris spewing out. This garbage traveled four miles downhill into the Las Vegas Wash, which empties into Lake Mead, the valley's primary source of drinking water.

Following the EPA's order, Republic-Silver State accepted full responsibility for the cleanup as part of its 15-year contract extension with the county, which allowed the company to maintain its monopoly on garbage collection. But one year after the EPA demanded the cleanup, environmental regulators say not much has happened. As the Sun's Mary Manning reported Tuesday, the EPA on Friday sent a letter to both the county and the garbage company, warning them that they could face fines of up to $25,000 -- each day -- if the delays continue. In response, Republic-Silver State pledged that the company will respond to the order. And Clark County government officials indicated they understand the gravity contained in the EPA's letter. "Maybe it's not just a slap upside the head, maybe it's a slap with a two-by-four," County Comprehensive Planning Director John Sc hlegel acknowledged.

Well, whatever it is, the garbage company and the county better get cracking. Not only has the EPA lost its patience, but so, too, has the public. The failure to clean up this landfill has gone on long enough.