Local news briefs for February 22, 2001

Thursday, Feb. 22, 2001 | 11:32 a.m.

Materials recovery firm hit with action

A temporary restraining order was issued against Developer's Maintenance on Wednesday after the Clark County Health District investigated the materials recovery company and found it did not have an operating permit.

The health district received numerous complaints from residents living near the site, at Nellis Boulevard and Alto Avenue, according to health district officials. Public health risks included dust, rodents and insects, fires from improper waste storage and potentially hazardous waste materials.

The restraining order requires that the company stop all operations until it receives permits from the health district's Environmental Health Division, which is the solid waste management authority for the county. A hearing for a preliminary injunction was scheduled for March 7.

The health district is seeking an extended restraining order if the company has not met operating requirements and obtained a permit. The district could seek penalties up to $5,000 a day for each day the company remains out of compliance.

Crime victim program gets boost

The Department of Justice has awarded $871,000 to Nevada's Department of Human Resources to help support the state's crime victim compensation program.

The program pays claims for medical costs, lost wages, mental health counseling, funeral expenses and other costs victims incur as the result of violent crime.

The program is funded by fines and penalties paid by convicted federal criminals to compensate eligible crime victims.