Other articles by Brian J. Pedersen:

Ground under road, park projects rich in history Kids' desert tips for newcomers Candidate charges conflict of interest Cops catch speeders in Thornydale work zone Ex-assistant chief's hearing to start Only Democratic candidates show up at District 25 debate Foothills swath chilly to annexing Luxury living takes long-range planning Paving of critical route nearly done Catalina Foothills annexation proposal likely over before it starts

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HYGEINE & DENTAL ASSIATANT General
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LANDCAPE FOREMAN & LABORERS Trades/Construction
Mechanical Systems, Inc.
Plumbing Suprintendent Finance and Accounting
Sierra Southwest Cooperative Services
Accounts Payable/Payroll Manager Health Care
Godwin Corp
Physician Assistant

As Pima County moves forward with its plan to close the Tangerine Landfill in Marana sometime next year, a private developer has started the process of getting a replacement facility up and running in southern Pinal County.

However, that wouldn't happen for quite a while.

The earliest CPE Development could open the landfill, planned for a parcel located about 10 miles northeast of Red Rock, is December 2010, project manager Ron Asta said.

"That's a very ambitious schedule," Asta said.

CPE submitted an application with Pinal County on May 21 for a comprehensive plan amendment, the first step toward developing Oklahoma landowner Susan E. Loosen's 499.6-acre property, Asta said.

A citizens advisory committee, appointed by the Pinal County Board of Supervisors, would likely review the amendment proposal in September, with a vote on the change to the comprehensive plan coming by the end of 2008.

After that, Asta said, the land would need to be rezoned, and CPE would need to get a landfill permit from the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality.

The landfill would serve an area spreading north to Eloy and south to Catalina, Marana and Oro Valley, Asta said.

People in that area currently take their trash to Tangerine, which will close between January and June of next year, said Beth Gorman, Pima County Department of Economic Quality program manager.

Pima County has no plans to open a replacement facility, Gorman said. Her office will recommend Tangerine users take their garbage to the next- closest facilities, which are transfer stations in Catalina and near Ryan Airfield on the far-southwest side of Tucson, or to Los Reales Landfill near Interstate 10 and South Alvernon Way.

The Catalina transfer station, though, currently only accepts green yard waste between February and July each year.

The closest landfills are just too far for many people on the Northwest Side, notes Marana Mayor Ed Honea.

Honea said he fears that once Tangerine closes, many people who used that facility will resort to wildcat dumping in the desert or into the Santa Cruz River.

"You've got a lot of people that have acre lots or bigger, and they have (tree) trimmings and lots of stuff like that," Honea said. "I think you're going to see lots of that dumped."

Marana Town Manager Mike Reuwsaat said CPE has asked him to write a letter of endorsement for the Pinal facility. He said he is in favor of the project.

"There has to be an option for people to bring their landfill materials," Reuwsaat said.