A possible expansion of the Seven Mile Creek Landfill in Eau Claire County is back under discussion, according to an Oct. 15 Volume One report.
The proposal from GFL Environmental covers about 120 acres, including more than 80 acres that are part of the Eau Claire County Forest near the town of Seymour. County Administrator Jon Johnson said the expansion could add roughly 12 to 15 years to the landfill's operating life, and that the company is in its last currently permitted cell.
No formal expansion proposal has been submitted and no sale terms have been discussed, according to the report. Any use of county forest land would go through a Parks and Forest advisory review, county administrators and the Wisconsin DNR, and withdrawing forest land would require a two-thirds vote.
Neighbors have raised concerns at a Sept. 14 town hall and a Sept. 28 advisory committee meeting about the environment, property values and living near the site, while the county has opened a community interest form for comments.
County parks and forest staff are preparing a more detailed analysis of environmental, recreation and timber impacts and possible alternatives. That report could be ready for the committee's next meeting on Oct. 26 in Altoona.
