Williams News Logo
Grand Canyon News Logo

Trusted local news leader for Williams AZ and the Grand Canyon

Local entities ponder<br>operating transfer station

A trash-hauling transfer station east of Tusayan could become operational again through a contract with Grand Canyon National Park. The community of Tusayan could also enter the picture if a fact-finding committee determines such a move could save locals money.

The transfer station near Tusayan has been closed since June 2001.

“We’re going to look at taking the thing over,” said John Beshears, director of maintenance for the park. “If the sanitary district has a desire to come in and do that, that’s great. But there are no guarantees that the Forest Service will let us take it over.”

The National Park Service hired Ash Fork Sanitation in June to haul trash out of Grand Canyon Village. A transfer station would ease hauling and reduce costs because fewer trips to a landfill would be necessary.

Coconino County currently holds permits to the site. Tusayan resident Greg Bryan, who has had a deep interest in the town’s trash-hauling services, said the county’s transfer station permit expires at the end of this year “and they would like to get out of it.”

The Forest Service, NPS and Tusayan representatives met with the county two weeks ago to study possibilities. The South Grand Canyon Sanitary District formed a committee to look at involvement.

If the NPS takes over the permit, an interagency agreement with the Forest Service would be created. But that could not include Tusayan. Still, the community could become involved down the road, but only through a district.

“The Park Service would take on the liability for reclamation for the two-acre site,” Bryan said. “John (Beshears) has indicated he would do that in the interim, and at such time when the community of Tusayan comes in, they would cancel the interagency agreement with the Forest Service and create some kind of relationship with us as a community.”

The sanitary district can operate the transfer station, but regulations prohibit garbage collection.

Liabilities regarding reclamation of the two-acre site was a major concern during Wednesday’s sanitary district meeting. There will be expenses once the permit reverts back to the Forest Service. Various estimates were thrown out on possible costs of reclamation, ranging from $15,000 to $60,000 or more.

The old landfill’s reclamation costs are the responsibility of Coconino County.

Another factor in the whole picture for Tusayan is the proposal for a co-regeneration plant. A feasibility study for that project is just beginning.

Bryan said the sanitary district could take over the permit, but that can be cancelled at any time if, for instance, the co-regeneration plant is built. There would, however, be those reclamation costs.

There were also questions about maintenance of the road leading to the transfer station. Currently, the county maintains the road with an access permit from the Forest Service.

Sanitary district president Pete Shearer had concerns over dust created from the road. In fact, Shearer mentioned the Moqui Lodge site as a possible alternative for a transfer station, although Xanterra’s contract does not expire until 2006.

Chris Thurston and other board members wanted more details on the scope of the sanitary district’s responsibility, especially possible reclamation costs. Therefore, a committee with Shearer, Bryan and accountant Chris Brainard was formed on a 4-0 vote.

The park’s landfill still operates, but is doing so on minimum standards. Beshears said about one ton of trash per month is taken there as an action to keep the landfill active. When the decision to close it completely occurs, it will cost the park about $4 million to take that action.


Donate Report a Typo Contact