By Joel Reese
Following an extensive study of the West Marin Sanitary Landfill, officials of the Regional Water Quality Control Board have concluded the dump is not a danger to Tomales Bay.

"We don't believe there's any impact on Tomales Bay," said Greg Bartow, a state engineer. "This landfill does not pose a threat to the bay."

The Regional Water Quality Control staff will present the findings to its board of directors at 9:30 a.m. Wednesday, Oct. 18, at BART Headquarters in Oakland. The address is 800 Madison St.

Bartow noted that the study, which he has worked on for the past several months, did find slightly elevated levels of leachate (dump juice) and inorganic salts in ground and surface water immediately adjacent to the landfill.

And he said organic compounds were detected in extremely low levels at landfill monitoring wells.

To correct the levels, Bartow said, the staff has recommended installing a cutoff wall, an interceptor trench, and horizontal wells.

However, Bartow said, the slightly elevated levels aren't any different from those from other unlined landfills he has seen throughout the state. He added that the levels don't pose any danger to fish or other marine animals.

"The levels are below those that would impact aquatic organisms," Bartow noted.

The Water Quality Control Board, along with State Assemblywoman Kerry Mazzoni and the county Department of Environmental Health, expect to hold a public meeting somewhere in Marin County to discuss the findings.

Bartow said a date has not yet been decided, but the meeting will probably take place around the end of November.