Expansion History
The landfill has been a problem for decades, but this timeline begins in 2020, when Republic Services signaled their intention to expand.
(You can decode the acronyms with our GLOSSARY!)
2026
April 2026: VNEQS, Sierra Club, Mid Willamette Bird Alliance, and a small group of individuals all file Motions to Intervene with LUBA (to bolster the County’s denial decision).
March 17, 2026: RS files Notice of Intent to Appeal (NOIA) to LUBA in response to BOC’s March 3 denial decision.
March 11, 2026: DEQ issues enforcement order – more than $3 million civil penalty (largest in state history, to-date) – to Coffin Butte Landfill for air quality violations.
March 3, 2026: BOC reverses their November 2:1 decision to approve – and now UNANIMOUSLY DENY RS’ application to expand. RS has 21 days to appeal this decision to LUBA.
February 24, 2026: BC planning staff releases their “Staff Report” recommending the BOC reverse their November 2-1 approval decision and now DENY RS’s expansion application, citing new evidence in the record (predominantly the DEQ PEN).
January 20, 2026: BOC votes to briefly re-open the record, get the DEQ Pre-Enforcement Notice (“PEN”) [identifying multiple violations of Oregon environmental law] into it, restrict public comment to written only, and only relating to the PEN and relevant County Code.
January 6, 2026: County Planning Director Petra Schuetz “explains” to BOC how “Staff will provide them with an update on the status of the process by which the county will reconsider their decision.” Then kicks the can down the road to Jan 20, for another “Public Hearing.”
January 2, 2026, afternoon: County changes tune again, yanking 11 AM “Public Hearing” from the Jan 6 agenda, replacing it with a “discussion” during their 9 AM “Work Session” instead. Still no public comment allowed.
January 2, 2026, morning: County changes tune, removes all language about Wyse explaining herself, commissioners discussing and dates/deadlines being determined from Jan 6 BOC meeting description. They replace it with an 11am “Public Hearing to reconsider their decision” on the meeting agenda. Still no public comment allowed.
January 1, 2026: County writes in timeline on their website that, during their regular meeting on Jan 6, BOC will be “reconsidering their decision [to approve expansion]” and that in that meeting, “Commissioner Wyse will explain her reason(s) for moving to withdraw the decision for reconsideration and how she hopes to proceed. All commissioners will discuss. Any additional steps needed and dates/deadlines will be determined during this discussion.” But no public comment will be allowed.
2025
December 16, 2025: Commissioner Wyse makes unannounced motion to “Withdraw for Reconsideration” the BOC’s 2-1 decision approving expansion. [There is a statute ORS 197.830(13)(b) which allows the County to withdraw for reconsideration any county decision that is appealed to LUBA.] This DOES NOT mean their decision has been reversed! All it means is they will pull it back under their own jurisdiction and “reconsider” it. It also means our appeal to LUBA will be “paused” for the duration of this “reconsideration.”
December 5, 2025: VNEQS officially files Notice of Intent to Appeal (NOIA) with LUBA.
November 18, 2025: BC posts “Notice of Decision,” simultaneously starting a 21-day clock for any appeal to LUBA and meeting its statutory requirement to conclude this land use process within 365 days of RS’s application being deemed complete.
November 17, 2025: With Commissioner Shepherd maintaining his denial vote, Commissioners Malone and Wyse vote to adopt decision approving expansion (effectively a new landfill!) “with conditions”
November 6, 2025: Oregon DEQ issues a “Pre-enforcement notice” (PEN) on the landfill, listing SEVEN Class I violations [Class I violations are the most serious violations, per DEQ]… a mere TWO DAYS after the BOC made their decision and the record closed.
November 4, 2025: Defying all logic and overwhelming evidence to support denial, BOC shocks all by APPROVING expansion in highly irregular proceeding that began with a motion to deny, then flipped last minute after a brief recess. Vote was 2-1; Commissioners Malone and Wyse approved, Commissioner Shepherd denied. Here is the youtube videorecording of BOC’s deliberations.
October 23, 2025: BOC hearing Day 2 ran 6 hours, ALL Opponent testimony. Here is the youtube videorecording of BOC hearing Day 2. BOC continued hearing to Nov 4, when they will deliberate and decide whether to approve or deny.
October 22, 2025: BOC hearing Day 1 ran 5 1/2 hours, starting with County Staff report then presentation by RS, followed by Proponent testimony then start of Opponent testimony. Here is the youtube videorecording of BOC hearing Day 1.
September 16, 2025: BC announces the public appeals hearing before the BOC will be on Oct 22 and 23. Due to the expected audience participation size, they’ve moved the location to the County Fairgrounds Auditorium on SW 53rd (instead of the County’s Kalapuya building, where the PC hearing was held). Verbal testimony will be limited to TWO minutes per speaker (instead of 3 minutes, as during the PC hearing).
August 12, 2025: RS appealed the PC’s unanimous denial – and requested (and was granted) a 60 day extension… which delays completion of the process until Nov 26 – the day before Thanksgiving. A de novo (i.e. brand new) public hearing will be held before the BOC sometime in October (dates TBA). Per county code RS cannot extend the process past Jan 15, 2026 (365 days from the date their application was originally deemed complete).
July 29, 2025: In an online-only meeting with over 150 attendees, PC fought hard to have the written record they would be adopting properly reflect their denial decision. The draft summary, prepared by outside attorney Melissa Ryan (hired by BC), inaccurately reflected their deliberations, so a few key changes were voted on before its formal adoption.
July 22, 2025: PC deliberated 4 1/2 hours then voted UNANIMOUSLY (in a 7-0 vote) to deny expansion! As neighbor Joel Geier said, “This is the best outcome we could’ve hoped for [at this stage] … A huge thank you to everyone who contributed to this community effort, whether by sending in written testimony, showing up to speak, donating to help with attorney fees and/or supporting the effort in other ways.” The PC’s decision is not “official” until “adopted” – scheduled to happen July 29. RS then has two weeks from the adoption date (until Aug 12) to appeal PC’s decision to the BOC, who must then hold a brand new (“de-novo”) hearing — and complete the process by Sept 27 unless granted an extension by RS. (RS cannot grant extensions past Jan 15, 2026, the one year anniversary of their application being deemed “complete”.) If BOC upholds PC’s denial, RS can then appeal to the state Land Use Board of Appeals (LUBA).
July 10, 2025: “Hearing Part 2” has now concluded; PC to deliberate and decide July 22 (to approve or deny) and then adopt their final written decision and findings on July 29. If PC denies, RS will have 14 days from the 29th to appeal to BOC. If PC approves… we will have that same 14 days to appeal. The “150 day deadline” for all proceedings up to and through a BOC appeals hearing is Sept 27… unless RS grants further extensions.
June 27, 2025: Hearing “Part 2” still scheduled for July 8 and 9 and deliberations still July 22, etc. (see June 8 entry, below) but we are growing tired of the County’s shell game with rules and dates. First we are told “PC can’t click on any links” in written testimony – then they can; or we “can’t submit video” – then we can; RS can hand printed materials to PC during the hearing, but the public can’t. Dates and instructions for what we can and cannot submit change without notice. The public record containing all our written testimony keeps changing, and has been so disorganized and mishandled we don’t know how the PC will ever be able to make sense of it.
June 8, 2025: June 17 is now only a formality to “continue” the hearing (i.e. start “Part 2”) onto July 8 and 9. Deliberations have been postponed until July 22 and a “meeting to adopt final written decision and findings” is scheduled for July 29. It is unclear whether we will know the PC’s “decision” on July 22, or not until July 29. We will have to wait and see.
May 11, 2025: BC completed public hearing process “Part 1” — a marathon session lasting over 4 evenings where staff, RS and the public all presented their cases and were questioned rigorously by the PC. With requests by attorneys on both sides for an extension, PC “continued” the hearing onto June 17 – the date originally slated for deliberation and decision (approve/deny). We are calling this new continuation “Part 2.” The new date for PC deliberation and decision is not yet known.
March 19, 2025: BC announces public hearing dates and officially opens the public comment period. Apr 29 will be for Staff Report, RS’s presentation and start of public testimony. May 1 and 6 are reserved for continuance of verbal testimony, if needed. Then June 17 the PC deliberates and decides (approve/deny).
February 28, 2025: BC announces expansion application is now complete and that the PC hearing is anticipated to be between April 1 and May 6.
January 30, 2025: BC now states RS met their statutory requirements for completeness on January 15, but requested (and was granted) a 58-day extension to the 150-day clock (See Aug 8, below for “clock” explanation).
January 15, 2025: BC still working on application “completeness” determination; public hearing date still not known. Planning officials are reviewing the latest materials along with independent consultant Winterbrook Planning.
2024
October 30, 2024: RS resubmitted its application to expand.
August 16, 2024: BC has determined RS’ application to expand is Incomplete. IMPORTANT: this is NOT a denial of expansion. The application is still active, it has simply been returned to Republic for additional information, which they have up to 180 days to provide. Note that Republic has the option to respond that they do not plan to submit any additional information – despite the County’s request – in which case the application will move ahead without further delay.
August 8, 2024: BC retained an outside land use planning consultant to help them determine, by August 16th, if RS’s application to expand is “complete.” If it’s not, it will be sent back to Republic to be fixed and resubmitted. A “150 day clock” starts when the application is deemed complete. Once started, the County must make their final decision (approve/deny) within those 150 days. This includes the PC’s public hearing and determination, as well as any appeal to and final decision by the BOC. All must happen within this time period (unless Republic agrees to extend the time).
July 19, 2024: RS applied to expand today and their propaganda machine is in high gear. They claim this expansion will be modest compared to the last, and the many wonderful (greenwashing) things they’re going to do if their wish to expand is granted. They are rolling out all the buzzwords: “Safe, environmentally responsible” they say. Their word is not to be trusted. The landfill is NOT safe and Republic Services is not environmentally responsible. If they get this expansion, there will be no end to future expansions. The “less than one year of life in the current disposal cell” is purposefully deceptive to create a false urgency: they have other permitted space they can move into and do not NEED this expansion. They WANT it though, as granting it lifts the last vestige of control the County holds over it: the annual intake volume cap.
July 9, 2024: RS announced they plan to submit their application to expand around July 18. Also, they were informed by Oregon Senator Jeff Merkley’s office that the ongoing EPA investigation of the landfill may entail enforcement action: presumably fines and enhanced requirements of remediation.
June 2024: BOC finally unsuspends/reinstates DSAC, largely with new committee members; first DSAC meeting held July 31st, 2024.
June 2024: RS has scheduled a “pre-application meeting” with the BC Planning Division. The pre-app meeting is the first step in the CUP application process – which means their application to expand is imminent.
April 2024: BCG approves “amended” DSAC bylaws with intention of resuming DSAC meetings. DSAC has not yet been reinstated. CDD Director is put on paid administrative leave pending internal investigation.
March 2024: The CDD Director brings back a revised draft of changes to DSAC bylaws, but community members alert the Board that it misrepresents the content and extent of changes, and the Board Chair remands the draft back to the Director for corrections.
March 2024: SMMP makes a determination and begins contract negotiations with an outside firm.
Jan 2024: The CDD Director brings a draft of extensive and drastic changes to DSAC bylaws to the Board, essentially stripping the community members of all autonomy. The Board sends the draft back for revision.
Jan 2024: The CDD Director informs the Planning Commission that a new landfill expansion application is in the works.
2023
Dec 2023: DSAC members counter the accusations against them and protest the suspension. These are stonewalled.
Nov 28, 2023: At a Board of Commissioners meeting, the Director of the county’s Community Development Department (CDD) delivers a slate of inflammatory accusations against DSAC members and asks the Board to suspend DSAC. The Board does so.
Nov 2023: BCG suddenly cancels DSAC’s planned meeting. Per its bylaws, DSAC calls its own meeting, but BCG threatens to report the meeting to the Oregon Ethics Commission.
Oct-Nov 2023: BCG stonewalls the public records requests and other necessary communications with DSAC.
Oct 2023: DSAC meets again, for the first time in over a year. BCG attempts to impose a limited agenda on the meeting, but the Committee stands on its bylaws and uses its own more open agenda, despite pressure from BCG. An audience member’s angry comment is heard or overheard, interpreted by some as a violent threat and others as an open mic moment.
Sept 2023: DSAC begins to prepare to meet again, and requests public records from BCG in order to continue work on the 2021 CCAR.
Sept 2023: The Board of Commissioners dissolves SWAC permanently.
May 2023: BCG now cancels SWAC and DSAC meetings indefinitely.
May 2023: BCG begins a process to develop a county Sustainable Materials Management Plan (SMMP) with a regional scope, to be contracted to an outside firm via a Request For Proposals (RFP). The SMMP includes a community component.
May 2023: BCTT concludes, releasing a report that’s over a thousand pages long.
Early 2023: BCTT continues to be overwhelmed, is extended and extended again. SWAC and DSAC are allowed to meet but only discuss BCTT.
2022
Oct 2022: BCTT begins, and quickly becomes overwhelmed with its task, as the county’s records about the landfill are a holy mess. BCTT convenes several subcommittees that study major questions in the areas of the landfill size and longevity, its history, its legal status, its solid waste ecosystem, and so on.
Sept 2022: BCG suddenly cancels the remaining SWAC and DSAC meetings for the year, again citing the priority of the BCTT.
July 2022: Unknown to the public at this time, an EPA investigator finds so many methane leaks at Coffin Butte Landfill – including some higher than his instrument was capable of measuring – that he runs out of marking flags. He issues a scathing report. (Report is in Documents Library)
July 2022: SWAC finds significant errors in the landfill’s 2021 Annual Report, and DSAC begins work on its Community Concerns Annual Report (CCAR), which will report on the hundreds of public concerns expressed to BCG during the application process in 2021.
Mid 2022: BCTT is being organized.
Apr 2022: BCG announces they wish to convene a “community-led fact-finding group” regarding the landfill. They limit the activities of SWAC and DSAC in favor of this new group, the Benton County Talks Trash workgroup (BCTT). BCTT expressly will not discuss any landfill expansion.
Mar 2022: RS withdraws its application entirely; the 2021 application is now dead. RS states they will apply again.
Early 2022: Turnover in SWAC & DSAC – many members of the public concerned with the landfill’s environmental impacts join and many old members leave.
2021
Dec 2021: RS immediately appeals the decision, which means that it is now slated to go before the Board of Commissioners. RS asks for an extension, so that it can prepare additional material (correct some application flaws).
Nov 2021: the county Planning Commission, which decides the application, receives dozens of written concerns and hears hours of oral testimony against the application, and subsequently vote to deny it 6-0.
Late 2021: Community members research the landfill, its application, its environmental impacts and permitting, its relationship to BCG etc. and uncover hundreds of arguments for denial of the application.
Oct 2021: The county’s community advisory groups, the Solid Waste Advisory Council (SWAC) and the Disposal Site Advisory Committee (DSAC), who are used to having little to no public participation, are now in the spotlight as dozens of community members sign on to speak in opposition to the application.
Mid 2021: community group VNEQS (Valley Neighbors for Environmental Quality and Safety) is formed.
Mid 2021: BCG begins the notification process about the expansion application (which is a proposed land use change), and a public groundswell of opposition begins.
Early 2021: RS begins working with BCG on the expansion application. As part of the application, RS had proposed that BCG reroute a major county arterial road, Coffin Butte Road. BCG recommends that the applicant ask for BCG to just close the road instead, which will be simpler.
2020
Dec 2020: BCG and RS sign the FA. It’s COVID days, and there is no public knowledge or involvement with the FA process.
Jan-Nov 2020: Benton County Government (BCG) learns from Republic Services (RS) that RS plans to apply to expand the landfill. BCG expects there to be no effective public opposition to the application, so they negotiate a new “bifurcated” Franchise Agreement (FA) with RS that gives BCG a bigger franchise payout if the expansion succeeds.