The end of the beginning in the New Orleans landfill dispute

In the latest chapter of an ongoing drama, a federal court judge in New Orleans denied Waste Management’s request for an injunction to keep the controversial Chef Menteur landfill open. According to the New Orleans Times-Picayune, the injunction was sought after New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin issued an order to close the site by Tuesday morning. The landfill has been a primary repository of debris from Hurricane Katrina. Following the ruling, the gates of the landfill were locked.

In a statement released after the court decision, Waste Management claimed the closure would slow New Orleans’ recovery from Katrina and announced its intention to revive the site through other means. The company has already filed a formal application for the necessary conditional use permit. Prospects for the application are dim, however, as it must be approved by the City Council, which is unanimously opposed to the facility.