Landfill file grows

A law the Iberia Parish Council and Acadiana Airport Authority sought, Gordon Doerle hopes a state district court will rule as unconstitutional.

State Rep. Simone Champagne, D-Jeanerette, and state Sen. Troy Hebert, D-Jeanerette, said it was at the request of the airport, the Parish Council and Teche Area residents that they sponsored a state law this year to prevent solid waste facilities from operating within 5,000 feet of any main airport runway in parishes with a population of 70,000-75,000 people.

Doerle’s pickup station and proposed landfill expansion are located approximately 3,400 feet from the airport runway, Airport Director Jason Devillier said.

Iberia Parish is the only parish with a population of 70,000-75,000 people, making Doerle’s landfill and Iberia Parish the only two entities affected by the law, according to court documents.

Doerle challenged the constitutionality of the law in a Baton Rouge district court Sept. 25, arguing the law is unconstitutional because it applies only to him.

A district judge granted a temporary injunction at the hearing, which temporarily prohibits the state from enforcing the law until the full case can be heard in Baton Rouge Nov. 15.

Hebert said he cannot comment on the lawsuit because it is pending litigation, but added he is confused about the settlement between Doerle and the parish.

“If these facts have changed, I have no problem moving on from this,” Hebert said.

“I think that not only myself as a legislator, but local entities are trying to protect the safety of the airport and not trading it in for a landfill.”

Hebert was told by airport experts a landfill does create safety hazards near runways and also affects the marketability of the airport to businesses looking to use the facility, he said.

“I laid my decisions to move forward not based on anything personal, not for elections, but because I have obligations and responsibilities as a senator,” Hebert said.

“Now I’m being criticized and blamed for trying to hurt somebody when I’m trying to protect our biggest asset.”

Champagne said she, like Hebert, was approached by the airport and the Parish Council and asked to support “legislation that would not allow a landfill to encroach the runway.”

After researching the issue, getting a 13-1 vote for a resolution of support for legislation from the Parish Council and gathering letters from the FAA, she decided to support legislation.

Champagne said she believes Doerle is “a good businessman and runs a good landfill,” but for her it came down to economic growth of the airport.

“We have so many economic and cultural treasures; the Acadiana Regional Airport is one of those treasures,” she said.

Champagne said she sees opportunities with Gov. Bobby Jindal’s administration for the area to receive major economic benefits such as industry to relocate and funding from the state.

State Rep. Taylor Barras, though he was present and casting other votes that day, including those immediately prior and after, is listed as “absent.”

Barras said he was unable to comment.

“Senator Hebert and Representative Champagne, they went to bat for the people and Parish Council, and also the Airport Authority,” said local farmer Mac Viator.