Residents opposed to Gordon Doerle’s landfill expansion and transfer station offered a few new arguments Thursday night in their effort to persuade the state Department of Environmental Quality to deny Doerle’s permit application.

About 100 residents flocked to an Iberia Parish courtroom for the DEQ public hearing, where residents spoke 14-1 in opposition of the proposal.

The public hearing brings DEQ one step closer to making its final decision on the permit, which if approved would allow Doerle to open a 60-acre construction and debris landfill and transfer station near the end of the Acadiana Regional Airport runway.

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New Iberia resident Wilma Subra, a chemist and environmental consultant, argued that DEQ was incorrect when it stated the permit application addresses all technical aspects.

Subra contends Doerle’s application is inconsistent in its cost-benefit analysis, which is supposed to illustrate how the benefits of the facility offset the environmental impact, she said.

In one section of the application, Doerle’s project manager says the application “demonstrates that the social and economic benefits of the facility outweigh the environmental impact,” Subra said.

But in another section, the application states that no “specific or formal” cost-benefit analysis has been done and is not warranted.

Subra said the application considered negative economic impacts on the community, but ignored the potential impact the site would have on the airport.

Various airport business tenants and pilots have repeatedly voiced concerns that the garbage operations and landfill will attract wildlife and increase the risk of bird strikes on aircraft landing on the runway.

Nearby residents say they feel confined to their houses because of the smell and dust that stem from the landfill, and claim the values on their homes have effectively decreased because of the site.

“The community members behind me that live near the garbage facility would disagree that the proposed expansion will not have a negative economic impact on them,” Subra said. “And you’ve heard a lot of issues tonight with the airport, so Gordon can’t say there are no negative economic impacts.”

Part of Doerle’s permit application details what DEQ has deemed a non-processing transfer station, where smaller trucks bring solid waste to a site, separate recyclables from household garbage and other materials, then load the materials onto larger trucks to be transferred to other sites.

DEQ does not require a state permit to operate a non-processing transfer station, but disposal or processing of materials is prohibited according to DEQ regulations, Subra said.

Subra and Julie DesOrmeaux Rosenzweig, lawyer for the group People Opposing Waste, said the facility will process materials that are acceptable for the co-existing construction and demolition — or C and D — landfill at an on-site separation facility, then dispose of those materials in the landfill.

DEQ regulations require a separate permit for what is being proposed, they said, calling on DEQ to deny the application as deficient until Doerle receives a permit for that site.

“LDEQ has failed in their duty as trustee of the environment,” Subra said. 

Steve Thibeaux, the only person to speak in favor Doerle’s expansion, said Doerle offers a necessary service to the area and has gone out of his way to ensure that his facilities are safe.

“I’ve never seen a facility that’s as well-run as Doerle’s,” he said.

“I find it reprehensible that it looks like everyone’s on the bandwagon to shut this place down. I’d much rather have my garbage picked up than to have an airport in New Iberia when there’s one in Lafayette.”

State Sen. Troy Hebert, D-Jeanerette, said residents who live near the proposed expansion and local pilots restated their concerns over quality of life, safety, environment, Doerle’s numerous DEQ violations at his existing landfill and his disregard for those who live and work near his site.

Gail Nelson told DEQ officials that when Doerle proposed his existing landfill 14 years ago, he assured residents the facility would be completely shut down in seven years.

“He showed us pictures of what the landscape would look like,” Nelson said.

“And now it’s a mountain of dirt and port-o-lets. Tell him no. This is not what the people expected.”

Doerle and project manager Yolanda Righteous were not at the meeting.