Despite state order, Shell Creek remains open

A disagreement between the state and a Tulsa-area landfill may not end soon.<br><br>The Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality has ordered the closure of the Shell Creek Landfill near Sand Springs

Tuesday, June 20th 2000, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

A disagreement between the state and a Tulsa-area landfill may not end soon.

The Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality has ordered the closure of the Shell Creek Landfill near Sand Springs in Osage County.

Not only has the state ordered the landfill to close, but theyâ€™ve also ordered its management to pay more than $1,000,000 in fines and clean-up costs.

Shell Creek was supposed to close June 1st, but is still open for business.

â€œTheyâ€™re just wanting money and I donâ€™t have any money to give them,â€ said Shell Creek manager Forrest Burns.

The DEQ says the shut down is a result of several rule violations. DEQ Spokesperson Michael Dean said the state gave Burns several months to solve the problems, and improvements have not been made.

Burns estimates that about 100,000 tons of trash is dumped at Shell Creek every day from contributing communities, and area leaders say closure of the landfill will cause some serious problems.

â€œIt will not be good for surrounding communities because they will not have a place to go with (their trash),â€ said Prue Mayor Kenneth Goodman.

Burns says he will continue to ignore the DEQâ€™s order and Shell Creek will remain open.
The state says its lawyers are working on a way to force the landfill to close.