BEND, OR -- Oregon’s first new landfill in more than 30 years will be in Deschutes County. Knott Landfill is expected to reach capacity in 2029 and an advisory committee has whittled the list of possible locations for a new dump to two, after nearly four years of meetings, research and public input. Both sites are east of Bend.
One is called the Moon Pit, "It’s a Hooker Creek aggregate mine, just east of the Badlands Wilderness Area," says Solid Wate Director Tim Brownell, "And then, the Roth East Site, it’s named that because of the owners - the Roth Family. And that is just east of Millican, between Highway 20 and Pine Mountain." Learn more about the proposal HERE.
Brownell tells KBND News neither site has fatal flaws found at other proposed locations, "Groundwater at both those locations is very deep, they aren’t on fault lines, they’re not in flood zones, there don’t appear to be any cultural or archeological areas within those sites that would be impacted." But, he says, "We are getting comments in regards to concerns on environmental impacts. The Pine Mountain area, there's quite a bit of recreation in that area, from hang gliders to some homesteaders and other folks out there - ATV folks. It is adjacent to some core sage grouse habitat, so different environmental groups are interested. They want to get more information."
Deschutes County will host an open house Monday evening, September 11, from 5:30 to 7 p.m. A formal presentation is scheduled for 6 to 6:30 p.m. at the Deschutes Services Building (1300 NW Wall St, Bend). Attendees can also join virtually HERE. Brownell says the meeting serves two purposes, "For us to inform, but also to be informed. So, if there are reasons have concerns or why they think one of these two sites is a preferred site, or what have you."
Both sites are inside the boundary of the newly proposed town of Mountain View.
Brownell says deeper research is needed on both properties before a final recommendation is made to the County Commissioners, which isn’t expected until next spring.
