The Camino Real Landfill hearing, a grueling series of sessions that began more than two weeks ago, is scheduled to end Wednesday.

The landfill owners seek a 10-year permit renewal for two of its four units, which total 480 acres.

NMED Secretary Ron Curry will make a decision on the permit no later than April 13 of next year.

For more information on the permit see NPT’s previous story here.

The NMED issued this description of the permit request:

"The landfill now accepts municipal solid waste from New Mexico, Texas, and nonhazardous waste from Mexico. The owner wants to continue to operate the landfill in Unit 2 and to modify the permit to allow for the construction and transition to use of lined cells in the proposed Unit 3. The owner seeks to continue accepting nonhazardous wastes including residential municipal solid waste; Commercial solid waste; construction and demolition debris; petroleum contaminated soils (special waste); municipal waste water treatment plant sludge (special waste); and industrial solid waste (special waste). The renewal application provides additional information on engineering design and location details for the proposed Unit 3. The owner also proposed to include a landfill gas collection and control system as required by its existing Air Quality Bureau permit."

Opponents of the landfill said they were at a disadvantage during the hearing, because they were outgunned by landfill lawyers, and the proceedings were in a dim, cold building and lasted until late in the evening. While the landfill lawyers could platoon out, the opponents had to sit for hours to hear testimony and wait their turn.

The nondescript building located behind the San Martin De Porres Church in Sunland Park was picked for convenience, officials said.

Suzanne Michaels, a public relations spokesperson for Waste Connections, Inc, the company that owns the landfill, said that while other locations such as the Sunland Park Racetrack were considered, ultimately this location was picked by the New Mexico Environment department for its location.

“They wanted to do everything possible for the residents to have a voice,” Michaels said.