A contentious battle over the location of a landfill and pickup station between Iberia Parish Government and operator Gordon Doerle has been settled. A contentious battle over the location of a landfill and pickup station between Iberia Parish Government and operator Gordon Doerle has been settled. Parish government filed suit against Doerle earlier this year to force him to remove an unpermitted garbage transfer station the parish claimed was threatening the viability of the Acadiana Regional Airport to safely land planes. The parish council also refused to grant Doerle a permit to expand his construction and debris landfill, Gordon’s Disposal and Landfill, into Iberia Parish from its existing footprint in St. Martin Parish.
Last week the parish settled the suit with several stipulations for Doerle’s continued operation. Doerle will be allowed to expand his landfill and continue operation of his pickup station under the conditions that if any of his actions pose a threat to the airport, the parish or the FAA may demand immediate changes in operation or level an injunction against the business. The transfer station, which was open and said to be attracting birds, an aviation hazard, will be completely enclosed and all trucks entering and leaving the site must be covered. The site must meet DEQ wastewater discharge regulations for all leachate from trucks. Doerle is still awaiting DEQ approval for the expansion of his landfill, although he says the permit was hinging on the go-ahead from Iberia Parish Government. Settling the suit put the DEQ permit back on track.