The Benton County Board of Commissioners voted unanimously Tuesday to reopen the public record for a proposed expansion of the Coffin Butte Landfill, allowing new evidence and testimony related to a letter from the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality.
The board’s decision came during a public hearing to reconsider its November 2025 approval of the landfill expansion application. The record will remain open for seven days to accept written submissions directed to a Nov. 6 letter from DEQ as it relates to applicable criteria in the Benton County Code.
Planning Division staff recommended reopening the record to receive the DEQ letter, which was issued after the board’s initial approval vote. The board adopted a timeline for public comment, applicant response and continued deliberations.
Written evidence, argument and testimony relating to the DEQ letter must be received by 4 p.m. Jan. 27. A seven-day responsive comment period will follow, limited to addressing new issues raised during the initial submission period, with a deadline of 4 p.m. Feb. 3.
The applicant’s final argument, with no new evidence, is due by 4 p.m. Feb. 10. A staff report, if any, on new evidence is tentatively scheduled for publication Feb. 24.
The board will hold a continued reconsideration hearing and deliberations at 11 a.m. March 3 at the Kalapuya Building in Corvallis.
Adoption of findings is tentatively scheduled for 9 a.m. March 17 during a regular Board of Commissioners meeting. The decision will then be transmitted to the Oregon Land Use Board of Appeals. If adoption is scheduled for an earlier date, it will be announced March 3.
Written testimony can be submitted by hand delivery to the Board of Commissioners Office in suite 100 of the Kalapuya Building at 4500 SW Research Way in Corvallis; by email to landfillappeals@bentoncountyor.gov; through a submission form on the county’s website; or by mail to Board of Commissioners Office, P.O. Box 3020, Corvallis, OR 97339. Mailed submissions must be received by the Jan. 27 deadline regardless of postmark.
More information is available at bentoncountyor.gov/coffin-butte-landfill.