Oregon Supreme Court lets previous rulings stand: County cannot build CleanLane on Goshen site
2 min read
from Lane County Garbage & Recycling Association and staff reports
In a final victory for the Goshen community, the Oregon Supreme Court on July 9 denied Lane County Public Works’ petition for review.
The order effectively affirms that the county cannot build its proposed $174 million CleanLane integrated material and energy recovery facility (IMERF) on property it purchased in Goshen.
“This is officially the end of the legal road for Lane County’s attempts to force this permit through on the Goshen property,” said Katy Pelroy, LCGRA spokesperson.
“After losing at the local level, at LUBA (Land Use Board of Appeals), at the Court of Appeals, and now being soundly rejected by the Oregon Supreme Court, the county’s land-use application for this site is dead.”
The order by Chief Justice Meagan A. Flynn effectively solidifies the March 2026 Oregon Court of Appeals decision affirming earlier LUBA rulings.
With this final denial by the highest court in the state, Lane County Public Works has now exhausted all possible appeals to salvage the land-use permit for the Goshen site.
Katy Pelroy said enough is enough. “The county has wasted tens of thousands of public dollars pursuing a doomed application that it should have known could not satisfy the applicable land-use standards.
“Meanwhile, ratepayers continue to shoulder the burden of budget shortfalls and unmet public safety needs. Enough is enough. We call on the Board of Commissioners to permanently abandon this high-risk project that has put our entire waste management division in jeopardy. Trust needs to be restored with taxpayers and all stakeholders.”
By votes of 3-2 on Dec. 5, 2023 and Aug. 20, 2024, Lane County Commissioners Heather Buch (East Lane), Laurie Trieger (South Eugene), and Pat Farr (North Eugene) advanced the proposal.
The 25-year contract with Bulk Handling Systems (BHS) was signed in October 2024. Once built, CleanLane would cost Lane County ratepayers approximately $11.1 million over 25 years, with $9.2 million going to BHS annually.
During the 2025 session, Lane County asked the Oregon legislature to allow the county to bypass land use laws and grant “supersite” authority to build at Goshen.
Commissioner David Loveall, who opposed HB 3971, testified that his three colleagues had approved a draft contract that placed all financial liability on the county.
In hopes of pursuing the CleanLane project at an approved site, commissioners by another 3-2 vote Dec. 16, 2025 approved a $1.3 million contract amendment to relocate to the Short Mountain landfill. However, it was not clear whether Bulk Handling Systems would approve the contract changes.
With the order from the Oregon Supreme Court, the county must pay legal costs to LCGRA and Sanipac, Inc.
You can learn more at the website, www.CleanLaneExposed.com.
The Lane County Garbage & Recycling Association represents the county’s locally owned waste-collection and recycling companies. We advocate for responsible solid-waste policy, transparent government, and fair treatment of the customers and communities we serve.
