Waste Management promised supervisors the plant would shut down if a state investigation revealed its responsible for a number of birth defects in Kettleman City-- and that was enough for supervisors to unanimously approve constructing a second landfill at the site.
People in nearby Kettleman City claim in a one year period - 25% of babies were born with a cleft lip or pallet and believe the chemical waste plant could be to blame.
Waste Management still needs several state and federal permits before it starts construction. Officials expect to break ground this summer.
