A controversial landfill in New Orleans East that was the subject of several vocal protests will remain open Monday despite what residents believed were assurances that it would close. The announcement angered Father Vien Nguyen who vowed to do "whatever it takes," to stop the dumping.

WWL-TV

Samples were taken on May 24 and May 27 for air and water contaminants, respectively. Additonal air samples were taken June 5.

Friday afternoon the company that runs the landfill, Waste Management, said that the Department of Environmental Quality had approved the continued use of the facility to dump hurricane debris.

The announcement comes just as an emergency order permitting the landfill was getting ready to expire. Mayor Nagin had said he would not extend the permit past the August 14 date and the DEQ had said it would follow the city’s wishes.

However, the DEQ now says a state judge will allow the landfill to remain open.

Pastor Vien Nguyen, a vocal opponent of the landfill, was upset about the announcement and vowed that he and other N.O. East residents would do "whatever it takes" to make sure dumping stops on Monday. He said legal action was being contemplated, along with possible civil disobedience that might include blocking the roadway to the site.

"LDEQ has decided that it is now the king," said Nguyen on WWL-TV's i-News broadcast. "It has decided that it can do whatever it wants in the State of Louisiana."

City Attorney Penya Moses said that the Nagin administration has not changed its position on the landfill and that the city order allowing its existence will run out Monday and that the normal permitting procedure petitioning for continued use would have to be followed.

In the interim though, the DEQ said it intends to keep running the facility.