A case challenging Kern County’s ban of sewage sludge dumping is one step closer to trial, after a Visalia judge threw out a motion by Los Angeles County to find in favor of them.

Kern County counsel Theresa Goldner says her office is taking depositions and preparing documents after the ruling was made last week.

“Los Angeles’ motion was that this case should not go to trial at all. The judge did not buy their arguments – in essence, Los Angeles was trying to move a mountain, and they only moved a pebble,” she said.

Los Angeles dumps its sludge on land it owns southwest of Bakersfield near I-5 and Highway 119. Local voters banned the practice in 2006.

– Anthony Pollreisz