COURTLAND — A proposal to build a new regional landfill in far western Southampton County is the focus of a study being conducted by a consulting firm working for the Southeastern Public Service Authority.

Vectre Corporation, a Richmond-based firm, has been meeting primarily with business and community leaders to gauge public opinion over the proposed landfill.

“At this point we’re just in the process of having our meetings, and we haven’t met with everyone,” said Philip Abraham, Vectre’s director and general counsel.

Abraham declined to identify the people the firm had met with.

“It’s all extremely preliminary,” Abraham said. “I think the important thing to know is SPSA is very interested in working with the community and gauging the reaction of the community to the proposal, and that’s what they’ve asked us to do. They haven’t gone to the board for any approval to do this facility. They haven’t asked Southampton County for any negotiatations for approval.”

According to a background paper being distributed by Vectre, “SPSA has identified the far-western corner of Southampton County along the Route 58 corridor as the best possible location for a new regional landfill. This area has sufficient land available for purchase and could accommodate a landfill site which would border only a minimal number of homes.”

Glenn Updike, a resident of Newsoms and one of the people who was contacted by Vectre, said SPSA was focusing on the Adams Grove area near U.S. Route 58.

The Vectre paper also said that a regional landfill could “provide substantial economic benefits,” and suggested that the host benefit fee for the facility “could generate more than $2 million per year for the county.”

Updike said the Vectre representative he met with said the proposed landfill would need about 1,100 acres.

Southampton County Administrator Michael Johnson said he met with Vectre about a month ago, and gave the firm some additional names of people to contact for the study.

Abraham said the firm should be finished with its study by the end of the year.