March 6, 2009
Securities
and Exchange Commission
Division of Corporation Finance
Judiciary Plaza
450 Fifth Street, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20549
Mail Stop 6010
Attention: John Hartz, Senior Assistance Chief Accountant
RE: Casella Waste Systems, Inc.
Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended April 30, 2008
Forms 10-Q for the periods ended July 31, 2008 and October 31, 2008
Schedule 14A filed August 28, 2008
File No. 0-23211
Ladies and Gentlemen:
This letter is submitted in response to the comments contained in a letter dated February 25, 2009 from John Hartz, Senior Assistance Chief Accountant, of the staff of the Division of Corporation Finance (the Staff) of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the Commission) to Mr. John S. Quinn, Senior Vice President & Chief Financial Officer, Treasurer of Casella Waste Systems, Inc. concerning the above referenced Form 10-K, Forms 10-Q and Schedule 14A (the Comment Letter). This letter is in response to comments made on the Companys initial response letter dated February 13, 2009. The responses are keyed to the numbering of the comments in the Comment Letter and to the headings used in the Comment Letter.
FORM 10-K FOR THE YEAR ENDED APRIL 30, 2008
General
Comment:
Response:
Where appropriate, we are setting forth below proposed revisions to the Companys existing disclosure. We note, however, that the proposed revisions may change in the future to reflect then current facts, and certain of the disclosures are entirely a function of then current conditions and so no specific revisions are being proposed in this letter.
Comment:
We are also filing today our response to your comments 13 through 21 of your January 29, 2009 letter.
Item 7 Managements Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations, page 37
Liquidity and Capital Resources, Page 50
Comment:
The Company is clarifying its prior response to prior comment 5 to confirm that in accordance with the guidance provided in Release 33-8350, Section IV, C, in future filings we will provide a discussion and analysis of the material covenants in our current debt agreements to the extent material to an understanding of the Companys liquidity position and understands its obligations relative to non-GAAP disclosures. In accordance with Release 33-8350 and Question 10 of the above referenced FAQ, the Company does not propose to include a detailed discussion of its covenants where that information would not be material.
Signatures, Page 58
Comment:
Response:
We understand that the Staff will not require our Form 10-K/A to be re-filed in response to this comment. We confirm and understand our obligations under General Instruction D of Form 10-K with respect to signatures required on the 10-K.
In connection with this response to the Comment Letter, the Company acknowledges to you that:
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· the Company is responsible for the adequacy and accuracy of the disclosure in its filings;
· Staff comments or changes to disclosure in response to Staff comments do not foreclose the Commission from taking any action with respect to the filing; and
· the Company may not assert Staff comments as a defense in any proceeding initiated by the Commission or any person under the federal securities laws of the United States.
If you require additional information, please telephone the undersigned at (802) 772-2241.
Sincerely, |
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/s/John S. Quinn |
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John S. Quinn |
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Senior Vice President & Chief Financial Officer, Treasurer |
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