Landfill deal possible - Pekin Daily Times

The Tazewell County Health Services Committee approved spending $16,700 Thursday for what may be the final needed testing on the Pekin Landfill while the committee members are scrambling to secure a deal with the state that could lead to having the site finally sealed safely in 2012.

Ray Corey, the Health Department’s director of solid waste, said he has been meeting with people from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources about obtaining $500,000 to dredge silt from the Illinois River to dry and put over the landfill. However, thanks to what Corey described as Pekin Landfill Committee member Dean Grimm’s “twisting their arm,” he said the DNR is now considering giving the county $1.5 million to dredge silt for topsoil and, more importantly, packaging the funds with a court order giving the county access while relieving the county of all legal liability at the site.

The question of the county being able to get access to the privately owned landfill while avoiding legal liability has been one of the biggest obstacles to progress on capping the improperly sealed, long-abandoned waste site.

However, according to Grimm, the issue is very time-sensitive, as the DNR would like to get the plan in motion before the election to tout as a political victory for the governor’s office. With the election less than three weeks away, though, the county will have to move quickly.

“This is the governor’s fund and they’ve got $8 million in it,” Grimm said. “They want a photo op and a few other things prior to this election and we’ll get this money. So there’s a lot of urgency here.”

In order to move forward, the county will have to enter into an inter-governmental agreement with the state, which would have to be approved by the whole county board which meets Oct. 27. Health Services Committee Chair Michael Harris said he hopes to have the agreement drawn up by Oct. 21 so it can be reviewed before the full board meeting.

The $16,700 approved Thursday will go to pay Patrick Engineering to test the wells at the landfill using a more accurate method, purging the wells to get a more representative sample of the water under the ground there. Corey said the last tests likely took samples containing solid lead particles in the wells, while the new method should allow Patrick Engineering to clear those pieces and test the lead levels within the actual water itself to determine if too much lead is leaching into the underground water supply.

If the tests show the leachate problem is not as bad as initially believed, the county could use a much cheaper method than purchasing the polyethylene liner and using a net drainage system. Instead, the county could follow the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency guidelines and simply seal off the top of the landfill with two feet of clay and two more feet of topsoil, and using a wetlands filtering system for the leachate that is apparently only coming out one side of the landfill. Corey said this option would cost anywhere from a quarter to half as much as the other method.

The testing should start Monday and could provide the information the county needs to make a final decision on how to solve the problem of the unsafe landfill, according to Harris, who said the IEPA has confirmed this to him.

“The IEPA is in with us,” Harris said. “They agreed this is the test we’re going to need to make a decision.”

The test results will be vital, because the state needs to have a plan laid out by the county before it will give the county the money for the “Mud to Parks” program.

If all goes well for the county, then the tests will reveal the leachate problem is mild enough to allow for the cheaper seal, the state will give the county a court order to fix the property while protecting it from liability, and the state will give the county $1.5 million to dredge silt to use as topsoil.

However, according to Corey, the money will pay for about 71,500 wet tons of silt, but the county is going to need about 158,000 wet tons to over the landfill, an amount that would probably cost more than $3 million to obtain. Plus the county will need to find a cheap source of clay.

Health Department Director Amy Tippey also pointed out that the silt would have to dry out before it could be taken to the landfill site, which means the earliest it could be applied would be the spring of 2011. And with the total amount of work needing to be completed, the finishing date would likely be the spring of 2012, according to Corey.

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Petition Pushes EPA to Move on Cement Kiln Dust Management - EP Magazine

Riverkeeper has filed a legal petition forcing the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to take action on a rule that sets the standards for how toxic cement kiln dust (CKD) is managed by cement producers around the country.

This byproduct of cement manufacturing is often dumped into unlined landfills and old quarries, causing toxic leachate to foul groundwater and surface water. The proposed rule was published in 1999, but due to unyielding pressure from the cement industry, has languished for nearly 11 years, according to Riverkeeper. As a result, no federal standards for CKD disposal exist today.

“In New York and around the country, these unlined landfills ooze toxic leachate and devastate the environment,” said Josh Verleun, Riverkeeper chief investigator and staff attorney. “Through our action, we are seeking to force the creation of federal standards for the disposal of CKD, a substance that when mixed with groundwater, can result in a heavy-metal laden runoff with pH levels comparable to household bleach.”

Riverkeeper is an environmental watchdog organization whose mission is to protect the ecological integrity of the Hudson River and its tributaries, and to safeguard the drinking water supply of New York City and the lower Hudson Valley.

Over the past few years, Riverkeeper has been involved in investigations of several cement plants that have been either been caught (or are suspected of) polluting the Hudson River and its tributaries with contaminated leachate from onsite landfills containing CKD. In 2007, Riverkeeper filed a Notice of Intent to Sue Lehigh Northeast Cement Company for illicit leachate discharges from its unlined CKD landfill. This action led to fines and an Order on Consent mandating cleanup from the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation.

The Lehigh landfill was constructed without a liner or leachate collection system and serves as an example of problem sites around the country that would be addressed through EPA action on Riverkeeper’s petition.

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Phase II of landfill closure to begin - Crossville Chronicle

CROSSVILLE — Commissioners on the Environmental Committee authorized its engineer to proceed with the construction documents for the partial closure on the second half of the county's class one landfill.

Ronnie Reese, environmental engineer for Cumberland County's landfill, told commissioners serving on the Environmental Committee that phase 2 of the landfill closure for class one municipal waste and household garbage was almost full and it was time to proceed with closure preparations.

"You need to decide what you want to do with this, but I would recommend filling until the end of the month and compacting that down as much as possible and placing a temporary cap of one foot top cover to prevent so much water getting in creating as much leachate," Reese said.

Leachate is the byproduct or waste water that is drained from the bottom of the landfill. The liquid has to be taken to a treatment facility.

Once the landfill is closed, the county is scheduled to begin using a transfer station method through Cumberland Waste Disposal, a Waste Management company.

"Is the county ready to go to the transfer stations? I mean, when's the D-Day on that?" Jeff Brown, 8th District commissioner asked.

"I'm not sure," Reese said.

"The contracts and everything is in place on that. Basically, it's when we call them and we're ready and they'll start," Cumberland County Mayor Kenneth Carey said.

"You don't want to start a complete closure at this time in the year. It's up to you and you have to make the decision. But I'd recommend doing the temporary cover now and going ahead with the complete closure in spring," Reese said.

"If we do a temporary cover and wait till spring, will that affect the bidding?" 9th District Comissioner Carmin Lynch asked.

"Yes, it will. You're better off to wait on the bidding because of the plastic liner, it is based on oil prices and it can go up and down like a yo-yo. There's already a portion of it there ... You'd be better off to contract for a partial closure now with a temporary cap and then a permanent cap in the spring for the complete closure. I can have the paperwork and specifics ready to get to Nathan (Brock) and it should be ready to go out to bid in a few weeks," Reese said.

"Will we still have to deal with all the leachate?" 7th District Commissioner Mike Harvel asked.

"Yes, but it won't be anything like the amount we have had with the landfill open and running. I don't know a real figure for sure, though," Reese said.

Commissioner Lynch, who is not a member of the committee, but attended the meeting, reminded commissioners that phase one of the landfill closure was built into the budget, but phase two was not and the debt would have to be issued to have the figure and leachate would be a big factor.

Robert Safdie, 2nd District commissioner motioned to authorize Reese proceed with the documents to start with the partial closure on phase two with a temporary cap.

Terry Carter, 6th District commissioner, supported the motion and it was unanimously passed.

Reese updated commissioners on the status of the remainder of the class three-four landfill and said it could run until the summer of 2011. Reese said the area on top of that landfill was flat and could possibly be extended to go higher up with construction and demolition waste, but it would require a modification to the permit that would have to be submitted to the state.

"This would be considered a major modification if we wanted to extend it like that. You'd have to go through public meetings and a hearing process," Reese said.

He estimated it could extend the life of the class three-four landfill another four years.

"If you don't want to extend it, then we're looking at next summer for closure on that," Reese said.

Darrell Franklin of Faye Portables attended the meeting and addressed the committee stating they would be willing to transport up to 100 tons per day of ceramic tile to the class three-four landfill for a reduced rate.

The current rate is $30 per ton, but Faye requested a rate of $15 per ton since they would be bringing in such a large quantity on a daily basis.

"We'd be looking at around 100 tons per day. It could be more or less, but it's available now and it would be good for both of us. It could give you added revenue for your landfill costs," Darrell Franklin said.

He added it would be approximately 80 percent tile and 20 percent demolition combined.

"It would greatly accelerate the rate of our landfill closure, but it won't take up the volume as regular C&D waste," Mayor Carey said.

"Well, it would fill quicker and you've got to consider if we give these guys a reduction then our own people who elected us into these positions, our local contractors are going to want a discounted rate for bringing their stuff," said 7th District Commissioner Roy Turner.

"It wouldn't make any sense to do the discounted rate just to break even and fill the landfill up faster. It's something we've got to study," Brown said. "We'd need some kind of a contract to do this, too."

Commissioners said they would have to look at the proposal to consider and get some estimates from Reese on much it take in ceramic tile to fill the landfill and how much the extension would cost if they were to consider having it constructed.

"It's not something we can answer tonight. It's something we're going to have to look at and get back after we get some estimates," Brown said.

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Purple waters flow at dairy - Freeport Journal-Standard

State and federal environmental agents responded last week to the proposed Traditions Dairy property where an unidentified purple liquid was discharging into a tributary of the Apple River.

Water samples are currently being tested after they were collected at the property on Friday and Monday, reported Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA) spokesperson Maggie Carson.

Carson said there was no reason for residents living near the property, or homeowners in nearby Nora, to be concerned about their water quality.

“We’re urging people to take the normal precautions and to report evidence of contamination to the IEPA,” Carson said.

A neighbor to the property, Steve Holesinger, said he noticed a purple haze in the water Friday morning when he decided to go fishing. Holesinger said he moved his cows to another pasture to prevent them from drinking from the tributary.

Initial reports of the discharge prompted representatives from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the IEPA, the Jo Daviess County Sheriff’s Department and the Jo Daviess County Hazmat Team to respond to the property.

Workers at Traditions Dairy and a local excavating company constructed two dikes and two detention ponds to divert the tributary and collect the purple water. Liquid from both ponds was then pumped into large tanker trucks and moved to nearby fields where it was knifed into the soil. One detention pond was constructed just west of Mamosser Road, about one-half mile south of East Canyon Road. A second pond was built near the head waters of the tributary, just east of the silage pad at the Traditions Dairy property.

Don Manning, attorney for the property owner, A.J. Bos, said he learned of the discharge on Friday afternoon.

“It should be noted that the response to this situation was immediate,” Manning said. “A.J. and those working at the property did everything that was asked of them by the environmental agencies, and more, to address this as soon as they learned about it.”

Manning argued the discharge may have been prevented if construction of Traditions Dairy had been completed two years ago. The project was stopped after a local group, Helping Others Maintain Environmental Standards (HOMES), obtained a temporary injunction from the 15th Judicial Circuit Court on Oct. 20, 2008.

“You have to remember this is a construction site, not a fully functioning dairy farm. If construction had been allowed to proceed, then the design of the property may have prevented this from happening,” Manning said.

Possible Source

Speculation by those familiar with the situation point to the corn silage being stored at the 1,400-acre property as a possible source for the discharge. A press release issued Saturday by HOMES said the discharge was “believed to be due to an overflowing silage leachate pond.”
Manning said the leachate pond at the property did not overflow.

“If this is traced to, or connected with, the silage and the handling of liquids coming from the silage, then the matter could have been avoided altogether had HOMES not interfered with the construction of the dairy,” Manning said.

Matthew Alschuler, a spokesman for HOMES, reported that the pumping operation at the containment ponds continued on Saturday past midnight and into early Sunday morning.

“Although they are using several vehicles to transport this oddly-colored liquid onto fields, over 36 hours has passed since they started work,” Alschuler said in an e-mail Sunday afternoon.

Dike Removed

Monday morning, the dike constructed south of the dairy property was removed once the water feeding that area returned to clear and colorless.

“Everyone keeps asking why the water (was) the color of Barney,” Alschuler said, “but none of the local farmers or engineers we’ve consulted with can explain. They don’t know of any naturally occurring compounds that would turn leachate the color of Kool-Aid.”

Carson said she anticipates the IEPA will complete its testing of the water by the end of this week.
“It usually takes several days for these tests to be completed,” Carson said.

Construction on Hold

Manning said construction at the Traditions Dairy property is less than one-half completed, and building will not resume until after an appeal filed by HOMES has been settled. On Dec. 23, 2009, Judge Kevin Ward of the 15th Judicial Circuit Court, removed the injunction and ruled against the objections presented by HOMES. That decision resulted in an appeal by the environmental group to the 2nd Appellate Court in Elgin, which has yet to render a decision on the matter.

Manning said he was angered by the reaction of HOMES representatives after news of the discharge became public on Friday.

“We are also distressed, at best, by the apparent pleasure HOMES and its representatives have taken, with their references to ‘Barney’ and their myriad of press releases and fly-overs. It appears to me personally that HOMES is hoping for some sort of release — and I find that repugnant.” Manning said.

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Landfill leachate clogging of geotextile (and soil) filters project summary (SuDoc EP 1.89/2:600/S 2-91/025)

Disposing of solids waste to landfill is regarded as one of the most economical means of handling waste though landfills pose pollution threat to both ground and surface water resources. However, landfill liners and good landfill management practices may reduce the impact of water contamination by landfills. Chemical analysis of groundwater beneath and near two landfills from New Zealand and Lesotho (in Southern Africa) showed that there are higher concentrations of chemicals such as Chlorides, TDS and COD than average. The water was also found to contain higher amounts of heavy metals. High concentrations of chemical constituents, such as those found in leachate contaminated water may cause various health complications in humans if consumed. To minimize possible hazards due to landfill leachate, future landfills must be lined at the base and sides by a combination of clay, geosynthetic clay and high-density polyethylene liners.

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Evaluating the applicability of regulatory leaching tests for assessing the hazards of Pb-contaminated soils [An article from: Journal of Hazardous Materials]

This digital document is a journal article from Journal of Hazardous Materials, published by Elsevier in 2005. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Media Library immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

Description:
Soil contamination is a major environmental problem due to the ecological threat it poses. In this work, electron probe microanalysis (EPMA), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and leaching studies were employed to explain the different leaching behaviors of non-stabilized and stabilized soils. The applicability of the leaching fluids used in the toxicity characteristic leaching procedure (TCLP) and Australian Standards, AS 4439.1-1997 for assessing the hazards of contaminated soils was investigated as was the leaching of lead from soil stabilized by cement and buffered phosphate techniques. The results showed Pb speciation in the soil highly influenced metal leaching. The synthetic leaching fluids were unable to provide a reliable estimation of Pb concentration in the municipal landfill leachate (ML) due to the absence of organic ligands capable of forming stable complexes with the lead. Water provided the closest representation of lead leaching from the non-stabilized and phosphate stabilized soils while sodium tetraborate buffer was found to be suitable for cement-stabilized soil in a non-putrescible landfill leachate system. A comparison of stabilization methods revealed that the buffered phosphate technique was more suitable for stabilizing the lead in the soil relative to cement stabilization.

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Sanitary Landfill Leachate: Generation, Control and Treatment

FROM THE PREFACESanitary landfills are the most widely utilized method of solid waste disposal around the world. With increased use and public awareness of this method of disposal, there is much concern with respect to the pollution potential of the landfill leachate. Depending on the composition and extent of decomposition of the refuse and hydrological factors, the leachate may become highly contaminated. As leachate migrates away from a landfill, it may cause serious pollution to the groundwater aquifer as well as adjacent surface waters. There is growing concern about surface and groundwater pollution from leachate. Better understanding and prediction of leachate generation, containment, and treatment are needed. This book contains a literature review of various methodologies that have been developed for prediction, generation, characterization, containment, control, and treatment of leachate from sanitary landfills. The contents of this book are divided into nine chapters. Each chapter contains theory and definition of the important design parameters, literature review, example calculations, and references. Chapter 1 is devoted to basic facts of solid waste problems current status and future trends towards waste reduction and recycling. Chapter 2 provides a general overview of municipal solid waste generation, collection, transport, resource recovery and reuse, and disposal options. The current status of sanitary landfill design and operation, problems associated with the landfilling, and future trends are presented in Chapter 3. Methods of enhanced stabilization, recycling landfill space, methane recovery, and above grade landfilling, and closure and post closure care of completed landfills are also discussed in detail. Chapter 4 provides a general overview of Subtitle D regulations and its impact upon sanitary landfilling practices. Chapter 5 is devoted entirely to moisture routing and leachate generation mechanisms. Examples of calculation procedure for determining the leachate quantity produced at a landfill are presented. Chapter 6 is devoted to chemical characterization of leachate that changes over the life of the fill. Both theoretical and experimental results are provided to estimate the leachate quality. Chapter 7 provides leachate attenuation processes and mechanisms. Chapter 8 is devoted to leachate collection systems. Natural soil sealants, admixed materials and synthetic membranes, their effectiveness, and methods of installation and economics are fully discussed. Chapter 9 provides a detailed review of leachate treatment methodology. Kinetic coefficients and treatment plant design considerations are summarized for the sole purpose of assisting con- sultants to design leachate treatment facilities. Leachate treatment case histories and numerous process trains are presented for treating leachate from young landfill. The book also describes how the process train can be changed effectively as leachate quality changes with time.

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Potential for using constructed wetlands to treat landfill leachate: Literature review and pilot study design (Special report series)

This digital document is a journal article from Ecological Engineering, published by Elsevier in . The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Media Library immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

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Four surface-flow mesocosm wetlands were operated at different hydraulic retention times during two periods to treat diluted woodwaste leachate that was acidic, of very high oxygen demand, and toxic. Temperature, dissolved oxygen, and redox potential decreased with increasing water depth. However, there was no significant vertical variation in microbial biomass. No significant development in biomass of planktonic microorganisms was found over 6 weeks of initial operation. It took <1-6 weeks for maturation of the biofilm on submerged plant surfaces and the sedimentary microbial community. Mass reduction efficiencies of chemical oxygen demand, and tannin and lignin increased significantly with hydraulic retention time when 10% leachate was fed with tap water. When a more recalcitrant influent was fed, there was a slight increase of reduction efficiency with increasing hydraulic retention time. Reduction rates increased linearly with mass loading rates up to 0.4kgm^-^3d^-^1 chemical oxygen demand and 0.13kgm^-^3d^-^1 tannin and lignin. Precipitation and evapotranspiration had profound impacts on the overall performance and its variability. Mass balance-based operating data of wetlands with a mature microbial community are required for proper performance assessment. formance assessment.

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The Characteristics and impacts of landfill leachate

Disposing of solids waste to landfill is regarded as one of the most economical means of handling waste though landfills pose pollution threat to both ground and surface water resources. However, landfill liners and good landfill management practices may reduce the impact of water contamination by landfills. Chemical analysis of groundwater beneath and near two landfills from New Zealand and Lesotho (in Southern Africa) showed that there are higher concentrations of chemicals such as Chlorides, TDS and COD than average. The water was also found to contain higher amounts of heavy metals. High concentrations of chemical constituents, such as those found in leachate contaminated water may cause various health complications in humans if consumed. To minimize possible hazards due to landfill leachate, future landfills must be lined at the base and sides by a combination of clay, geosynthetic clay and high-density polyethylene liners.

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