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Garbage gas dispute holds up permit
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CopyThe Delano Landfill's air quality permit application is being held up by the Department of Ecology because of a disagreement over a treatment plan for vinyl chloride gas.
The treatment plan being considered filters the chloride gas through carbon to bring gas levels within DOE standards.
The Regional Board of Mayors were told that the carbon filter process could cost as much as $900 a month and might be elevated to twice that amount.
The existing landfill cell at the Delano Landfill is full and the RBOM is under a timeline to cover the garbage site.
The DOE has requested that URS, the mayors' engineering firm, demonstrate that uncontrolled emissions are not a risk to public health. The vinyl chloride emissions are estimated at 12.75 pounds a year, above the limit of 10 pounds per year.
Cell 1 of the landfill is about 6 acres in size and slopes from the southwest to the northeast corner. The difference in elevation from the highest to lowest points is about 60 feet, with the proposed vent for the landfill gas collection system at the highest point.
One of the issues being explored is the pattern of wind at the site and whether this would send emissions into publicly-used areas.
Two options that are being considered is preparing a health risk assessment, which is costly and time consuming, or providing treatment of emissions.
The mayors will hear plans to mitigate any emission problems at the landfill at their next meeting, Sept. 8.
Copyright 2009 The Star, Grand Coulee, Washington. All Rights Reserved. This content, including derivations, may not be stored or distributed in any manner, disseminated, published, broadcast, rewritten or reproduced without express, written consent from SmallTownPapers, Inc.
© 2009 The Star Grand Coulee, Washington. All Rights Reserved. This content, including derivations, may not be stored or distributed in any manner, disseminated, published, broadcast, rewritten or reproduced without express, written consent from DAS.
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