Landfill Issues/Updates

LANDFILL ODOR UPDATE

For on-going updates, continue to visit this website.

July 1, 2010 - Landfill Advisory Committee Meeting

A meeting was held on Thursday, July 1st at the North Fayette Community Center. Other than those on the Committee, there was no one from the public in attendance.

Items of discussion were as follows:

Allied Waste went over a PowerPoint presentation that covered the following:
* Upgrades to the Well Fields
* 8 acres have been installed
* 5 new wells, 5 more to go
* 12 re-drill wells, 6 more to go
* 4921 feet horizontal toe collection swale
* 3496 feet of 12 inch header pipe
* 1124 feet of air force main

The landfill plans not to use Area 7 cells closest to the school. They are working with DEP to vacate these areas.

New sedimentation ponds (2) are near completion.

With the new geo-membrane over Area 7, leachate should be reduced by up to 50 percent (50%).

Leachate tank vents now have mechanical air filters on them.

In July or August the landfill will be going online with a web site to keep the public updated. They will also be publishing a newsletter in August. The next Open House for the Landfill is being planned for September.

Allegheny County Health Department (ACHD) reported the following:
* Hydrogen Sulfide monitor results for Wilson School (click here for handout)
*At 5 parts per billion (PPB), ACHD usually received odor complaints. The highest reading was March 10th at 24 PPB (40 PPB is considered the threshold).
* Spikes above 5 PPB have been non-existent since mid May and since June the readings have been below .5 PPB.
* Additional sampling that was recommended by ATSDR report has been started.
* ACHD had provided the School District with a $10,000 grant to evaluate the HVAC system to see if any additional filters or mechanical upgrades could be done at Wilson School.

May 17, 2010 - West Allegheny School Board Meeting

A meeting was held on Monday, May 17th at Wilson Elementary School, coordinated by the West Allegheny School Board, in which the Letter Health Consultation prepared by the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry and the Pennsylvania Department of Health was reviewed. Click here for the full document.

Click here to read the latest Press Releases from Allegheny County Health Department and here for DEP regarding 'Issuing Orders to Imperial Landfill' (dated April 12, 2010)

READ THE ENTIRE DEP ORDER HERE
Click here to read the latest Press Release from the Allegheny County Health Department regarding 'DEP Fines Allied Waste for Landfill Odors' (dated March 12, 2010)

March 3, 2010 - Landfill Advisory Committee Meeting

The Landfill Advisory Committee held a meeting on March 3, 2010 at the North Fayette Community Center. In attendance for the Advisory Committee were nineteen (19) representatives from Republic/Allied Landfill, Allegheny County Health Department, Wilson School, West Allegheny School District, appointed residents and a Township representative. There were also about twenty (20) people from the general public in attendance.

Items of discussion were as follows:
Allied Waste went over a Powerpoint presentation that covered the following -
     ♦ In 2009, Allied Waste performed the following enhancements to the landfill
          • 33 new gas wells. 23 were re-drilled and 10 were new wells.
          • 7,000 lineal feet of piping for the gas extraction system was installed.
          • 13,000 lineal feet of airline that helps pressurize and remove the methane from the wells was installed.
           • Geo-membrane was covered over Area 7
           • Misters were set in place to mask odors from the open cell.
           • Installed 635 hp generator as back up power to the gas plant so that power is never interrupted.

In total, the Landfill spent over $1 million in 2009 to upgrade the operations.

     ♦ In 2010, Allied Waste has done and/or is proposing the following.
          • Proposing to cap off an additional 8 acres in Area 7.
          • Bring in a different type of cover soil that has more clay in it to help seal the face.
          • Allied is looking into completing one more cell in Area 7 that is closest to the School and then moving operations to the north of Area 7. What this means is if they get approval from DEP, they would not complete filling in the remaining permitted area closest to the school. Click here for a map showing Area 7. (for reference purposes only)

     ♦ DEP and County Health Department provided the following information.
           • Six (6) violations have been documented since December of 2009.
           • The Mobile Analytical Lab that DEP has will be on site the week of March 15th for additional testing. The Lab will be conducting tests on site in the 6 a.m. time period and 9 p.m. time period since these are times most complaints occur.
           • Consent Decree should be finalized in a couple of weeks.
           • The threshold for Hydrogen Sulfide (H2S) is 100 parts per billion and the highest spike recorded so far has been 24 parts per billion.
           • DEP has requested a nuisance control plan from the landfill. The plan was received this week and DEP will review and comment on the plan.

In closing, Dave Kisow did note that when the Township held its meeting last year at the Activity Center, the Supervisors indicated that if this problem did not get resolved, the Township would look into pulling the permit (Zoning) for the Landfill. He wants to know if the Township is prepared to do that?

The Township's response is as follows: Given the extensive testing that has been done (without any conclusion that there is a health risk to the school or surrounding neighborhood), the Supervisors are presently focusing on eliminating the "nuisance" odors, as determeind by PADEP and Allegheny County Health Department.

Click here to read the Press Release from the Allegheny County Health Department regarding 'Efforts to Pinpoint and Eliminate Landfill Odors' (dated March 2, 2010)

November 19, 2009 - Landfill Advisory Committee Meeting

A meeting was held on November 19, 2009 at the North Fayette Community Center. In attendance for the Advisory Committee were representatives from Republic/Allied Landfill, Allegheny County Health Department, Wilson School, West Allegheny School District, two landowners, one parent and a Township representative.

Jim Lando of the Allegheny County Health Department presented the Allegheny County Epidemiology Study "Analysis of Wilson Elementary School Faculty/Staff, Survey of Health Concerns Related to the Imperial Landfill" can be found by clicking here.

Jim Thompson of the Allegheny County Health Department presented the following information regarding the Allegheny County Air Toxics Sampling:

8 samples (8 weeks) sampled every 6 days over a 24-hour period
sample readings in parts per billion
38 non-detected substances
substances detected: Freon 11, Freon 12, Cleaning Solvents
higher detection recorded indoors
lower levels than regular sampling at Pittsburgh site

The attendees held a general discussion and it was noted that the EPA school study can be found by clicking here. The next meeting of the Advisory Committee will be held in January, 2010.

October 13, 2009 - Landfill Advisory Committee Meeting

A meeting was held on October 13th at the North Fayette Community Center. In attendance for the Advisory Committee were representatives from Republic/Allied Landfill, Allegheny County Health Department, Wilson School, West Allegheny School District, appointed residents and a Township representative. There were eight (8) people from the general public in attendance.

Items of discussion were as follows:

Tim Nitra with the Landfill noted that 33 extraction wells have been installed so far this year. Sixteen (16) of the wells have been replacement wells and seventeen (17) are new ones. Area 7 has 117 identified well locations with 39 pumps installed to extract the gas. Twelve acres (12) of Area 7 have been covered with a geo-membrane to seal off the face. An odor mister system has been installed at the face of the active landfill with two more mobile misters to be installed later this month. The mist is organic plant oils that help to suppress the odors from becoming airborne.

Brent Bowker, Landfill Manager, presented a slide show of the gas extraction system work that was done over the summer, the mister system, erosion controls that were performed on the landfill face and the repairs done to offsite sanitary cleanouts and manholes to reduce potential odor emanating points.

Allegheny County Health Department handed out the Hydrogen Sulfide (H2S) results from the monitor that was placed at Wilson School on May 8, 2009 to date. (Click here for the handouts) The monitor registers H2S every hour, twenty-four hours a day. Daily results can also be viewed at the Health Department website (click here and go down to the last two pages for West Allegheny).

The Health Department also reported that air sampling was done inside and outside of Wilson School every six days over a ten-week period this summer. Those results should be available by Thanksgiving. Also, an Epidemiology study was completed and those results should also be available by Thanksgiving.

DEP noted that two 'Notice of Violations' have been issued and that the Consent Order is being finalized.

The next Advisory Meeting will be planned to take place the week before Thanksgiving.

August 26, 2009 - Landfill Gas Meeting

The Landfill Gas meeting was held at the Imperial Landfill on August 26, 2009. Russ Collins, Findlay Township Building/Landfill Inspector, was in attendance along with representatives from PADEP, Allegheny County Department of Health and Republic Services.   Click here for the Executive Summary. Click here for the agenda with notations from Russ Collins.

May 27, 2009 - Citizen's Advisory Meeting

The Citizen's Advisory Committee for the Imperial Landfill held a meeting on May 27th. Members of the Committee, along with representatives from PA DEP, County Health, Allied Waste, WA School Board liaisons & Township liaison ~ Chris Caruso, were in attendance. The group met at the Findlay Township Municipal Building and then boarded a bus to take an on-site tour of the Landfill facility. Areas that were toured and discussed included the existing cell being used for trash disposal, a new cell being constructed for future acceptance of trash and the Gas Extraction system and plant. The overall response was that the tour was very informative and educational. Those in attendance agreed that the next meeting should take place in July. Details will be posted on our website once they are finalized.


April 29, 2009 - Citizen's Advisory Meeting

The Citizens Advisory Meeting for the Landfill held a meeting on April 29^th, 7:00pm
at the Municipal Building. The following is a summary of the meeting;



·        Meetings will be held once a month until further notice.

·        Tim Nitra with the Landfill noted that all 22 wells in area 7 are working properly. Twelve acres of side slope closest to Wilson have been covered with geo membrane. Leachate seeps are being contained and eliminated as they are found.

·        Consent Order is a work in progress with DEP, ACHD and the Landfill. A meeting is set for next week to hopefully finalize the details.

·        DEP went over the test results from the Analytical Mobil Unit that was on site
at Wilson. Results provide a fingerprint of compounds from the landfill that
will be used for further testing.

·        ACHD did not find any compound to be above detection limits with its
samples.

·        Two weeks ago a Hydrogen Sulfide (H2S) meter was installed at Wilson. The modem is not working at this time but the data log is recording daily readings. An outside data port will be installed next week.

·        ACHD noted that the goal from the Health Department is to have no odors coming from the landfill.

·        Residents want continuous monitors set up and DEP and ACHD both
indicated that it is being taken into consideration with the consent order.

·        Benzene testing will be started later this week for inside and outside air at Wilson school.

·        Epidemiologist from ACHD should be starting questionnaires within the next two weeks for those residents around the landfill. Dr. Dixon did note that this could be delayed if the Swine Flu is elevated in the County.

·        Question about what comes out of the flairs from the gas system was

      presented and ACHD noted that the flairs emissions are tested every two

      years for compliance.

·        There are twenty some water sample wells around the landfill to test for groundwater contamination.

      Samples are taken four times a year and to date no samples have been

      found to be contaminated.

·        May 27^th, 6:00pm has been set for the next meeting. The Committee will also

      be taking a field trip to the Landfill.

April 29, 2009 DEP Fact Sheet



April 27, 2009 - The Results of the Mobile Air Sampling Analysis
(each listing is a link)

Letter from DEP to West Allegheny School District

DEP Press Release

DEP Air Analysis Results from Imperial Landfill, March 2009



April 24, 2009 - General Information

The Citizens Advisory Committee has been formed and are scheduled to meet this coming Wednesday, April 29, 2009 for the inaugural session. The members of the Committee are made up of neighbors of the Imperial Landfill, as well as parents and teachers from Wilson Elementary School.

The purpose of the Commitee will be to receive information about the Landfill and disseminate it to the general public. It will also provide a forum for the Commitee to ask questions and understand the workings of the Landfill.

Also, members of the Allegheny County Health Department, the PA DEP, Findlay Township and the West Allegheny School Board will attend in a liaison capacity.

Based on information received, the PA DEP has completed installation of both Hydrogen Sulfide and additional Methane monitors at the Wilson Elementary School. The Hydrogen Sulfide monitors are linked to the County Health Department through telephone connectivity.

April 15, 2009 - West Allegheny School Board Meeting

The School Superintendent, Dr. DiSanti, read a letter that was forwarded to him from Dr. Bruce Dixon and Geoff Butia from the Allegheny County Health Department, that indicated that additional air testing was done on March 19th and March 20th. The findings from these tests showed that various elements were below limits. These were below the limits that otherwise could be detrimental to the health and safety of the staff and students at Wilson Elementary School (see below for a copy of the letter).

Dr. Anne Bolind (School Board Member) and Mr. Kenneth Fibbee (School Staff Member) will serve as the District's Liaisons to the Citizen's Advisory Committee.

Dr. Anne Bolind announced that she is pursuing an Epidemiology Study to be performed by the PA Department of Health to evaluate the impact of the Landfill in the past to the present. She also indicated that research is being done on WestLaw, a subscription based law journal, to determine the legalities of this issue.

Discussion took place pertaining to the progress of the monitor installations at Wilson Elementary School. These monitors would be for both Hydrogen Sulfide and Methane.

Dr. DiSanti briefed the group on the information that was contained in the District's and Township's input to the Consent Order process. Both agencies requested a variety of issues to be addressed. (see previous attachments to the April 2, 2009 Consent Order meeting.)

Various teachers, staff and parents voiced continued concerns about this issue. They are very interested in seeing the results of the PA DEP Mobile Analysis Unit Air Testing. That testing is being qualitatively and quantitatively evaluated in Harrisburg, PA and should be released in the very near future.

Click Here for the letter from the
Allegheny County Health Department dated April 15, 2009

April 1, 2009 Meeting at Wilson Elementary School

A meeting for school district staff was held at Wilson Elementary School on Wednesday, April 1, 2009 at 3:30 p.m. In attendance were Wilson Elementary School staff and administration, along with the Superintendent and two (2) School Board Members. Agencies represented included Allegheny County Health Department, Findlay Township, and the Landfill Operator – Republic Services, Inc. with their gas system Consultant – American Environmental Group (AEG).



Mr. Heher of Republic Services, Inc. reported that work continues on the formation of the Citizens Advisory Committee. Evaluation continues on the names submitted for consideration.

Mr. Heher introduced three (3) representatives from AEG who demonstrated how the gas extraction system works. They also demonstrated how the Gas Analyzer and Extraction Monitor (GEM) works. The GEM is the instrument that is attached to the top of the gas well to analyze and regulate the gases for each well.

Tim Nytra of Republic Services, Inc. informed the group that 22 wells have now been completed in Area # 7 (the active face of the landfill). Twelve (12) of these 22 have vacuum and ten (10) still need to be connected.

A representative of AEG noted that surface scans of the landfill gas extraction system are done four (4) times a year, per the regulations and those results are submitted semi-annually to ACHD. Twice per month, each well is inspected to make sure the well is operating properly.

Representatives of the teachers at Wilson Elementary expressed interest in having the Center for Disease Control evaluate PA DEP’s air monitoring test results for potential health effects.

The Superintendent reported he had received an e-mail from Katy Gresh, Community Relations Coordinator with PA DEP noting that the results of the air quality test done at Wilson Elementary School by the Mobile Analytical Unit will be completed soon.

Consent Order Meeting at Clack Health Center

A meeting was held at the offices of Allegheny County Health Department at the Clack Health Center on Thursday, April 2, 2009 at 9:00 a.m. for the purpose of negotiations of the Consent Order that will be placed on Republic Services, Inc. as a result of the odor issues, dating back to November of 2008. PA DEP , Allegheny County Health Department and Republic Services, Inc. were in attendance for the discussions. Both the Township and the School District provided written requests that included items to be addressed in the Consent Order. Below are the request statements for both entities:

Consent Order – Findlay Township

Consent Order – West Allegheny School District

March 25, 2009 "Concerned Citizens" Meeting at Activity Center

A "Concerned Citizens meeting was held on Wednesday, March 25th at the Activity Center to serve as a kick-off for the Landfill Advisory Committee. In attendance were several residents, Wilson Elementary School teachers, parents & staff, W.A. School Administrators and School Board members, and representatives from various agencies (PA DEP, Allegheny County Health Department, Findlay Township and the Landfill Operator-Republic Services, Inc. In all, there were approximately 30 people in attendance. A summary of items discussed and various action items are as follows:

Tim Nytra (Environmental Engineer for Republic Services, Inc.) noted that 22 gas extraction wells in Area #7 (the active face of the landfill) have been updated and that 16 wells have been re-drilled to improve their efficiency.

John Jeffries (Environmental Health Supervisor) with the Allegheny County Health Department noted that charcoal sample tubes were set up at Wilson Elementary School on March 19th and 20th. Test samples will be available in the near future.

Ms. Katy Gresh, Community Relations Coordinator for PA DEP, noted that the Analytical Mobile Lab was on site at Wilson Elementary School for a three-day period and the sample results will be available in 30 days. She also noted that if something of any concern would have been detected during their stay that posed an immediate danger, appropriate actions would have been taken, including evacuation of the school and area. Obviously, that was not the case.

Mike Forbeck, Program Manager of PA DEP-Waste Management, informed those in attendance that Republic Services, Inc. will be issued violation notices from not only PA DEP but also Allegheny County Health Department and the Allegheny County Air Quality Department. He further indicated that an April 2nd meeting has been scheduled with the Landfill Operator to finalize its Consent Order.

Hydrogen Sulfide monitors will be permantently installed at the school by the Allegheny County Health Department. The School and the Allegheny County Health Department are working on securing a dedicated phone line to hook up to the monitors so that the results can be electronically sent to the Allegheny County Health Department.

Mike Heher of Republic Services Inc., concluded the meeting by informing everyone in attendance that a Landfill Activity Committee will be formed out of those in attendance. This Committee will be made up of 10 people who will meet as often as the Committee desires, within reasonable terms, to review what the landfill is doing and make sure it is in compliance. The Committee will also take the information to the larger group of Concerned Citizens on some regular basis, yet to be determined.



March 18, 2009 Meeting at Wilson Elementary School

On Wednesday, March 18, 2009 at 3:30 p.m., a meeting was held at Wilson Elementary School for the staff to further discuss initiatives that are being implemented to address the odors at the Imperial Landfill. Representatives from the Department of Environmental Protection, Allegheny County Health Department and Allied Waste/Republic Services were on hand to update and answer questions for the staff.

The updates were as follows:

PA DEP announced that the results from the Mobile Analysis Unit will be available in 30 days.

The PA DEP is now requiring increased inspections of the gas wells. Rather than monthly, the frequency will be increased to every two (2) weeks.

AEG (American Environmental Group) has been brought in by Allied Waste/Republic Services to completely evaluate the gas extraction system. AEG will be replacing Custer Services as operator of the gas wells in Area 7, the active section of the landfill.

Allied Waste/Republic Services is also in the process of installing 40 millimeter plastic liner material with welded seams, which will cover approximately 11 acres of the active landfill that faces Wilson Elementary School. This is being done as a means to limit gas and odor migration in the direction of the school and Santiago/Boggs Road residences.

Allegheny County's Air Quality Division will be supplying monitors to Wilson Elementary School for Continuous Hydrogen Sulfide detection as well as for Methane detection.

In addition to the above-monitoring, County Health will also be placing four (4) pumps (2 outside / 2 inside) that will monitor the air in 12-hour sequences.

PA DEP is mandating that Allied Waste/Republic Services complete an Operations and Maintenance Evaluation Report and submit it to the Department and County Health every two (2) weeks. These reports will be made public.

STAY CONNECTED...FOR FUTURE UPDATES

March 11, 2009 Meeting:

As a result of the meeting, convened by the Board of Supervisors on March 11, 2009 at the Activity Center in Imperial, the following action items are being implemented:

DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION (DEP)

Mobile Analytical Unit has been set up at Wilson Elementary School to do air monitoring to make sure of the Landfill’s compliance with Clean Air regulations. This unit will be on site from March 16th to March 18th.

The Landfill Operator (Republic Services) is working with the West Allegheny School District to install Granulated Activated Carbon (GAC) filters for the air handling system at the school. These will help to purify the air inside the school.

PA DEP and Allegheny County Health Department will both be issuing Notices of Violation (NOV’s) for the odor problems during January, February and early March. Landfill Operator (Republic Services) will have to respond with plans of action to address these violations. That process has begun and will continue.

A Citizen’s Advisory Committee is in the process of being formed to help monitor the operations of the landfill.

The Landfill Operator (Republic Services) is in the process of drilling 22 additional wells that will enhance the methane extraction system already in place.

If there are any continued odors from the Landfill, residents are encouraged to contact the following:

Allegheny County Health Department 24-hour Hotline - 412-687-2243

Department of Environmental Protection - 412-442-4000

Custer Services - 1-800-356-0286 (Methane Extraction Contractor)

Findlay Township Police Department - 724-695-7777

DEP FACT SHEET         LANDFILL FACT SHEET

Previous Landfill Issue Updates:

February 19, 2009:
FINDLAY TOWNSHIP TO HOST COMMUNITY MEETING ON LANDFILL ISSUE

As a means to finding a solution to the odor problems that are affecting residents in the Santiago/Boggs Road area and students & staff of Wilson Elementary School, the Board of Supervisors will host a community meeting on this issue on Wednesday, March 11, 2009 at 7:00 p.m. at the Findlay Township Activity Center, 310 Main Street in Imperial. The Board has requested and received commitments from representatives from the PA DEP, Allegheny County Health Department and Allied Waste to attend the meeting. The public is invited to attend.

February 16, 2009:

In a continuing effort to address the odor complaints at the Imperial Landfill that are affecting residences in the Santiago/Boggs Road area and Wilson Elementary School, we have received the following letter from the Allegheny County Health Department. (Click here to read the letter)