CIWMB’s Solid Waste Information System (SWIS) number: 03-AA-0001
Site Information per
Landfill Facility Compliance Study database (Task 2)Information Source:
Owner/Operator (Amador County Waste Management)
Several attempts to conduct an interview were unsuccessful.
Information Source: Central Valley Regional Water Quality Control
Board
Telephone conversation: April 2, 2004
The RWQCB indicated that volatile organic compounds (VOC) were
detected in monitoring wells, which led to notices and violations. When
the VOC detections were first noted, the site installed a groundwater
interceptor trench (late 1980s) at the base of the landfill downgradient
of Unit 1, which is unlined. Since that time, the owner has retrofitted
the cap (vegetative cover), enhanced groundwater extraction
capabilities, and installed a landfill gas extraction system. Details of
the trench design were in the site’s archives, but the RWQCB stated that
there was no low permeability barrier constructed in the trench. When it
was retrofitted in 2003, the trench was deepened, a better pump was
installed, and flow control was enhanced via pumping.
The site is in corrective action until the owner can show it is no
longer a threat to water quality. The site could potentially return to
compliance in time, pending results of the retrofitted system design
(pumping of water, retrofit of cap, and landfill gas extraction system).
The regulations have made the RWQCB successful at getting the cap
retrofit and the trench installed. The most difficult aspect has been
education of the owner in the requirements and goals of the regulations.
A combination of education and enforcement, including fines, led to a
turnaround at the site over the last two years. There have been no
problems with the lined Phases 2 or 3.
Information Source: Enforcement Agency (Amador County
Environmental Health Services)
E-mail responses: April 8, 2004, April 21, 2004, and May 11, 2004
The enforcement agency (EA) commented on Amador County Landfill
inspection violations and areas of concern for the period of 1998 to
2001. During this time period the EA conducted monthly inspections of
the Amador County Landfill and documented numerous violations and areas
of concern (AOC). Photographs were taken of violations and copies of all
inspection reports were forwarded to appropriate CIWMB and RWQCB staff.
Violations and areas of concerns for leachate weepage, sewage treatment
pond overflows to ground surface, erosion and drainage control, and
explosive gas monitoring were consistently documented. The EA conducted
several compliance meetings that were attended by landfill owner
representatives, operators, CIWMB, and RWQCB staff. A schedule for
complying with corrective actions was provided to the landfill owner and
operator. Continuous enforcement efforts resulted in violation
correction. Corrected violations were not always indicated on subsequent
inspection forms. Wet weather was documented on more than one inspection
report as a deterrent to corrective actions requiring earth-moving
activities; otherwise, reasons for continuing violations, or inability
to correct a violation, are not documented on inspection reports.
Descriptions for how corrections were made are not always documented in
inspection reports for this period of time.
VOCs have been detected in a groundwater monitoring well(s). The
owner connected a lift station to an existing cutoff trench (installed
years before to intercept a leachate plume) to improve performance, and
a gas collection system was installed. The interviewee was not aware of
the issuance of AOC or violation reports after those events.
Additionally, the interviewee was not familiar with any significant
violations regarding surface water related standards and did not find
any information in the files for these issues.
Information Source: Amador County Air Pollution Control District
Telephone conversation, March 23, 2004
The interviewee has been involved with the site since 1991. The air
pollution control district (APCD) regulates to protect the public health
via “permits to operate,” which are generally to operate the landfill,
but are more focused on fugitive dust. The air district performs annual
inspections of the site.
The landfill has been active at various times, and at times has had
difficulty controlling dust. These problems have been largely resolved
in the last three to five years. The owner is now using dust control
much more frequently and, in addition, the landfill is accepting much
less material. All putrescible material is now being hauled out via a
transfer station rather than being placed in the landfill, and most
other material is being recycled. The combination of increased dust
control and a reduction in material accepted has brought the landfill
into compliance.
The site has just installed a landfill gas collection system and
flare. The system operates only when gas reaches a certain level and
then combusts it, using a propane burner. The interviewee has not seen
this system in operation.
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