CIWMB’s Solid Waste Information System (SWIS) number: 40-AA-0008
Site Information per
Landfill Facility Compliance Study (Task 2)Information Source:
Owner/Operator—Chicago Grade Landfill Inc.
E-mail responses: April 16, 2004 and April 22, 2004
The site geology presented in the report of waste discharge (ROWD)
and in cross-sections developed for the site indicates that 95 percent
of the site is underlain by clays and plastic silts with a permeability
of 1x10-6 or less. Less than 5 percent of the site is underlain by
clay-rich gravels, cemented gravels, or small lenses of gravel with
limited aerial extent. This geology provides additional protection of
groundwater.
The owner is not aware of any volatile organic compound (VOC)
detections in groundwater that have exceeded drinking water standards.
In order to abate trace quantities of dichlorofluoromethane detected at
the site, the owner has installed five new gas extraction wells, even
though this was not required by regulatory agencies.
The owner indicated that the site has not been required to conduct a
corrective action program or come under a water-related cleanup and
abatement order since the beginning of the study (January 1, 1998). The
owner has installed lysimeters, which may provide additional protection
beyond the regulatory minimums for groundwater monitoring. The
site-specific waste discharge requirements (WDR) are currently being
revised by the RWQCB. These revisions include substantial changes to
monitoring and sampling requirements, which will be more expensive to
implement than the current monitoring program. The current monitoring
program consists of monitoring five groundwater wells (three
down-gradient, two background), three gas monitoring wells, and three
lysimeters.
The owner stated that no areas of concern (AOC) or violations have
been issued by the EA for gas-related issues since the beginning of the
study period (January 1, 1998).
The owner indicated that the site had been issued a surface-water
related AOC during a period of extremely heavy rains. Rainwater had
accumulated in a leachate tank that then overflowed into the
sedimentation basin. The owner disputed this AOC, because lab analysis
indicated that the water in the sediment basin was the same quality as
that which flowed in an on-site creek. There was no impact to water
quality or environmental mitigation necessary. This AOC did not become a
violation due to the corrective action taken by the site in the form of
new equipment and management. The owner indicated that the existing
landfill regulations allowed landfill surface water issues to be
mitigated appropriately; however, there are some specific surface water
regulations that are overly difficult or costly without protecting the
environment. These include the requirement for automated samplers in
sediment basins and wet weather inspections in dry season.
One NOV issued by the air pollution control district (APCD) in 1999
was contested by the owner in writing because the non-compliance
occurred during start-up and source testing of the combined
diesel/landfill gas generator. The owner subsequently retested the
engine and it was found to be in compliance. The generator was removed
in 2003 due to excessive oversight costs from the APCD and lack of
cooperation from the local power purveyor. The owner found that the use
of new or innovative technologies was not cost-efficient due to
regulatory costs and constraints.
The APCD issued a notice to comply (NTC) on March 8, 2000, for
failure to submit emissions inventory data. The operator contends that
the operator is not required to submit the inventory. The Health &
Safety Code requires the APCD to submit the inventory. The operator also
pointed out that the subject information is contained in the operator’s
semi-annual report which is on file at the APCD office. The owner
submitted the information on March 15, 2000, and compliance was
achieved.
Information Source: Central Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board
Telephone conversation: April 8, 2004
E-mail response: April 20, 2004
The Chicago Grade Landfill is located in a canyon setting. It is
partially lined and has been accepting waste since the 1970s. The Module
2 expansion has a Subtitle D prescriptive liner which partially overlies
the original cell. A proposed site expansion has prompted a revision to
the site’s WDRs, which are expected to be adopted in May 2004. The
expansion will overlie existing unlined Module 1 and partially overlie
lined Module 2 waste disposal units.
No significant groundwater-related issues have been identified at this
site, with the exception of periodic low detections (less than 8
micrograms per liter) of Freon 21 in two monitoring wells located near
Module 2 (one of the wells, located immediately adjacent to the waste
footprint, was recently replaced with new well). The site geology
consists of interbedded siltstones and gravels, and has deep
groundwater. The owner is currently conducting a detection monitoring
program (DMP) which consists of monitoring five groundwater wells (three
down-gradient, two background), the on-site water supply wells, and
three lysimeters. There is also a gas collection system installed at the
site.
In March 2001, a discharge of leachate to stormwater drainage ways
occurred at the site. Upon inspection and direction by the regional
water quality control board (RWQCB) and EA, the owner took corrective
action. An NOV was sent to the owner on May 11, 2001, requiring a report
on the March 2001 leachate release, a leachate management plan, and a
pre-winter preparedness plan. The owner submitted a July 30, 2001 report
outlining improved landfill operations plans in response to the RWQCB’s
May 11 NOV. On September 4, 2001, the RWQCB Executive Officer
conditionally concurred with the plans contained in the owner’s July 30
report.
Information Source: Enforcement Agency—San Luis Obispo County Public
Health Department,
Division of Environmental Health
E-mail responses: April 9, 2004 and April 19, 2004
The EA has not issued any areas of concern (AOC) for gas-related
issues since the beginning of the study period (January 1, 1998). There
was one violation issued for methane gas on November 27, 2001 for
exceeding the lower explosive limit (LEL) for methane in Monitoring Well
3. A concentration of 5.05 percent was recorded. No corrective action
was required, and no other NOVs or areas of concern have been issued for
gas-related issues. No gas-related protection measures have been
implemented at this site beyond the regulatory minimums; there have been
no problems implementing existing gas-related regulatory requirements at
this site.
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