CIWMB’s Solid Waste Information System (SWIS) number: 55-AA-0001
Site Information per
Landfill Facility Compliance Study (Task 2)Interview Background
In the initial data gathering period for this study (specifically
November 2000 through February 2001), the site was open for two days out
of the year, accepting waste from local residents only. Tuolumne County
planned to cease accepting waste at the end of 2002. This approach of
limited availability of the site for receiving waste is referred to
herein as a “trickling waste” program.
Information Source: Owner/Operator: Tuolumne County Solid Waste
Division
E-mail responses: March 10, 2004 and March 30, 2004
The interviewee stated that he had only recently become involved with
the Tuolumne County landfills and that there were no persons left in
that division who could accurately answer GeoSyntec’s questions without
a substantial time commitment to familiarize themselves with the history
of the site.
Upon further questioning regarding the “trickling waste” program, the
interviewee stated it was his understanding that the primary reason for
the program was due to insufficient funds to perform landfill closure at
the time.
Information Source: Central Valley Regional Water Quality Control
Board
Telephone conversation: April 2, 2004
E-mail response: April 7, 2004
The site is currently in corrective action due to detections of
volatile organic compounds (VOC) in groundwater. The problem has been
reported to the regional water quality control board (RWQCB) as being
due to landfill gas. There is no active gas system at the site, only
passive venting. The landfill stopped accepting waste on December 31,
2002, and a cover was constructed in 2003. The RWQCB accepted a closure
report in January 2004.
The cover was installed as a corrective action to reduce infiltration
into the unlined landfill. As the cover has only recently been
installed, it is too early to see what the impacts of the closure are.
The RQWQCB has asked the site to provide six-month updates on the status
of the corrective action system. This is consistent with the semi-annual
progress report requirement in Title 27 of the California Code of
Regulations. If the updates do not show improvement as a result of
corrective action, then modifications will need to be made to the
system. Given that trace VOCs have been detected in both groundwater and
an ephemeral spring, the RWQCB is interested in evaluating the impact
the new cover system has on water quality in the forthcoming monitoring
events.
In order to construct the final cover for the landfill, the county
raised its tipping fees in the surrounding areas after the landfill was
essentially closed. While closure funding assurance is required by the
regulations, adequate funding at this site has been obtained by raising
tipping fees at the end of the landfill’s use.
Regarding the trickling waste program, the RWQCB specified within the
last waste discharge requirements (WDR) for the site a date when waste
would no longer be accepted (December 31, 2002). The RWQCB has found
that specifying a closure date is an effective way to stop trickling
waste, though most of the sites where this is an issue are small, rural
landfills.
Information Source: Enforcement Agency: Tuolumne County Environmental
Health Department
E-mail response: March 12, 2004
Telephone conversation: March 22, 2004
The landfill has not operated for several years. It has undergone
closure and is nearing completion of the process. There have not been
any gas or leachate problems at this site.
Upon further questioning regarding the trickling waste program, the
interviewee stated that the program went on for approximately two years
and that closure began approximately one year ago. The interviewee
indicated that closure was mandated because of the groundwater
contamination, and closure plans were submitted several years ago.
However, the county did not have sufficient funds to close the landfill
until recently, so it kept the landfill open until the funds were
available.
Information Source: Tuolumne County Air Pollution Control District
The Tuolumne County Air Pollution Control District (APCD) does not
have any data on permitting, monitoring, reporting, inspections, or
violations records for the site. Therefore, the APCD was not initially
contacted, but was later contacted several times for review and comment
of the in-depth information as it was being developed.
List of Landfills
|
