Agenda - Council - 10/25/1983 - Laserfiche WebLink

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11 the liner is failing and leak.ing leachate into the groundwater. detection of leachate seepage' will help to limit the groundwater pollution problem. Early The MPCA also requires a storm water management system to control erosion · and runoff into surface water bodies. Surface waters can be protected in a'number of ways'. They include use of swales, ditches or dikes to divert runoff away from the fill area, sedimentation ponds, and storm water detention ponds to control erosion, flooding and rate of discharge into receiving body. In addition, special precautions are necessary in agri- cultural areas that are extensively tiled to prevent leachate from being drawn into the tiles. The operation of the landfill is also to be regu- lated to control surface and groundwater water pollution. Only certain types of wastes are acceptable for disposal in a solid waste landfill. In addition, landfill operators are required to be certified by the MPCA. The certification of operators by the state requires a mini- mum level of education and experience to ensure better operation and control of landfills than in the past. Water pollution is not typically a problem associated with resource recov- ery facilities because waste materials are not placed into the ground for long periods of time. Some resource recovery facilities, such as compost- ing facilities, are operated on pavement or other hard surface for easier operation and handling of waste materials. Surface water runoff control measures are needed at these facilities. The MPCA regulates..the design, operation and closure of compost facilities. Groundwater contamination is a serious problem because it is often a source of drinking water. Also, once contaminated, an aquifer is diffi- cult, if not impossible, to clean of harmful pollutants. Public comments heard by the.Council and the advisory committee during the landfill siting process indicated the desirability of immediate relief for problems as they occur at landfills. Under existing state law, money for cleanup costs is not easily or readily accessible.~ Fur- thermore, the MPCA lacks the authority to correct problems if the current owner declines to do so. In suing for damages caused by the pollution, injured persons may find that litigation may take several years before the issue is resolved. In addition, it is difficult to meet the burden of proof required to support an award of monetary damages. Consequently, Minnesota needs a Solid Waste Environmental Compensation Fund to provide immediate relief to persons or municipalities or town- ships affected by pollution from landfills. The fund should also provide monies to cdver spills, explosions or other accidents from other solid ' waste facilities including resource recovery facilities and transfer stations. This means that the affected citizen or community is assured the state will take appropriate action to provide relief from the pol- lution problem, spill or accident immediately after it is identified. The fund should be financed to a level that is sufficient to assure the local community and residents living adjacent to the-landfill or other solid waste facility enough money is available to care fop problems that