Minutes - Council - 09/15/1980 - Special

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There are five monitoring wells in the area which reflect the water quality of the area before reaching the landfill. The water quality in the downgrading wells is not significantly different from the water quality in the upgrading wells. Nitrate was found to be high so the county put in their own well because of this. Nitrate was found at 4/10 of P?M. Chloride should not exceed 450 PPM. The ground water in and around this site is not a problem at this time. Mayor Gamec said that one of the questions that was asked that night was high often the county would be checking for methane. Mr. Steiner said about every ten days. Mayor Gamec asked if the methane level could be below a certain point and by the next morning be doubled. Councilman Cox asked if there was any kind of an alarm system built in in the event the system malfunctions. Ms. Ritchie said that methane could not physically migrate from the landfill to the homes overnight. She said over a period of three days, it could migrate to the yards, but they are going to assess how fast the gas will migrate. A backup blower motor system is being set up in case the system malfunctions. Councilman Cox said he didn't hear anyone address the question of the tree losses. Ed Gill, Rutgers University, did indicate he would sent a letter of his observations. Mayor Gamec asked if something wasn't going to be done by Anoka Soils. Commissioner Fields said pine trees have died all over the county. Councilman Cox said his point was that he had hoped he would have the answer to the question tonight. The trees by the landfill have died, but the same kind of trees did not die which were not at the landfill,but close by. Bruce Bacon said pine trees and Norway pines are sensitive to methane because it cuts off their oxygen levels. He said they can compare a tree line by the landfill and tress under stress appear to be closer to the landfill and they might be older trees. Indeed it can be multiple causes and the pH is significant. There is room for more information. Councilman Cox asked if the landowners there would be able to grow anything on their properties. Mayor Gamec asked if the residents can safely plant vegetables there and then eat them. Ms. Ritchie said she hoped to have all the tests in by the end of the week from the Extension Service Administrator Schnelle said he would like to see a report from each agency that addressed the problems and who had input into these comments in the letter from the County. C/September 1§~ 1980 Page 4