Agenda - Council - 09/13/1982 - Special

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I ! 11 I I I I Dust Operation of a sanitary landfill always produces dust. The many large trucks entering and leaving the fill area, excavating of soil for fill or cover mate- rials, stockpiling of cover soil, the condition of the final cover before it is replanted with vegetation, and the unpaved roads in the fill area all contri- bute to the dust problem. When the weather is dry, a considerable amount of dust can be blown from the site, depending upon wind speed and direction, topographY and vegetation. Most of the dust generated by heavy equipment during operation of a landfill can be reduced. The road leading to the site can be watered or oiled periodi- cally to minimize dust. Fabric mats, an accepted slope stabilization tech- nique, have been shown to greatly lessen dust from roads. Depending on the seasonal or daily wind direction, the working area of the fill can face the same direction as the wind. A landfill operator could be required to plant trees and bushes around the site as a wind and dust breaker. Both the PCA and Council require the facility operator to provide adequate dust control measures. The local unit of government may require the landfill to meet performance standards as required in a zoning ordinance. The dust control requirements could be negotiated between the community and facility operator to ensure satisfaction by both parties. These negotiations and agreements should take place concurrently with the review of the facility's permit appli- cation by the PCA and the Council. Truck and Heavy Equipment Emissions I I I I Air pollution is likely to increase slightly in the vicinity of landfills because of the large number of vehicles entering and leaving the sites. Heavy loading equipment will also contribute a small amount of air pollutants to the surrounding atmosphere. Pollutants emitted by trucks and'heavy loaders include hydrocarbons, nitrogen oxides, carbon monoxide and diesel particulates. Thes~ pollutants will be emitted during the daily operation of the landfill. The amount of pollutants emitted will depend on the number of vehicles using a facility. Concentrations of pollutants in the atmosphere near the site and along the truck route will be influenced by local topography and meteorology. The impact of these air pollutants will depend on the amount of development near the site. I ! Although there may be an increase in the number of trucks traveling to and from waste disposal facilities, their contribution to pollutant concentrations on the route may not be significant. However, the number of trucks on any route may have the effect of slowing all regular traffic, which in turn will cause increased emissions, particularly carbon monoxide, from all vehicles on the route. It is possible to control the route vehicles travel going to the waste facility, and therefore, partially control the emissions. Emissions from Methane Recovery Facilities Emissions, methane recovery facilities pla~ts are regulated by the PCA. The processing of gas at methane recovery facilities located at landfills may produce emissions. The emissions likely to result from methane recovery facilities could be reduced by pollution control devices. Any toxic or other noxious emissions or odors emanating from methane recovery facilities would be regulated by the PCA.