Agenda - Council - 09/13/1982 - Special

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I '1 I I I I I I i ,';i I I I I I I I I I 14 Proper design and construction of sanitary landfills and waste processing facil- ities will substantially reduce the spread of disease. Application of appro- priate' operating procedures at these facilities should virtually eliminate adverse health effects. Establishing a rodent control program at all sanitary landfills is a sound disease prevention measure. The landfill operator should ensure the application of daily, intermediate and final cover. The potential for accidents at landfills is still a problem today. Also, acci- dents or spills could occur at any time during transportation of the waste to the landfill. Fires can occur spontaneously at landfills and trucks can over- turn or rupture and spill their contents on roadways. Explosions may occur if gases are allowed to accumulate beyond certain concentrations; this risk may extend beyond the operational life of the landfill. In addition, hot loads may be dropped at a 'landfill, causing fires. Although such incidents rarely occur, adequate precautions should be taken to prepare for such an event. The risk can be reduced by proper design, construction and operation of the landfill and monitoring by the operator of refuse going into it. Operators of landfills should receive basic training in safety and accident- prevention procedures. In addition, transporters of special wastes should know what to do in emergency situations. It is impossible to eliminate the poten- tial for accidental spills, fires or explosions, but preparations can be made to handle them before they occur. An emergency response plan should be developed by the facility and local community and it should include periodic practice runs. All operators should have a two-way radio or telephone at the landfill site. The PCA is considering a requirement that operators and inspectors of waste disposal facilities obtain a certificate of competency. The degree of training or competency required would depend upon the type of facility; hence, facili- ties with greater risks require operators with more training. The emergency response plan should be developed in coordination with the county and local community during the process of reviewing a facility's permit application. SOCIOECONOMIC IMPACTS LOSS OF PRIME FARMLAND Much controversey surrounds the use of prime farmland for sanitary landfills. Several aspects of this controversy deserve clarification. It is likely that some landfills may have to be located on agricultural land for lack of more environmentally suitable locations. The soil characteristics that make an area well suited for farming are the same characteristics that make it well suited for landfills. Not all land under cultivation or used for pasture is zoned for agricultural use. Short-term plans for some agricultural land may include land uses other than agriculture. This is likely to be the case for land located closer to the urban centers. Landfills are likely to have the greatest impact on farmlands zoned for one housing unit per 40 acres, or long-term agricultural use. A sanitary landfill in such an area could disrupt several farm operations, causing economic hardship.