Agenda - Council - 07/29/1985 - Special

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I ! I I I I I I I i I I I I ! I I I 3. Removal of such soils would severely increase the s~te development and operating costs for any future landfill operation. 4. Removal of such soils would dramatically change the comparative status of the three inventory sites contrary to the legislative directive. 5. The quantity of soils available in the buffer area may not be as great as WMM believes because certain portion of the buffer may be deleted. Since the County has no guarantee that it will be able to purchase fee title to the buffer area, it is uncertain whether the County will be able to excavate cover material from the buffer area. The statute provides for override of local zoning to guarantee the County's ability to site, develop, and operam a landfill. Borrow areas outside of the site do not qualify for this zoning override and thus there is no assurance that the needed soils will be available. The suggested depth of excavation may be too deep (proximity to the highest known water table) and may need backfilling for landfill or other use. Removal of such soils is not necessary and does not agree with other information provided by WMM (Closure/Post Closure Plan; Cover Soils Analysis Report) which indicate that sufficient soils are available on the present licensed landfill site (northerly 80~ acres of Site P and the 80 acres north of that). 10. Alternative borrow area is available to WMM to the north of the land- fill where soils could be obtained. 11. 12. Shortage of upper and middle horizon final cover soils, for the current landfill operation, can be manufactured by soil amendment. The City of Ramsey takes the position that removal of soils,(mining) is not a "permitted use" under the City ordinances but could be allowed by the City Council under a Temporary Conditional Use Permit. 13. Lifting of the developm~t limitation will substantially increase the County's enforcement needs due to the larger inspection area and material balance review necessary to minimize the impact on Site P. 14. Soil needs for possible future expansion of WMM's landfill operation is not an appropriate or justified need to be considered for lifting the development limitation at this time. 15. The possible shortage of soils suitable for middle and top final cover needs for WMM's current landfill operation, is quite small. Any possi- ble shortfall can be easily remedied by soil amendment and is not sufficient to justify mining the "South 80 Borrow" area. RECOMMENDATION A recommendation will be presented at the Committee meeting.