More landfill info 3...

[Charle5170@aol.com]

Assessing the Potential of Minimum Subtitle D Lined Landfills to Pollute:
Alternative Landfilling Approaches

G. Fred Lee, PhD, PE, DEE and Anne Jones-Lee, PhD
G. Fred Lee & Associates, 27298 E. El Macero Drive, El Macero, CA 95618
Ph: 530-753-9630; Fx: 530-753-9956; em: gfredlee@aol.com

March 1998

Abstract

The US EPA Subtitle D regulations specify as a minimum, MSW landfills be 
lined with a single composite liner which is part of a leachate collection 
and removal system. Upon reaching the landfill capacity, a low-permeability 
cover is installed. A groundwater monitoring system is used to detect liner 
failure during the 30-year mandated post-closure care period. The waste in a 
minimum Subtitle D Adry tomb@ landfill will be a threat to pollute 
groundwaters by leachate, effectively forever. The landfill liner and cover 
have a finite period of time when they can be expected to function 
effectively to keep moisture out of the landfill that generates leachate and 
to collect leachate formed within the landfill. The groundwater monitoring 
systems typically used with monitoring wells having zones of capture of about 
one foot on each side, spaced hundreds of feet apart, have low probabilities 
of detecting landfill liner failure that leads to groundwater pollution 
before off-site pollution occurs. The 30 years of mandated post-closure care 
is an infinitesimally small part of the time that the waste in a minimum 
Subtitle D Adry tomb@ landfill will be a threat to generate leachate that can 
pollute groundwater. Fundamentally, the minimum Subtitle D MSW landfill is a 
technologically flawed approach that, at best, only postpones when 
groundwater pollution occurs for those landfills sited at geologically 
unsuitable sites, i.e. those without natural groundwater quality protection. 
The US EPA Subtitle D regulations also fail to address the justifiable NIMBY 
associated with active life releases (odors, dust, blowing paper, etc.) from 
the landfill to the surrounding area. This paper discusses the deficiencies 
in minimum Subtitle D landfilling of MSW and provides guidance on alternative 
landfilling approaches that can protect public health, groundwater resources, 
environment and the interests of those within the sphere of influence of the 
landfill.

For the complete paper, see 
http://home.pacbell.net/gfredlee/alternative_lf.html