United States Environmental Protection Agency
Region V
POLLUTION REPORT

Subject: 

The Countywide Landfill Site is located at 3619 Gracemont Street SW, East Sparta, Stark County, Ohio, 44626.  For a more complete description of the site history and U.S. EPA enforcement, refer to POLREP #1.

For a description of the air monitoring protocols utilized by Republic contractors throughout the excavation of the Isolation Break between landfill cells 5 and 7, refer to POLREP #6.

As indicated in previous POLREPs, the excavation of the isolation break will proceed with the removal of 8 "decks" of waste, each approximately 10 feet in depth.  

On December 20, 2008, Republic contractors continued to excavate eastwards approximately halfway across deck 2.  Preliminary estimates indicate that approximately 8,240 cubic yards of municipal waste was relocated to the northwest portion of cell 7.  A maximum waste temperature of 125 degrees Fahrenheit was recorded.  No refined aluminum waste or charred municipal waste was observed.

On December 22, 2008, Republic contractors backfilled and graded additional clay cover onto the isolation break excavation and cell 7 waste relocation area.  From December 23, 2008, through January 4, 2009, the isolation break excavation operations were suspended for the holidays.  The five on-site fixed air monitoring stations continued to collect perimeter air monitoring readings 24/7 throughout the break.

From January 5, 2009, through January 6, 2009, Republic contractors continued to excavate eastwards across deck 2.  Preliminary estimates indicate that total of 22,060 cubic yards of municipal waste was relocated to the northwest portion of cell 7.  A maximum waste temperature of 128 degrees Fahrenheit was recorded.  No refined aluminum waste or charred municipal waste was observed.

On January 7, 2009, isolation break excavation operations were suspended due to weather conditions, including dense fog.

From January 8, 2009, through January 9, 2009, Republic contractors completed excavation at the east side of deck 2.  Preliminary estimates indicate that total of 21,260 cubic yards of municipal waste was relocated to the northern portion of cell 7.  A maximum waste temperature of 109 degrees Fahrenheit was recorded.  No refined aluminum waste or charred municipal waste was observed.

From January 12, 2009, through January 16, 2009, Republic contractors began excavation at the west side of deck 3, progressing eastward.  Preliminary estimates indicate that total of 41,400 cubic yards of municipal waste was relocated to cell 7.  A maximum waste temperature of 120 degrees Fahrenheit was recorded.  No refined aluminum waste or charred municipal waste was observed.

From January 19, 2009, through January 21, 2009, Republic contractors continued to excavate eastwards across deck 3.  Excavation of deck 3 was completed mid-day on January 21, 2009, and excavation was initiated at the west side of deck 4.  Preliminary estimates indicate that total of 26,900 cubic yards of municipal waste was relocated to cell 7.  A maximum waste temperature of 118 degrees Fahrenheit was recorded.  No refined aluminum waste or charred municipal waste was observed.

As of January 21, 2009, preliminary estimates indicate that a grand total of approximately 204,940 cubic yards of municipal waste has been excavated from the footprint of the isolation break between cells 5 and 7 to-date.  The excavated waste was relocated and spread out across the northern end of cell 7 and cell 8a, as detailed in the Isolation Break Excavation Work Plan.  Waste relocation is anticipated to continue in this manner throughout the duration of the excavation of the isolation break.

Republic contractors have transported an estimated total of 67,228 cubic yards of clay cover to the isolation break excavation and cell 7 waste relocation areas to-date.  The clay cover material is utilized to cover the municipal waste during off-hours as an odor control measure.

U.S. EPA, Ohio EPA, and Republic will conduct a physical inspection of the 39-acre area where new FML has been installed to ensure complete coverage of the area and document existing conditions.  In addition, existing FML placed over the original 30-acre reaction area will be inspected to ensure it remains adequate.

Republic contractors will continue the excavation and construction of an "isolation break" as detailed in the Isolation Break Excavation Work Plan.  The proposed isolation break is intended to establish a physical air-space separation of landfill cells 7-16 from the original 88-acres (cells 1-6), preventing the northward migration of reaction-generated heat and gases that has been documented during AOC activities.  The isolation break will require excavation and relocation of approximately 385,000 cubic yards of waste material from landfill cells 4b, 5b, 5c and 7, and is anticipated to be completed by mid-Spring 2009.

The remainder of the construction activities included in the Landfill Cover and Long-term Capping Plan are anticipated to resume in Spring, 2009.  This activity will include the constrution of a composite cover over Cells 1, 2 and 3.

A detailed operations and maintenance plan is under development to ensure continued care of the entire 88 acre "remediation area."  This plan will include both performance and monitoring measures for all engineered components (such as drains, gas wells, sumps, tanks, liner, leachate lines and flares) of the area, which are required to control the intrusion of oxygen and water into the cells 1-6 and prevent the escape of gas emissions, odors and leachate.  This plan is intended to ensure that the measures implemented pursuant to the Settlement Agreement remain in place and operational into the future.