The Countywide Landfill Site is located at 3619 Gracemont Street SE, East Sparta, Stark County, Ohio, 44626. For a more complete description of the site history and U.S. EPA enforcement, refer to POLREP #1.
During the week of September 29, 2008, an additional Republic contractor was mobilized to the site to begin installation of the five stationary on-site air monitoring systems ("Stage C"). Each station included one RAE Guard photo-ionization detector (PID) with a range of 0.01 to 20.00 parts per million (ppm), one summa canister and solenoid triggering system, one ultrasonic weather station, and an antenna for transmission of real-time data to a data-logging computer located on-site. The summa canister air samples can be collected automatically when PID readings are sustained above the desired threshold for one minute. The current PID threshold is set to 0.25 ppm VOC for the automatic collection of a summa canister air sample. Each fixed station was installed on a new concrete pad and enclosed by chain-link fencing. The previous on-site air monitoring system ("Stage B" described in POLREP #3) will continue to be utilized concurrently with the new fixed stations for several weeks before the "Stage B" system is removed from the site.
On September 30, 2008, Republic contractors began investigative drilling described in the "Isolation Break Investigation Work Plan" verbally approved by U.S. EPA on September 29, 2008. This additional work was added under the AOC to help evaluate the potential for landfill gas and odor emissions from the proposed isolation break waste excavation and to document the physical conditions of the waste within the footprint of the proposed isolation break between landfill cells 5 and 7. Split-spoon samples were collected at 5-foot intervals from ground surface to within 20 feet of the basal landfill liner. Republic contractors logged field measurements and observations of the waste samples including temperature, relative moisture content, odor, physical descriptions and any visual evidence of charring.
On October 6, 2008, Republic contractors began excavation of the test pits also included in the "Isolation Break Investigation Work Plan." Test pits were excavated to a maximum depth of 25 feet below ground surface (bgs) within the footprint of the proposed isolation break. Republic contractors collected 2 waste samples per test pit and logged physical descriptions of the waste. Republic contractors also collected 8-hour summa canister air samples and datalogs from photo-ionization detectors (PID) placed approximately 100 feet upwind and downwind of the test pits (per "Stage A" air monitoring protocol), and monitored the worker breathing zone with a 4-gas monitor, PID, and an ammonia detector. U.S. EPA, Ohio EPA and START personnel were on-site to observe and document each of the test pit excavations. START conducted additional air monitoring of the waste excavation with a 4-gas monitor, PID and a flame-ionization detector (FID).
On October 16, 2008, Republic contractors submitted an "Isolation Break Investigation" final report. A total of 9 investigative borings (designated FB-B1 through FB-B10; FB-B2 omitted) and 5 test pits (designated TP-1 through TP-9; TP-1 through TP-3 and TP-8 omitted) were completed through October 7, 2008. A list of borings and test pits to be removed from the investigation was compiled and agreed upon by U.S EPA and Ohio EPA representatives on-site on October 7, 2008. No signs of charred waste were reported. No aluminum dross material was identified amongst the waste excavated and sampled during the investigation. The maximum waste temperature reported within the footprint of the proposed isolation break was 163 degrees Fahrenheit.
Republic contractors will continue the additional excavation and pipe installation necessary to complete the Area E toe drain. Additional information is included in the Key Issues section.
Republic contractors will work to complete the installation of FML in the southeast corner of Area E. Approximately 38.5 acres of FML have been installed to-date out of the 39 total acres of FML required for the AOC.
Republic contractors will submit a work plan to U.S. EPA for the proposed excavation of an "isolation break" between landfill cells 5 and 7. The proposed isolation break is intended to establish a physical air-space separation of landfill cells 7 through 16 from the original 88-acres, inhibiting the northward migration of reaction-generated heat and gases that has been documented during the AOC activities. If installed, the isolation break would require excavation and relocation of approximately 385,000 cubic yards of waste material and an estimated 3-5 months for completion. If approved, the work is anticipated to begin in November, 2008.
Republic contractors have completed 100% of the pipe installations necessary to comply with the AOC, however, approximately 100 feet of the toe drain in Area E is still awaiting tie-in to the existing systems. Progress on completing this remaining section of the Area E toe drain has been complicated by gas and steam emissions from the eastern corner of the toe drain, causing elevated air monitoring readings within the toe drain and preventing worker access in Level-D PPE. Republic contractors anticipate an additional 1-2 weeks until completion of this task.
As reported in POLREP #3, high winds exceeding 75 mph from Hurricane "Ike" caused extensive damage to 7 FBMPs and 12.75 acres of FML installed under the AOC on Septeber 14, 2008. Additionally, a total of 26 existing extraction well heads were damaged by high winds in the original 88-acres. UPDATE: As of October 2, 2008, all known damages to the existing gas extraction system had been repaired by Republic contractors. Approximately 5 acres of damaged FML on the northern plateau of Area N is still awaiting repair due to its proximity to the proposed "isolation break." Three of the damaged FBMPs have been returned to operational status, and the remaining four were deemed to be damaged beyond repair. Discussion for the potential replacement of the 4 damaged FBMPs has been postponed, also pending the approval of the isolation break.
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