HomeMy WebLinkAbout5001_Jackson_WesternCarolinaUniversity_MSWLF_LFG_FID1378505_20191204December 4, 2019
Mr. Roger Turk
Western Carolina University
3476 Old Cullowhee Road
Cullowhee, North Carolina 28723
Subject: Letter Report of Landfill Gas Monitoring
WCU Closed Municipal Solid Waste Landfill
Cullowhee, Jackson County, North Carolina
NCDEQ Permit: 50-01
Wood Project 6252-15-0221
Dear Mr. Turk:
wood.
Wood Environment & Infrastructure Solutions, Inc.
1308-C Patton Avenue
Asheville, INC 28806
USA
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www.woodpic.com
Wood Environment & Infrastructure Solutions, Inc. (Wood) is pleased to present this Letter Report
of Landfill Gas Monitoring for Western Carolina University's (WCU's) closed municipal solid waste
landfill (MSWLF) located in Cullowhee, North Carolina (Figure 1). The scope of work for this
monitoring event was described in Wood's Addition of Scope Request for Environmental Services,
dated September 26, 2018. This letter report summarizes background information, field activities,
results, discussion and recommendations from landfill gas monitoring performed at the Site.
Background Information
WCU operated the MSWLF from approximately the 1960s until 1993. Jackson County also disposed
of municipal solid waste at the landfill from approximately the early 1970s through the early 1980s.
The landfill property is approximately 31.5 acres, approximately four acres of which contain the
former landfill. The landfill was closed in accordance with the then applicable North Carolina
Department of Environmental Quality (NCDEQ) closure standards (15A NCAC 13B 0.0510), and a
closure letter was issued to WCU by NCDEQ on September 5, 1995. NCDEQ personnel conducted a
facility audit on March 16, 2011 and determined that landfill gas monitoring at the landfill must be
performed in order for the landfill to be in compliance with the post -closure conditions identified in
the 1995 closure letter.
In response to the audit, a Landfill Gas Investigation Work Plan, which described the preliminary
landfill gas investigation, as well as the 'full' landfill gas investigation, was submitted to NCDEQ on
October 19, 2011, and approved by NCDEQ in a letter dated November 29, 2011. Wood conducted
the preliminary landfill gas investigation in January 2012 using existing groundwater monitoring
wells, and then conducted semi-annual landfill gas monitoring utilizing the existing groundwater
North Carolina Corporate Engineering License No. F-1253, Geology No. C-247
Letter Report of Landfill Gas Monitoring December 4, 2079
WCU Closed Municipal Solid Waste Landfill, Cullowhee, North Carolina
Wood Project 6252-15-0221
monitoring wells from August 2012 to November 2015 to comply with the post -closure conditions.
The 'full' landfill gas investigation, which included the installation of eight permanent landfill gas
monitoring wells, was performed in February 2016. Since the 'full' landfill gas investigation has been
implemented, monitoring of landfill gas has been conducted quarterly in accordance with NCDEQ
Solid Waste Management rules (15A NCAC 13B.1626 (b)).
Field Activities
On November 20, 2019, Wood personnel measured landfill gas at the eight landfill gas monitoring
wells (LG-1, LG-2, LG-3S, LG-3D, LG-4, LG-5, LG-6 and LG-7) at the Site (Figure 2). The landfill gas
monitoring wells are screened in the unsaturated zone and located between the landfill and the
Site's property boundary. The landfill gas monitoring wells are fitted with a slip cap and ball valve to
allow for measurement of potential landfill gas. A calibrated gas monitoring instrument, a Landtec
GEM 5000+, was used to measure atmospheric pressure, as well as the following landfill gas
parameters:
Methane (percent by volume)
Oxygen (percent by volume)
Carbon dioxide (percent by volume)
The initial and stabilized readings for the above parameters were measured and recorded. The Solid
Waste Section's Landfill Gas Monitoring Data Form was used to record measurements and other
relevant information and is attached.
Results and Discussion
The Site landfill gas monitoring wells were tested for methane, carbon dioxide, and oxygen. Refer
to the attached Landfill Gas Monitoring Data Form for the testing results.
Concentrations of methane were not detected in the landfill gas monitoring wells. The regulatory
limit for methane at a MSWLF property boundary is equal to the lower explosive limit of methane
(15A NCAC 13B.1627 (d)). The recorded results from the eight landfill gas wells do not exceed this
limit indicating that regulatory limits are not being exceeded at the Site.
Recommendations
Based on the results of this monitoring event, we recommend submitting a copy of this letter
report to NCDEQ Solid Waste Section for their evaluation. We recommend continued quarterly
monitoring of landfill gas at the Site.
2
Letter Report of Landfill Gas Monitoring December4, 2019
WCU Closed Municipal Solid Waste Landfill, Cullowhee, North Carolina
Wood Project 6252-15-0221
Closing
If you have any questions concerning these services, please do not hesitate to contact us at (828)
252-8130.
Sincerely,
Wood Environment & Infrastructure Solutions, Inc.
Rodney M. Clark, L.G. Susan E. Avritt, P.E., L.G.
Technical Professional for aunt CiC�r4L Senior Engineer
with permission
RMC/SEAsea
attachments: Figure 1: Topographic Site Map
Figure 2: Landfill Gas and Monitoring Well Locations
Landfill Gas Data Monitoring Form
NCDEQ Environmental Monitoring Reporting Form
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SYLVA SOUTH, N.C. QUADRANGLE
35083—C2—TF-024
DMA 4354 1 SW —SERIES V842
N.C.
PRINTED 1946
PHOTOREMSED 1990
QUADRANGLE LOCATION
NOTE: SITE BOUNDARY IS APPROXIMATE.
CONTOUR INTERVAL 40 FEET
GRAPHIC SCALE FEET
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2,000 1,000 0 2,000
4,000
TOPOGRAPHIC SITE MAP
DRAWN: RMC
DATE: DEC. 2018
DFT CHECK: MEW
SCALE: 1" = 2,000'
WCU CLOSED MSWLF
ENG CHECK: --
JOB: 6252-15-0221
MONTEITH GAP ROAD
CULLOWHEE, NORTH CAROLINA
APPROVAL: MEW
FIG: 1