NCD980602163_19821112_Warren County PCB Landfill_SERB C_Letter to Warrenton Prebysterian Church-OCR

JAMES B. HUNT. JR.
GOVERNOR
.MEMORANDUM
TO:
FROM:
SUBJECT:
DATE:
STATE OF NORTH CAROLIN~
DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN RESOURCES
325 NORTH SALISBURY STREET
RALEIGH 27611 SARAH T. MORROW, M.D .. M.P.H.
Reverend J. Clinton Mccann, Jr.
Reverend Nancy Rowland Mccann
Warrenton Presbyterian Church
Sarah T. Morrow, M.D., M.P.H.
Secretary
PCB LandfiJl in Warren County
November 12, 1982
SECRETARY
TELEPHONE
919/733-4534
Your resolution of concern about the PCB landfill in Warren County and
hazardous landfills in general has been referred to my office for reply. I
apologize for the delay in responding to the items you addressed.
Currently there is no Environmental Protection Agency approved method for
detoxifying PCB mixed with soil in the quantity involved with the PCB landfill
in Warren County. Governor James B. Hunt, Jr. in his meeiting with representatives
of the Warren County Citizens Against PCB group promised the state will push as
hard as it can for detoxification of the landfill when, and if, the appropriate
and feasible technology is developed.
We do, however, feel that this landfill will prevent any PCB from escaping
the multiple barriers designed into it, and that this landfill does not pose a
threat to the environment, to agriculture or to human saf'ety.
Included in the landfill are a five-foot clay liner and 30-millimeter thick
plastic liner separating the PCB-contaminated soil from the underlying subsoil.
The clay liner is brick-hard and there is almost no likelihood that PCB will leak
from this containment. The landfill will be capped with a two~foot thick layer
of clay and a 10 millimeter thick plastic liner. Soil will be placed on top of
the liners and then seeded to control erosion. Two leachate detection systems are
built into the landfill; one below the bottom plastic liner and one just below the
contaminated soil in the landfill. They will be monitoreo regularly, and if any
leakage is detected the leachate will be collected and removed. Four monitoring
wells have been installed strategically around the landfill, also,
· P.verend J. Clinton Mccann, Jr.
~• Reverend Nancy Rowland Mccann
Page 2
November 12, 1982
Once the landfill is closed it will never be used again for any purpose. It
will be fenced in so no one can get into the area to darn~ge the integrity of the
landfill. This landfill will, I am convinced, protect both the environment and
the people living in the area.
As to your point about hazardous wa~tes in general, you may know that the
Hazardous Waste Act of 1981 passed by the General Assembly in its last session
established the Waste Management Board and charged it with establishing state
policy for handling of hazardous wastes in this state. North Carolina is a major
generator of hazardous waste; ranking among the top 11 states in the nation in this
category.
The Act and the Board emphasize the use of alternat1vesto landfills --
detoxification, recycling, incineration --for hazardous waste wherever . feasible.
It also is the policy of this state that the generators of this waste bear the
burden of the cost of prop~rly disposing of it.
Whether North Carolina will need a hazardous waste landfill or not is still
a question to be resolved. There are very few alternati~e hazardous waste handling
methods which do not leave at least residue of waste from their processes. This
residue must be placed somewhere.
You as church members have a special calling to becqme involved in the very
difficult issue of how best to resolve the hazardous waste problem North Carolina
faces. Your letter of concern shows that you recognize this responsibility. I
hope you will keep this concern alive and lend your time and counsel to the state
as we seek to find the best solutions to our hazardous waste problems in North
Carolina.
Thank you for your concern.