5001_JacksonCountyWCU_GWMR_20171116

Correspondence:
Amec Foster Wheeler Environment & Infrastructure, Inc.
1308 Patton Avenue
Asheville, North Carolina 28806
Tel [phone]

November 16, 2017

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
Amec Foster Wheeler Project 6252-15-0221

Dear Mr. Turk:
Amec Foster Wheeler Environment & Infrastructure, Inc. (Amec Foster Wheeler) 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
Amec Foster Wheeler’s Addition of Scope Request for Environmental Services, dated
May 5, 2016. This letter report summarizes background information, field activities,
results, discussion and recommendations from landfill gas monitoring performed at the
subject property.

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. Amec Foster Wheeler conducted the preliminary landfill gas
investigation in January 2012 using the existing groundwater monitoring wells, and then
Letter Report of Landfill Gas Monitoring November 16, 2017
WCU Closed Municipal Solid Waste Landfill, Cullowhee, North Carolina
Amec Foster Wheeler Project 6252-15-0221
2

conducted semi-annual landfill gas monitoring utilizing the existing groundwater
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 13, 2017, Amec Foster Wheeler 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 2000+, 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 subject property.