HomeMy WebLinkAboutSW_F_2301-MSWLF-1990_09-07-2012_RM_LFG.pdfCleveland County Landfill – Report of Methane Monitoring – Second Quarter 2012 September 4, 2012
Shield Project 1040167 Page 2
1.0 INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background
Cleveland County (County) had operated an unlined sanitary landfill located in the eastern part
of the county, approximately six miles northeast of Shelby, North Carolina. This unlined former
sanitary landfill is known as the West Site. The West Site has three areas, A, B and C, which
have been landfilled and no longer receive municipal waste as of January 1, 1998. The County
completed the construction of a new lined (Subtitle D) landfill unit on the East Site, which
became operational in July 1998 (Figure 1). Long Creek is located at the downgradient toe of
the West Site. Similarly, Buffalo Creek is located along the downgradient toe of the East Site.
Both the West Site and the East Site are also separated by Long Creek.
In 2009 the construction of the new landfill, known as the Self-McNeilly Site, was completed
(see Figure 2). The disposal of municipal solid waste at the Self-McNeilly Site began in
September 2009. The disposal of municipal solid waste at the East Site was discontinued at the
end of 2009. Therefore the municipal solid waste within Cleveland County is now disposed at
the Self-McNeilly Site. The Self-McNeilly Site is separated from the East Site by Buffalo
Creek.
1.2 Methane Monitoring Program
The Methane Monitoring Program for the former landfill (West Site) has included the
monitoring of the permanent property boundary methane monitoring probes around the site.
However, as a result of various property acquisitions that were completed in an effort to create a
buffer around the West Site, new methane monitoring probes were necessarily installed either
along or near the new property boundary over the years as outlined below. Some portions of the
new property boundary consisted of a stream.
After several property acquisitions, new methane monitoring probes were installed (MP-11
through MP-14). Also, a series of methane monitoring probes were installed along Airport Road
(EP-7S/D through EP-11S/D). Additionally, in some areas of the property boundary, select
ground-water quality monitoring wells (MW-1, MW-2, MW-19, LF-1, LF-2, LF-3, and LF-4)
became available for monitoring methane along the west property boundary of the West Site to
Cleveland County Landfill – Report of Methane Monitoring – Second Quarter 2012 September 4, 2012
Shield Project 1040167 Page 3
demonstrate regulatory compliance along the property boundary as required by Title 15A North
Carolina Administrative Code Subchapter 13B Section .1626(4)(a)(ii) and .1626(4)(b) [15A
NCAC 13B.1626(4)(a)(ii) and .1626(4)(b)]. For public health and safety Cleveland County
personnel continue on a weekly basis to monitor landfill facility structures and off-site structures.
The locations of the methane monitoring probes are shown on the attached Figure 1. In some
areas the property boundary is a perennial stream and no new methane probes were installed
along that segment of the property boundary. Together both these new and some of the old
methane monitoring probes, and the selected monitoring wells (i.e., when the top of the well
screen is above the water table), comprise the current property boundary methane monitoring for
the West Site. The methane probes located either along or near the property boundary starting at
the southeast area of the West Site and going clockwise around the West Site are currently as
follows: EP-11S/D, MP-14, LF-4, MW-19, MP-12, and MP-13.
The initial Methane Monitoring Program for the East Site consisted of fourteen additional
methane monitoring probes (P-1 through P-14) which were installed on October 28, 1999 and
November 9, 1999. However, the nearest property boundary around the East Site is Buffalo
Creek, except for the area located northeast from the East Site (see Figure 1). Due to the variable
presence, and in some probes the continued presence of methane in these methane monitoring
probes since about 2004, two new methane monitoring probes (i.e., P-15 and P-16) were
installed along the property boundary northeast from the East Site in November 2008. This
property boundary is the closest property boundary to the East Site that is both on land and not
separated by water from the East Site Landfill.
The Methane Monitoring Program for the Self-McNeilly Site consists of seven methane
monitoring probes (MP-101 through MP-107) which were installed on October 13, 2008 by
Municipal Engineering Services, Inc. The methane monitoring probe depths ranged from 6.4 to
18.1 feet below ground surface. The property boundary around the Self-McNeilly Site that is
closest to the currently active cell is along Buffalo Creek to the west. The closest land-based
property boundary to the currently active cell is located 830 feet beyond Methane Probe MP-102
to the southeast (along the CSX railroad track).
Cleveland County Landfill – Report of Methane Monitoring – Second Quarter 2012 September 4, 2012
Shield Project 1040167 Page 4
1.3 Methane Data Collection and Presentation
The percentage of methane gas in air data from the methane monitoring probes are measured
using a LANDTEC GEM-2000TM gas monitor. These methane data were subsequently
downloaded from the LANDTEC GEM-2000 gas monitor and a hard copy is retained as part of
the landfill operating record (see Appendix A). Cleveland County does have methane gas
monitors installed in both onsite and offsite buildings to provide continuous monitoring for
methane in these structures.
Methane is explosive at concentrations ranging from 5 percent (%) of methane gas (lower
explosive limit – LEL) to 15 % of methane gas (upper explosive limit – UEL) by volume in air.
SWS management guidelines state that methane concentrations should not exceed either the LEL
(5 % of methane gas in air) at property boundaries or 25 % of the LEL (1.25 % of methane gas in
air) in facility structures [15A NCAC 13B.1626(4)(a)].
The methane measurement procedures used for monitoring methane at this Site follow both the
manufacturer’s specifications for the gas monitor and those procedures outlined in Landfill Gas
Monitoring Guidance dated November 2010.
Cleveland County Landfill – Report of Methane Monitoring – Second Quarter 2012 September 4, 2012
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2.0 METHANE GAS DATA
2.1 Methane Data Results Summary
2.1.1 West Site
The following briefly describes the historical trend to date for the property boundary methane
monitoring probes since measurements began on October 11, 1994 (EP-11S/D, MP-12 and MP-
13 since January 1999; LF-2 since November 1999, and MP-14 since October 2008):
EP-11S/D: Methane has been undetected since 1999 through to the Second Quarter of
2012 (i.e., except for two methane detections at 0.1% methane gas in air in August and
October 2009).
LF-4: Methane has been undetected since 2008 through to the Second Quarter of 2012
(i.e., except for one methane detection at 0.1% methane gas in air in October 2009).
MW-19: Methane has been undetected since 2008 through to the Second Quarter of
2012.
MP-12: Methane has been undetected since 1999 through to the Second Quarter of 2012
(i.e., except for three methane detections at 0.1% methane gas in air in April 2004,
November 2006, and October 2009).
MP-13: Methane has been undetected since 1999 through to the Second Quarter of 2012
(i.e., except for six methane detections consisting of three at 0.3% of methane gas in air
[January, February and March 1999]; and another three at 0.1% of methane gas in air
[April, 2004; November 2006, and October 2009]).
MP-14: Methane has been undetected since October 2008 through to the Second Quarter
of 2012 (i.e., except for two methane detections at 0.1% of methane gas in air in August
and November, 2009).
Overall, methane measurements obtained from the property boundary methane probes during the
Second Quarter of 2012 are similar to previous trends. The property boundary methane
monitoring probes for the West Site exhibited undetected methane for the Second Quarter of
2012 (see Table 1).
Cleveland County Landfill – Report of Methane Monitoring – Second Quarter 2012 September 4, 2012
Shield Project 1040167 Page 6
2.1.2 East Site
The following describes the historical trend for the property boundary methane monitoring
probes near contiguous land-linked adjacent properties located around the East Site Subtitle D
landfill:
P-15: Methane has been undetected (i.e., except 0.1% of methane in air in August
2009). Methane was undetected during the Second Quarter of 2012.
P-16: Methane has been undetected (i.e., except 0.1% of methane in air in October
2009). Methane was undetected during the Second Quarter of 2012.
Overall, methane measurements obtained from the property boundary methane probes during the
Second Quarter of 2012 are similar to previous trends. The property boundary methane
monitoring probes for the East Site exhibited undetected methane for the Second Quarter of 2012
(see Table 1).
2.1.3 Self-McNeilly Site
Methane monitoring at the seven methane probes located around the active cell at the Self-
McNeilly Site was commenced on a quarterly basis at the beginning of 2010. The methane data
for July 5, 2012 for these seven methane probes are provided in Table 1. The following
describes the methane data for the Second Quarter of 2012 for the methane monitoring probes
located around the Self-McNeilly Site Subtitle D landfill:
MP-101: Methane was detected at 1% of methane gas in air during the Second Quarter
of 2012.
MP-102: Undetectable methane recorded during the Second Quarter of 2012.
MP-103: Undetectable methane recorded during the Second Quarter of 2012.
MP-104: Undetectable methane recorded during the Second Quarter of 2012.
MP-105: Undetectable methane recorded during the Second Quarter of 2012.
MP-106: Methane was detected at 8% of methane gas in air during the Second Quarter
of 2012.
Cleveland County Landfill – Report of Methane Monitoring – Second Quarter 2012 September 4, 2012
Shield Project 1040167 Page 7
MP-107: Methane was detected at 0.2% of methane gas in air during the Second Quarter
of 2012.
All of the methane probes, except MP-101, MP-106, and MP-107 had no detectable methane gas
in air during the Second Quarter of 2012. Methane concentrations for Methane Probes MP-101
and MP-107 were below the regulatory limit for property boundary methane probes. The nearest
property boundary in the vicinity of Methane Probe MP-106 is Buffalo Creek, which is a
perennial stream. Hence, methane can not pass beyond the property boundary in the area west
from this methane probe.
2.2 Comments
Based on results of recent methane monitoring data for both the West and East Sites, methane
gas concentrations at the property boundary methane monitoring probes are below regulatory
limits for the Second Quarter of 2012.
The collection of methane data readings were initiated for the seven methane probes around the
active landfill cell at the Self-McNeilly Site at the beginning of 2010. Three of the seven
methane probes at this site (i.e., MP-101, MP-106, and MP-107) exhibited the presence of
methane during the Second Quarter of 2012. Methane Probe MP-101 is located at the southeast
corner of the active cell and is located 1,170 feet from the nearest property boundary, with a
stream between this probe and this property boundary. Methane Probes MP-106 and MP-107 are
located along the northwestern boundary of the landfill cell, and the nearest property boundary is
Buffalo Creek, a perennial stream that defines the western property boundary for the Self-
McNeilly site. However, the recorded presence of methane in air in each of Methane Probes
MP-101 and MP-107 is less than the LEL and is not a regulatory violation. The recorded
presence of methane in air in Methane Probe MP-106 did exceed the LEL, however the closest
property boundary to this methane probe is Buffalo Creek and hence this exceedance is not
considered a regulatory violation.
H:\Projects\2004\1040167 Cleveland County - General\METHANE\Methane Qtr Reports\2012 -2nd quarter methane monitoring.doc
Cleveland County Landfill - Report of Methane Monitoring - Second Quarter 2012
Shield Project 1040167
September 4, 2012
EP-11D ND ND
EP-11S ND ND
LF-04 ND ND
MW-19 ND ND
MP-12 ND ND
MP-13 ND ND
MP-14 ND ND
P-15 ND ND
P-16 ND ND
MP-101 1.0 21
MP-102 ND ND
MP-103 ND ND
MP-104 ND ND
MP-105 ND ND
MP-106 8.0 >100
MP-107 0.2 4
NOTES: 1) LEL - Lower Explosive Limit (5 % of methane in Air)
2) ND - Not Detected
3) Whenever percentage of Methane in Air is less than 5%,
Methane readings are provided in terms of percentage of LEL.
4) Whenever percentage of Methane in Air is greater than LEL
(5% of Methane in Air) no LEL reading is provided.
SELF-McNEILLY SITE
WEST SITE
EAST SITE
Date of Readings: July 5, 2012
% of LEL
Methane Monitoring
Probe Identification Methane in Air (%)
TABLE 1
MONTHLY METHANE MONITORING DATA FOR
PROPERTY BOUNDARY METHANE PROBES
CLEVELAND COUNTY LANDFILL
SHELBY, NORTH CAROLINA
H:\Projects\2004\1040167 Cleveland County - General\Scanned stuff\September 2012\2012_2_qtr gas Table 1.xls
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REV.DATE
PROJECT#:
DESIGNED BY:
PROJECT MGR:
DRAWN BY:
REVISIONS
COMMENTS
704-394-6913
704-394-6968 FAX
CHARLOTTE, NC 28208
4301 TAGGART CREEK ROAD
www.shieldengineering.com
ENGINEERING, INC.
SHIELD
SCALE:
DATE:
CLEVELAND COUNTY, NORTH CAROLINA
FIGURE
1
METHANE MONITORING LOCATION PLAN -
CLEVELAND COUNTY
SANITARY LANDFILL
1040167
1" = 200'
RBS
06/01/11
JDW
EAST-WEST SITES
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