Yes. In November 2016, the Ohio EPA issued an interim order to Stony Hollow establishing several action items, which we completed on schedule including:
- Increased odor surveys in the surrounding community to at least three times each day, every day: This has been underway since early December and has continued in 2017.
- Conducting weekly ambient air monitoring: This has been underway since early December and has continued in 2017. All air samples collected have not shown to be harmful to human health and have been shared with RAPCA and Ohio EPA.
- Established a protocol to notify the Ohio EPA and other local government officials of any facility malfunctions, power outages or events that may cause the migrations of odors beyond the landfill property: Since early December 2016, we have provided project updates to officials and have a protocol in place to immediately notify this group of any issues. We have also met face-to-face with several local leaders to keep them apprised of progress at the landfill.
- Installed backup power sources for the landfill’s gas extraction system and leachate collection system. We have installed backup generators to provide emergency power to ensure continuous operations of critical systems in the event of a major power outage in the area.
- Replaced the secondary gas flare with a larger capacity flare to handle additional gas capacity, which will help eliminate more collected gas.
- Completed installation of the temporary synthetic cap: We covered approximately 13.5 acres of the landfill with a synthetic liner cap to create an odor control barrier. A vacuum underneath the cap collects any gas not collected by the wells and sends it to one of the flares to be eliminated.
All requirements of the 2016 Ohio EPA interim findings and orders were completed on time and as directed.
On May 3, 2017 Ohio EPA issue their final orders and findings, which includes several benchmarks for Stony Hollow Landfill. http://edocpub.epa.ohio.gov/publicportal/ViewDocument.aspx?docid=616708
- Ambient Air Monitoring: During gas well drilling in the area we will be increasing the frequency of sampling of our ambient air monitoring, adding more monitors and conducting more laboratory testing to ensure the air in and around the landfill is safe for our employees and our neighbors. RAPCA will be conducting periodic monitoring in the community during these activities.
- Odor Surveillance: We will continue to conduct odor surveillance three times a day, seven days a week.
- Public Information Meeting: As part of the orders, Stony Hollow Landfill hosted an open poster session on June 6, 2017 at 6 p.m. Dunbar High School where community members learned more about what’s been done at Stony Hollow to address odors and projects completed in 2017.
- Odor Management Plan and Compliance/Corrective Action Plan: The order sets clear guidelines and measurement criteria that must be met before the Ohio EPA will give approval for any change.Install additional temporary synthetic cap as an odor control barrier. A vacuum underneath the cap collects any gas not collected by the wells and sends it to one of the flares to be eliminated.
- Enhance the landfill gas collection system in the area experiencing the elevated temperatures.
All requirements of the May 3, 2017 final orders and findings were completed on time and as directed.