Town staff and outside consultants presented an update on the gas collection system, odor control measures and reviewed options relative to accepting construction and demolition materials and resuming the allowance of gypsum to be disposed of at the landfill. Council members then discussed and asked questions of the staff and consultants.

Councilor Mulligan asked when the State of Connecticut’s Department of Environmental Protection would approve the Landfill Closure Plan? The DEP’s decision regarding the closure and capping of the Landfill is yet to be determined. The main issues for the DEP’s consideration include: the material to be used for capping; soil or a synthetic geomembrane; the methods for management of the leachate; and the management of landfill gas.

Councilor Jepsen inquired if the costs of operating the Landfill beyond 2007 have been included in the pro forma? Mr. Funk replied that the costs for management of the landfill as a part of the post-closure process is included. The pro-forma does not assume operation of the landfill and the receipt of waste past 12/31/07.

Councilor Jepsen asked if the cost to close the landfill $27.4 million? The estimate given to the town in the pro-forma regarding closure costs to close and cap the landfill, are 13.6 million dollars. The remainder of the funds are needed to help meet the 30-year post-closure costs.

Councilor Dean asked if the staff will be looking at "pre-sorted" as an option? We are reviewing the option of receiving what is being referred to as "pre-sorted" construction and demolition debris. This method involves removing significant quantities of gypsum from the C&D waste stream prior to its disposal.

Deputy Mayor Curtis asked if the wedge is still wet? Yes, the wedge area is wet at this point. Stormwater is draining into the wedge because it is a low spot on the landfill at this time. Once the wedge is filled to "grade", that is, to a point where it is even with or above the area where the fabric has been placed, then the stormwater will generally flow over the wedge and drain outside the areas that waste has been disposed.

Deputy Mayor Curtis asked if there is enough cover in the wedge for pumps to operate properly? There is enough waste in place within the wedge to allow the gas collection wells to operate.

Deputy Mayor Curtis asked if the goal is to still meet the 2007 closing deadline? Yes it is.

Councilor Dean asked if the fundamental problem or cause of the odors is the gypsum and if they are sure? Yes. The "rotten egg" odor is the result of hydrogen sulfide being generated within the landfill. This gas is from the decomposition of gypsum in an oxygen-free or low oxygen environment – which is the condition underground in certain parts of the landfill.

Councilor Dean inquired if the odor problem is fixed or are we just deceiving ourselves? Where the gas collection system is in place, it is collecting and combusting the landfill gas prior to it being emitted into the air. As long as this continues, the odor problem should be controlled.

Councilor Dean asked if accepting gypsum from only Windsor and Bloomfield would extend the operating life beyond 2007? If the gypsum ban was dropped for C&D coming from the towns of Windsor and Bloomfield, the pro-forma shows that enough C&D waste would not be received prior to the end of 2007 to allow the landfill to reach capacity.

Councilor Dean asked if there are other ways to meet closure cost other than accepting gypsum? No option that continues the ban on gypsum would result in the landfill reaching capacity prior to the end of 2007. All of these options would lead to less revenue in the Enterprise Fund by closure. They would also have an effect on the ability to meet the 30-year post-closure costs.

Mayor Trinks asked if we can expand MSW into the wedge? Unfortunately, it cannot be done. Municipal solid waste (MSW) can be placed into the area of the "wedge" or the bulky waste cell.

Mayor Trinks asked if there are any health effects from the odors? Studies have shown that there are no long-term health effects from landfill odors based on the level of constituents of landfill gases. There are short-term health effects, such as headaches and nausea, which disappear when the odor is removed.

Councilor Simon inquired about when you say "capacity", do you mean per the plan submitted to the DEP? Yes, the plan reviewed by the Council, which greatly improves stormwater drainage off of the landfill, will reduce the generation of landfill leachate.

Councilor Simon asked if we stay open past 2007, why would we be losing revenue? Because the longer the landfill remains in operation, the more annual operating costs are needed. Such operating costs reduce the funds available in the Enterprise Fund to meet closure and post-closure costs.

Councilor Simon asked if the odors were consistently bad during November. This was due to digging up wastes to install the gas collection system. Will you ever be able to promise that there will be no odors from the Landfill? Not really. However, as long as the gas collection wells have been installed in locations where odors are originating, and those wells are operating as efficiently as designed, the landfill gas should be collected by the gas collection system prior to being emitted into the air.

Councilor Mulligan asked what the status is of installing a permanent flare station? The installation of additional wells as a part of the "Master Plan" for gas collection and the location and specifications for a permanent flare station, will require the issuance of a permit from the DEP. The "Master Plan" will be forwarded for the DEP’s review shortly. The process for approval of a permit is fully under the control of the DEP and is difficult to estimate the length of time for the completion of this process.

Councilor Mulligan asked if plans have begun to bring permanent power to the blower? This will be part of the "Master Plan". However, in developing this plan, we need to consider the longer-term plan to install a small generator at the landfill to generate electricity from the combustion of landfill gas. The shorter-term plan to install an electrical line to power the blower needs to consider the longer-term plan which will also require an electrical line to be installed to carry the power from the generator out to the electrical grid. It is hoped that one electrical line could be designed and installed to handle both needs in the short-term and long-term (which would save money).

Councilor Mulligan asked if the long-term gas collection plan would be completed by the end of January? The plan should be ready for the DEP’s review in February.

Councilor Mulligan asked what process will be instituted to step up the size of the blower as the system is expanded? At this point, the existing blower equipment will be able to handle the existing system. The system expansion under the "Master Plan" will require that a permanent blower/flare station be installed.

Councilor Mulligan asked if you bring in dirt, why can’t the landfill be closed in 2007? If soil is purchased, the landfill could be brought to its final elevation. However, there would be a cost for such soil, which would reduce the amount available for closure and post-closure costs. Contaminated soil could possibly be brought in (at a tipping fee) to achieve the same goal, but the town needs to review the environmental issues from the use of such soil. Requests to bring contaminated soil to the landfill for disposal are reviewed for environmental effects by our consulting engineers.

Deputy Mayor Curtis asked if there is any further major trenching anticipated?

There should not be any additional trenching unless additional landfill gas collection piping and wells are installed.

Councilor Walker said he doesn’t have all the information he needs to make a decision regarding the landfill.

Councilor Dean asked if operating costs would go down when you’re just filling the wedge.

Councilor Mulligan said there are less than 28 wells in the bulky waste area. As this area gets filled, the well system will have to be expanded vertically and laterally. Are you accounting for expansion? Yes. Vertical extensions will be added to the tops of the wells as waste is placed around the existing wells. Additional horizontal collections may be added closer to the fabric once the existing horizontal collectors are buried under additional waste.

Councilor Mulligan asked if all the assumptions are being put into the gas system master plan? Yes.

Mayor Trinks asked what can we charge for pre-sorted C&D? The pro-forma assumes approximately $32/ton. This is based on market rates for where this waste can be disposed of elsewhere.