Kevin Spradlin
Cumberland Times-News
April 18, 2008 11:58 am
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CUMBERLAND - Waste Management officials on Thursday told the Allegany County commissioners that construction of a landfill gas system at Mountainview Landfill is scheduled to be completed in early 2009.
The system is intended to burn up a mixture of gases and chemicals that result in a foul odor. That odor has been the subject of numerous complaints to facility management.
Ed Van Keuren, an environmental protection manager and engineer with Waste Management, said during the work session that the company had originally planned to build the $500,000 unit "in two or three years." Plans are being expedited, he said, so the company can "be a good neighbor" to residents in the Vale Summit area.
The only change the surrounding neighborhood might notice is a single orange flare, Van Keuren said, but that it should not be visible from state Route 36. The flare is expected to operate constantly once started.
Company officials met with a handful of those residents Wednesday to update them on the process. Alisa Kyle, district manager with Waste Management, said the meeting was "really positive."
"They're looking to be kept in the loop," Kyle said. "We hope that group expands."
Kyle said she plans to meet with residents on a quarterly basis, both to keep them informed of the construction timeline and to address any concerns they might have.
Van Keuren said the company applied for air and solid waste permits from the Maryland Department of the Environment early this month. He expects to have the solid waste permit in early June and the air permit by June 30. Construction is slated to run from July through October before a winter shutdown due to expected inclement weather and start up again early next year.
"If we can possibly get the system operating this year, we will make all (efforts) to get that done," Van Keuren said.
Commissioner Jim Stakem asked if contacting members of the District 1 legislative delegation could help push things along more efficiently. But Mike Thomas, a Waste Management engineer, said the company has been given verbal reassurance that the permitting process shouldn't be too difficult.
"If, for some reason, we run into a road block, we'll maybe come back to you all (and ask) can you make a phone call," Thomas said. "But we don't anticipate" any delays.
Commissioner Dale Lewis asked about any increases in the danger for workers. Lewis referred to a Dec. 20 incident in which a Corriganville man working at the facility was severely injured when an electrical device was activated inside one of the pump buildings.
Thomas said the vacuum pumps with the new burn unit are designed to pull the methane gas from the pump buildings so a buildup doesn't occur.
"(The pumps) should drastically reduce the likelihood of anything like that ever happening again," Thomas said.
Acting County Administrator David Eberly asked about the possibility of converting the gas into energy. Thomas said the facility does not process enough garbage to generate sufficient energy.
"Right now, it's at the level of nuisance methane," Thomas said. "There's just too much to passively let go. The minute we can produce electricity, by gosh, we would."
Waste Management and county officials said discussions are ongoing regarding the possible expansion of the landfill. Van Keuren said such a project is not budgeted and that a "concept plan" has not yet been designed. The contract for the current 40-acre landfill runs through February 2013.
Contact Kevin Spradlin at kspradlin@times-news.com.
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