Drilling at landfill could cause a stink
The Akron Beacon Journal
BOLIVAR - Odors from the Countywide Recycling & Disposal Facility in southern Stark County were minimal on July 4, but might increase with upcoming drilling, the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency reported Friday.
In addressing the governing board of the Stark-Tuscarawas-Wayne Solid Waste District, EPA staff member Kurt Princic said additional drilling is planned at the Pike Township landfill, which has been plagued by odors and underground fires.
The drilling, to begin on July 16, is to install devices to determine whether the landfill has slope problems that could jeopardize its mechanical systems, Princic said.
The odors in southern Stark and northern Tuscarawas counties increased in mid-June, when Countywide drilled into the landfill to replace some gas-extraction wells on the 258-acre site. That prompted complaints from neighbors, Princic said.
Republic Waste Services of Ohio, the company that owns and operates the landfill, is under EPA orders to extinguish underground fires and eliminate odors. The company agreed to pay a $1 million fine.
The problems stem from aluminum wastes buried at the landfill coming into contact with liquids. This caused a chemical reaction that triggered the fires and odors.
On May 25, the company submitted to the EPA a fire-suppression plan that includes installing new synthetic liners atop the landfill to keep liquids and oxygen out of the 88-acre problem area, a process that could take three to six years. The plan is under review by the Ohio EPA.
In the meantime, the Ohio Environmental Review Appeals Commission has approved an expansion at Countywide following a three-year appeal. That 99-page decision was released on June 27.
By a 3-0 vote, the state panel ruled that the expansion was legal and affirmed the decision by then-Ohio EPA Director Christopher Jones to approve it.
On June 2, 2003, the EPA had approved Countywide's request to expand from 88 to 258 acres and to increase its capacity from 14.3 million cubic yards to 84.6 million cubic yards.
That decision made Countywide one of the biggest landfills in Ohio and provided enough dumping space for 27 years, if it took in 7,000 tons of trash per day.
But the decision was appealed to the Environmental Review Appeals Commission by Club 3000, a grass-roots organization in Bolivar; the Village of Bolivar; and the garbage district.
The appeals board refused to consider the odor problems from the landfill.
Countywide general manager Tim Vandersall said the company was pleased with the board's decision.
Under Ohio law, the company was allowed to build and operate the first part of the expansion while the appeal was pending.
View related articles:
Board discusses appeal of landfill growth
Appeals Commission OKs landfill expansion; foes not giving up
Club 3000 president: 'We're not giving up hope'
