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EPA ISSUES PERMITS FOR LANDFILL EXPANSION By
Todd Helberg-Crescent News A process that started six
years ago for Defiance County’s landfill expansion plans has come to fruition. County
commissioners learned Thursday (December 21, 2006) during their meeting that the Ohio
Environmental Protection Agency has issued the final best available technology (BAT)
permit to install for the landfill project. County Environmental Services director, Tim
Houck also said that Ohio EPA has issued the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination
System permit concerning management of storm water at the Canal Road landfill. In January, Houck
said, the county hopes to bid the first six-acre section of the new landfill which must be
built with the latest technology. This includes a plastic liner and other environmental
protection measures. Houck said the
estimated construction cost is $400,000 per acres, or about $2.5 million for the first six
acres in 2007. According to Houck, new six-acre sections will be opened just south of the
existing landfill every 18-24 months for 15 years. The area for expansion includes 78
acres just south of the current facility. The existing landfill has room for approximately
one more year, Houck said, and will rise another 20 feet before being closed. Houck said the
process to expand the landfill began in 2000 when Ohio EPA reissued a permit for the
county to continue adding to the existing landfill. The BAT permit-to-install was sent to
Ohio EPA more than 1 ½ years ago, he explained. “This was a huge undertaking by
everyone, and I can’t tell you how happy we are,” said Houck. “Everyone in the
process from operators to scales clerks pulled together. This just doesn’t happen
without a total team effort.” Houck also credited
attorneys Eastman & Smith, Toledo; consultants at Mannik & Smith Group, Maumee,
who helped advise the county and work with Ohio EPA on receiving approval, as well as
county commissioners. “It was a
collaborative effort led by the county commissioners and the consultants at Mannik &
Smith, Eagon & Assoc., and legal advisors at Eastman & Smith,” said Houck.
“Without the engineers and lawyers this project would still be no where.” Houck also
complimented Ohio EPA, saying its officials were ‘considerate and professional’ in
expediting the BAT permit process. Houck said the
expansion will give the county landfill space for 100 years. But he said the county plans
to seek additional landfill users from outside the area who might shave 30 years off the
facility to ensure that operating costs are met and disposal rates remain low. At present, Houck
said, the landfill takes in about 1,500 cubic yards of waste daily, receives approximately
$2.5 million in revenue and has an annual operating budget of $2 million.
But when the new facility begins operating, he said that cost will rise to $3
million per year. Houck said the
county hopes to add another 1,000 cubic yards of waste per day to meet these higher
expenses. “The landfill is here for the citizens of the Four County Solid Waste District
and Defiance County,” said Houck. “We want to make sure they are taken care of. But
the district (alone) does not take in enough waste to run a BAT facility. |
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