Temperature increase slight at Countywide
BY Robert Wang
The Canton Repository
PIKE TWP - The Ohio Environmental Protection Agency is trying to determine what is causing a slight temperature increase within the Countywide Recycling & Disposal Facility, a state official said Friday.
Ed Gortner, one of the EPA’s enforcement coordinators, said EPA staffers want to look at more temperature readings from the landfill on Gracemont Street SW.
In April, one gas well had a reading of 228 degrees. By June, a nearby well was at 230 degrees. While that may not seem significant, Gortner said Countywide has submitted data indicating higher temperatures throughout the landfill.
An underground fire amid the waste may be generating the heat, Gortner said, but the exact cause is unclear.
“The site is very, very complicated,” said Gortner. “We are continuing to gather additional data to determine what needs to happen as fast as possible.”
Earlier this year, the Ohio EPA determined that underground fires were burning inside the landfill, due to reactions of aluminum waste with water. The agency ordered Countywide to take several actions to deal with the problem. The landfill, citing its paid consultants, says there is no fire.
Countywide’s general manager, Tim Vandersall, said while he hasn’t seen all the data, there have been no major trends involving heat.
‘QUESTIONABLE RESULTS’
Meanwhile, Countywide’s engineers and consultants are preparing a response to the EPA’s criticism of the landfill’s proposals to deal with the aluminum waste reaction. On Aug. 7, Gortner issued a 22-page document that commented in detail on Countywide’s Treatability Study Report of July 9.
“The report ... does not evaluate any means of suppressing the smoldering fire,” wrote Gortner. “In fact, the report appears to imply that a smoldering fire does not exist at Countywide...”
Gortner went to write, “Ohio EPA and its experts believe this study lacks methodological detail and yields only questionable results. ... given the enormity of the problems occurring at the Countywide site, this study is inadequate and needs to be repeated.”
“It’s very easy to criticize a study rather than do a study,” said Vandersall. “They’re welcome to their criticisms. We may disagree with some of it, but we will respond accordingly.”
EPA: NO CAPPING
On Tuesday, Gortner sent Vandersall a letter saying that Countywide would violate state law if it proceeds with a possible plan to cap its original 88-acre landfill area with synthetic materials, without the agency’s approval.
“We fear such activity may exacerbate conditions at Countywide,” wrote Gortner, who added that “premature placement” of a temporary cap on the landfill could result in its removal by the agency, which would be “an exercise that would be of great frustration to all parties.”
The area contains the aluminum waste reactions, and Countywide agreed this year to close it to additional trash.
Vandersall said Countywide’s engineers have discussed capping the 88-acre area to keep oxygen from fueling the aluminum reaction and to contain odors. He said he had no intention to proceed with capping without the EPA’s approval.
EPA spokesman Mike Settles said it’s not clear when the aluminum waste problems will be resolved.
“Whatever remedy is selected, we want to make sure they’re no unexpected side effects,” he said.
The Canton Repository
PIKE TWP - The Ohio Environmental Protection Agency is trying to determine what is causing a slight temperature increase within the Countywide Recycling & Disposal Facility, a state official said Friday.
Ed Gortner, one of the EPA’s enforcement coordinators, said EPA staffers want to look at more temperature readings from the landfill on Gracemont Street SW.
In April, one gas well had a reading of 228 degrees. By June, a nearby well was at 230 degrees. While that may not seem significant, Gortner said Countywide has submitted data indicating higher temperatures throughout the landfill.
An underground fire amid the waste may be generating the heat, Gortner said, but the exact cause is unclear.
“The site is very, very complicated,” said Gortner. “We are continuing to gather additional data to determine what needs to happen as fast as possible.”
Earlier this year, the Ohio EPA determined that underground fires were burning inside the landfill, due to reactions of aluminum waste with water. The agency ordered Countywide to take several actions to deal with the problem. The landfill, citing its paid consultants, says there is no fire.
Countywide’s general manager, Tim Vandersall, said while he hasn’t seen all the data, there have been no major trends involving heat.
‘QUESTIONABLE RESULTS’
Meanwhile, Countywide’s engineers and consultants are preparing a response to the EPA’s criticism of the landfill’s proposals to deal with the aluminum waste reaction. On Aug. 7, Gortner issued a 22-page document that commented in detail on Countywide’s Treatability Study Report of July 9.
“The report ... does not evaluate any means of suppressing the smoldering fire,” wrote Gortner. “In fact, the report appears to imply that a smoldering fire does not exist at Countywide...”
Gortner went to write, “Ohio EPA and its experts believe this study lacks methodological detail and yields only questionable results. ... given the enormity of the problems occurring at the Countywide site, this study is inadequate and needs to be repeated.”
“It’s very easy to criticize a study rather than do a study,” said Vandersall. “They’re welcome to their criticisms. We may disagree with some of it, but we will respond accordingly.”
EPA: NO CAPPING
On Tuesday, Gortner sent Vandersall a letter saying that Countywide would violate state law if it proceeds with a possible plan to cap its original 88-acre landfill area with synthetic materials, without the agency’s approval.
“We fear such activity may exacerbate conditions at Countywide,” wrote Gortner, who added that “premature placement” of a temporary cap on the landfill could result in its removal by the agency, which would be “an exercise that would be of great frustration to all parties.”
The area contains the aluminum waste reactions, and Countywide agreed this year to close it to additional trash.
Vandersall said Countywide’s engineers have discussed capping the 88-acre area to keep oxygen from fueling the aluminum reaction and to contain odors. He said he had no intention to proceed with capping without the EPA’s approval.
EPA spokesman Mike Settles said it’s not clear when the aluminum waste problems will be resolved.
“Whatever remedy is selected, we want to make sure they’re no unexpected side effects,” he said.
