Owl’s Head Alloy permit granted
Lynzie Embry-Jones
Managing Editor
Banner/Republican
It came as a shock and as no surprise when Stop the Landfill President, Frank House announced recently that the OHA Residual Landfill had gotten a green light. Just last week, the Division of Waste Management (DWM) sent us a 14 page transcript of the public hearing that was held in May. When reading the first paragraph, we were surprised to find that the hearing was a month too late.
Here are the chain of events as described in the document; OHA Notice of Intent received 9/16/2019, OHA Administrative Application received 5/26/2020, OHA Technical Application received 11/25/2020. Public notices were placed in this publication on 10/02/2019, 1/13/2021 and 4/13/2022. The DWM stated that they reviewed and approved the subsequent revisions and issued a draft permit on 4/11/2022. So, it was a done deal before we were ever granted a public hearing on 5/6/22.
If you attended the public hearing, it was clear that everyone involved, other than the concerned citizens, were being paid by David Bradford of Owls Head Alloy. They paraded “expert” after “expert” to talk about how safe and how good this landfill is. They, obviously, aren’t the people who will now be forced to live near it. Bradford, himself, sat two seats in front of us as we watched and listened. He seemed, at times, to be entertained as he chuckled at commenters.
This week, the report is in, with responses. For all the comments made by “we the people”, the responses were almost all the same:
“The application was reviewed in accordance with the provisions of KRS 224 and 401 KAR Chapters 47 and 48 which lay out the framework for matters which can be considered in the review of new landfill applications and DWM does not have regulatory authority over this matter”
Below is an important part to look at. In comment 15, the concerned was inquiring about not if, but when the discarded materials get wet. In the response it is important to note that they will give each employee (2 people) personal ammonia detectors and will watch the levels closely for their safety. Keep in mind, the two jobs that the company will bring to the county will be filled by people from outside the county. They make no concessions for our health and welfare.
In the first commenter’s response they talk about a groundwater and surface water monitoring system. It is important to point out that elsewhere in this document, it is listed that there will be one monitor upstream and one downstream and these will take quarterly readings. These quarterly readings will be allowed a certain amount of contaminants and still be acceptable. Personally, we would think that no amount of this kind of contaminants would be acceptable, since the contaminants will be dumped into our river just a few leaps away from our drinking water intake.
An excerpt from pages 11 and 12 of the document from DWM:
“Comment 14: Several commenters stated that liners fail. The concern included the effects if this does happen. If it were to happen, it could occur over a long period of time, going unnoticed by the public. Further, it was suggested the liner may melt and degrade in part due to the proposed waste stream. One commenter specifically outlined the following:
- a) Have there been instances of liner failure in other residual landfills that accept salt cake and bag house dust?
- b) What is the likelihood of a liner failure and what is the life expectancy of the proposed liner?
- c) How would the public become aware the liner has been compromised?
- d) If there is a failure how would it be addressed and how quickly?
- e) What type of effects on the liner can occur if the bag house dust or salt cake is exposed to water and moisture?
- f) If a liner failure occurs, what type of health implications are there for the Butler Countyarea and residents?
Response: Pursuant to 401 KAR 48:170 Section 1, the engineering design shall consider the physical and chemical characteristics of the waste, including compatibility of the waste with the liner and cover materials and water that may come in contact with the waste. The liner shall be designed to ensure containment of the waste on site and compliance with the environmental performance standards of 401 KAR 47:030. DWM believes the applicant has demonstrated compliance with these requirements in the submitted application. Additionally, the applicant has proposed a groundwater and surface water monitoring plan/network which will require the submittal of compliance monitoring reports to the DWM. Compliance monitoring reports records are made available to the public through the Kentucky Open Records Act.
Comment 15: Commenters stated the proposed waste materials will inevitably get wet. It was suggested the studies and requirements should not only look at the materials as if they were dry but make sure the operational and design plans accounted for the material when it was wet. Further one commenter specifically asked what type of reactions can occur and what effects can these reactions have if the bag house dust or salt cake is exposed to water and moisture. Commenters also specifically asked if material would be allowed to be deposited during wet weather.
Response: The applicant performed and documented in Attachment 7 of the NOI application Synthetic Precipitation Leaching Procedure (SPLP) testing for all waste materials. The SPLP test is designed to mimic the real-world environment for these wastes. DWM did not have any further comments or concerns regarding this testing.
There is a potential for ammonia generation associated with the salt cake material when it becomes wet from precipitation. Procedures will be utilized to reduce and control ammonia generation. Cover material (daily and long term) is required to be applied over the waste area. The cover material is required to be compacted and graded to provide positive drainage which will minimize rainfall infiltration into the underlying waste thereby reducing the potential for ammonia generation. In addition, applying cover material prevents exposure of the waste reducing the potential for ammonia emissions. During waste placement each lift of waste in the working face will be graded to provide positive drainage thereby promoting rainfall runoff and minimizing ponding.
The facility will distribute personal ammonia detection monitors to each landfill employee as stated in the application. The detection monitors will be used to monitor employees once per quarter for ammonia exposure as part of the internal health and safety program. The monitors will allow the facility to determine compliance with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Permissible Exposure Limit of 50 ppm averaged over an 8-hour work day and the Short Term Exposure Limit of 35 ppm during any 15 minute period in the day recommended by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). If ammonia levels exceeding the levels listed above are detected the facility is to take all necessary steps to ensure immediate protection of human health.”
If you would like to read the full document, please stop by the Banner as we will have a copy of it for viewing.
