Central Landfill Gas Emission Update

January 2002

With assistance from the residents of North East, the Department of Public Works has been investigating the "rotten egg" odor some have detected since Hurricane Floyd.  An accurate database of reported detections was an essential tool as we seek a remedy to the problem and area residents helped by calling in reports that have been used by our consultant.  A study of the problem has been completed by our consultant, SCS Engineers and their report is available on this website for viewing.  The public is also invited to view the document at the North East Library, the Elkton Library, the Central Landfill, or at the Department of Public Works office in the County Courthouse.

The report discusses the Landfill Gas odor concern, investigative methods, results and data, and presents conclusions and recommendations for mitigative action in both the short and long-term.

The Department of Public Works wishes to thank the residents and businesses that were patient and understanding while this important project was completed, many of who have contributed important information for the study.

Landfill Gas Emission Summary

January 2002

Landfill Summary

• Owner:  Cecil County Government
• Location:  758 East Old Philadelphia Road, Elkton, Maryland; east of the Town of North East.
• Land Mass:  407.45 ± acres, surrounded on three sides by State Forest.
• Operational Since:  1978.
• Operational Entity:  Cecil County Department of Public Works, Solid Waste Division.
• Operational Cells:
• • Cell #1:  825,000 cubic yards; no RCRA liner (clay liner only); no gas risers; 100% full; uncapped; utilized 1978 through 1990.
  • Cell #4:  600,000 cubic yards; RCRA lined; 5 gas risers equipped with passive flares; 100% full; uncapped; utilized 1990 through 1994.
  • Cell #5, Phase I:  1,080,000 cubic yards; RCRA lined; 8 gas risers equipped with passive flares; nearing capacity; still in service; uncapped; utilized 1994 through the present.
  • Cell #5, Phase II:  2,000,000 cubic yards; RCRA lined; 8 gas risers (planned to be equipped with passive flares); under construction; in service date estimated to be May 2001.

• Refuse Volume:  Refuse placed in the cells is approximately 250 tons per day with approximately 302 operational days per year.
• Leachate is not treated on site; it flows by gravity sewer to the North East Advanced Wastewater Treatment Plant on Carpenters Point Road.
  
• Historically, odor complaints have been very few and isolated normally to the classic "dog days of summer." 
  

LFG Emission Summary

• Hydrogen sulfide (H2S), usually compared to a "rotten egg" odor, was identified as a problem by residents shortly after Hurricane Floyd (October 1999).  The hurricane resulted in over six inches of rain in 8-12 hours (compare to the 100-year, 24 hour storm of 7.3 inches for Cecil County and the 100-year, 6-hour storm of 5.2 inches) and 15 inches throughout the duration of the storm.
• The summer of 1999 suffered a severe drought in Cecil County, accompanied by abnormally intense heat, and was characterized as the "100 year drought" by many.
• In December 1999 and January 2000, five passive, "candlestick" flares were installed on the gas vents existing in Cell #4 and eight were installed on the gas vents in Cell #5, Phase I.  The flares were installed at an approximate cost of $85,000.
• In January 2000, the use of Recovermat, a recycled material containing gypsum, was suspended; it had been used for several years as a substitute daily cover material.
• Following installation of the passive flares, SCS Engineers documented reduction of H2S emissions from the flares by 97-99%; however, fugitive emissions from the face that may not be collected by the passive gas risers were not extensively studied.
• An automated weather station was installed at the landfill to continuously track temperature, humidity, wind speed, wind direction, precipitation, barometric pressure, and other parameters.  Data is stored digitally for future correlation with reported emissions and other needs.
• An automated weather station was installed at the landfill to continuously track temperature, humidity, wind speed, wind direction, precipitation, barometric pressure, and other parameters.  Data is stored digitally for future correlation with reported emissions and other needs.
• Odor reports have been logged at the landfill since October 1999; these totaled 26 through March 2001.
• Three air-monitoring devices were purchased shortly after the H2S began.  Two Biosystems Toxi Ultra H2S meters can quantify ambient H2S concentration as low as 1 part per million.  A third meter, the Jerome Model 631X, quantifies H2S concentrations as low as 1 part per billion.
• The Cecil County Department of Public Works, Division of Solid Waste has attempted to quantify reported emissions with H2S monitors, but has had no success, possibly due to the extremely intermittent nature of the emissions.
• No correlations have been successfully completed by DPW between the reports and various weather conditions.  However, anecdotally, the worst odors are reportedly associated with late evening and early morning hours and times of higher humidity.
• The Cecil County Department of Public Works, Division of Solid Waste has requested and received considerable technical advice from the Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE), Division of Air and Radiation.  MDE has attempted to confirm emission reports with quantified H2S measurements, but has also been unsuccessful.  MDE has encouraged the Cecil County Department of Public Works, Division of Solid Waste to evaluate the possibility of various sources, including the landfill face, sewer lines, perimeter off-gassing, and off-site sources such as wetland areas.
• In the summer of 2001, the Department retained SCS Engineers (Reston, Virginia) to investigate the source and pathways of the H2S and recommend solutions.  SCS is a nationally recognized firm in the area of landfill gas management and has extensive experience with these types of problems.  Their report was completed in November 2001 and is available for viewing at www.ccgov.org.