Local Enforcement Agency Correspondence

MSW Landfill Facility Compliance Study

Date: June 14, 2000

To: All Local Enforcement Agencies

The California Integrated Waste Management Board (CIWMB) is initiating a study, the first of its kind in California, that will look at municipal solid waste (MSW) landfills beyond the boundaries of the current regulatory structure. The study will provide us with a complete picture of MSW landfill environmental performance across air, water, and gas, so that we can fully comprehend their current status and the short and long-term environmental impacts. It will also give us an assessment of our current regulatory requirements so that we can determine whether the regulations effectively protect the environment and identify areas for improvement.

In keeping with the cross-media approach of the study, the scope of work (copy attached) was developed with the assistance of representatives from the State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB), Air Resources Board (ARB), Local Enforcement Agencies (LEA), and public and private landfills. The CIWMB approved the scope of work at the February 23, 2000 CIWMB Meeting. A Request for Proposals was advertised and qualifying bids were reviewed and scored by an evaluation and selection committee which consisted of CIWMB staff and staff from the SWRCB and ARB. The committee recommended GeoSyntec Consultants as the qualified contractor and the CIWMB approved GeoSyntec as the contractor at its May 23-24 Meeting.

Your assistance is critical to the success of this study since most of the information needed will come from the files of regulators and MSW landfill operators. However, your role would be limited to only providing access to records and any clarification if needed. There is also a possibility that you could be interviewed regarding problems associated with a specific landfill achieving compliance. We anticipate the need for access could cover a 24-month period, beginning in late June 2000, and ending before May 2002.

The study consists of two phases:

• Phase I, which is estimated to take approximately 12 months, is a comprehensive inventory of more than 240 MSW landfills that accepted waste since October 9, 1993, looking at the physical aspects, their setting, unique attributes, environmental protection systems in place, and compliance with environmental requirements. This includes MSW landfills that are active and MSW landfills that are no longer accepting waste.

During this phase, the contractor will gather the necessary information for this portion of the study from the files of regulators and MSW landfill operators. The responsibility to collect the information falls on the contractor. Your role would be limited to providing access to records and any clarification if needed.

• Phase II, which is estimated to take 12 months, consists of a more in-depth analysis of approximately 40 of the MSW landfills from Phase I. It builds upon the information collected in Phase I, assessing the current regulatory requirements for MSW landfills to determine if those requirements are really effective in protecting the environment for both the short-term and the long-term; and recommending possible improvements or enhancement to the regulation of California's MSW landfills that could result in greater environmental protection. This includes evaluating MSW landfill regulations from selected states and countries for possible improvements to California's program, as well as identifying emerging technologies that could also improve the multimedia regulation of MSW landfills.

During this phase, the contractor will gather the necessary information for this portion of the study from the files of regulators and MSW landfill operators. In addition, a select number of LEAs could be interviewed by the contractor regarding problems associated with a specific landfill achieving compliance. The responsibility to collect the information falls on the contractor. Your role would be limited to providing access to records and any clarification if needed, and answering questions on a specific landfill’s performance for a select number of landfills.

The contracted study will produce several significant reports, including the following:

• Phase I Report that presents a comprehensive inventory and assessment of MSW landfill performance in the state;

• Phase II Report that provides an assessment of the effectiveness of current state regulatory requirements for MSW landfills; and,

• Final Report that presents comprehensive findings on the regulation and compliance of MSW landfills in California; and recommends improvements or enhancements to California’s multimedia regulation of MSW landfills that will result in greater environmental performance.

To facilitate the collection of data by GeoSyntec, we are requesting that you designate an individual who can serve as a contact for GeoSyntec on general orientation questions and scheduling visits. Please provide the name of your designee by July 17, 2000

If you have any questions or comments, you may contact me at 341-6360, or you may contact Bobbie Garcia or Mel Knight, Chair of the Solid Waste Policy Committee, CCDEH, at (916) 875-8444 or knightm@emd.co.sacramento.ca.us.

Respectfully,

Original signed by

Ralph E. Chandler
Executive Director

Attachment

cc: Mel Knight
     Jeff Dunn, GeoSyntec Consultants
     Bobbie Garcia

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