Agenda - 09-01-2009 - 6a - Laserfiche WebLink

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4.14 Environmental Justice In order to ensure that all groups of people in the community are aware of and potentially involved in the waste transfer station project, the County has included the community in several of the stages of the development of the proposed waste transfer station. They have conducted several public meetings and heard comments from the public regarding the project and siting process. A website2 to inform the public of progress during the siting process was created. A Community Advisory Group (CAG) is under development that includes residents from the vicinity of the proposed waste transfer station. The purpose of this group is to keep the community involved in the process from the construction of the transfer station through to its operation. This group may act as a mediator for concerns and comments from the public regarding the project. Members of the CAG create a direct pathway from the impacted community to the consulting team, Solid Waste Management, County Management, and the BOCC. 4.15 Introduction of Toxic Substances No toxic substances will be introduced during the construction of the project. During operations, the transfer station will be operated in accordance with applicable regulations, and BMPs designed to assure that toxic substances will not be introduced to the environment. These practices include: ■ Waste prohibition: By permit and regulation, the facility cannot accept any hazardous, toxic, or radioactive waste. ■ Load inspection: Orange County Solid Waste Operations Staff will conduct inspections on the refuse to assure that the material received is in accordance with allowable waste by the permit issued by NCDENR for the transfer station. A program of random visual inspections will be in place to check for unsuitable materials. Any material that cannot be demonstrated to comply with the facility permit will be rejected. In addition, all loads dumped on the tipping floor are visually inspected by operations staff to assure that unsuitable material is not placed in trailers for transport to the landfill. ■ Collection of wash water, contact water, and spills: The transfer station building is designed to capture all tipping floor washdown water, as well as any contact water that may drain from the refuse. The containment system would also contain any spills of any toxic materials. The wastewater from the containment system is going to be pumped and hauled to a wastewater treatment plant. Any contamination to the wastewater (as a result of a spill) could be treated prior to its release to a public wastewater treatment plant. 2 http : / /www.olver.com /orangecounty/ 15 Environmental Assessment Site 056