Agenda - 04-05-2011 - 8a - Laserfiche WebLink

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Memorandum To: Frank Clifton, County Manager From: Gayle Wilson, Solid Waste Director Subject: MSW Landfill Expansion Capacity options Date: March 2, 2011 I have been evaluating the HDR Engineering memorandum of February 3, 2011 attached}that presents three options for obtaining additional capacity for the county landfill. This memorandum has previously been shared with you and indicates that the county may want to extend final capacity using one of these options. All three options will considerably extend current capacity estimates of March-June 2013. None of the options would result in a lateral expansion of the facility and the existing landfill footprint would remain the same. Options 2 and 3 would require a public process led by the State and assisted by the Solid Waste Department because the current permitted capacity would be increased by more than 10%. I have attached a table summarizing the advantages and disadvantages of each option and I am recommending option #2. option #2 would extend capacity until about January 2017. The basis for my recommendation is as follows: • option 3 would provide the greatest capacity, but would be extremely difficult to construct. • while I don't relish the required brief public process due to the strong feelings of a small number of residents in a nearby neighborhood, I believe extending capacity would be in the best interest of the residents of the county as a whole, be a considerable benefit for users who depend on landfill, would delay expenditures for closure and post-closure, would delay the more expensive delivery of waste to the City of Durham Transfer Station, would allow for the continued reserving of funds for closure and post-closure, and provide additional time for local elected officials to explore other longer-term waste management alternatives. • It would appear that we have an obligation to reasonably optimize the use of the public infrastructure. If you concur I will direct HDR Engineering to develop the permit modification accordingly. In the event you do not concur, we will proceed with Option # 1.