Agenda - 05-17-2011- 8a - Laserfiche WebLink

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any action. These two plans are the most recent in a series of committees, task force and plans completed since the landfill opened in 1972. A number of local government initiatives have been implemented to improve the quality of life in the Rogers Road Community and they are as follows: 1. The Solid Waste fund paid $650,000 to extend public water service by the Orange Water and Sewer Authority (OWASA) to the Rogers Road area. As of July 2010, water was available to 166 parcels and 71 have connected. 2. Solid Waste has installed gas flares to reduce odors. A landfill gas to energy project (Orange County and UNC) will be completed within the year. The project will further reduce air odor problems, provide a long -term renewable energy source to UNC reducing dependence on increasingly expensive fossil fuels, and reduce carbon emissions. 3. Town of Chapel Hill initiated bus service on Rogers Road. 4. Solid Waste has initiated a no -fault well policy to deal with failing drinking water wells remaining in the adjoining neighborhoods. Resolution proposed by Rogers Eubanks Neighborhood Association (RENA) On April, 5, 2011 the Board received numerous public comments regarding the three options presented to extend the life of the landfill. RENA presented a resolution requesting that the Board take actions on behalf of the Rogers Road Community. 1. Immediately designate $2.50 per ton or 5% of the landfill tipping fee to fund remediation for the Rogers Road Community, proceeds to be paid in full to RENA, who is the designated agent for this historic community. 2. Set a County priority to seek alternative methods of waste disposal in order to close the landfill as soon as possible but not beyond 2016. Landfill Gas to Energy Project This Landfill Gas to Energy Project is not yet operational and therefore difficult to project the impact on Solid Waste Fund. This issue will be revisited at a later date. Landfill Operations There are numerous variables involved with the continually changing capacity expectations and projections. Disposal volumes have varied over the past 40 years. Changes in regulations, changes in operational best management practices, equipment and techniques, effectiveness of recycling and waste reduction programs, public environmental knowledge and awareness, state and local bans, increasing tipping fees, evolving regional disposal options, etc. have all contributed to extending the life of the facility. There is difficulty with predicting the landfill biodegradation process at work that varies due to the types of waste, moisture content, age of waste, compaction, etc. Moving forward there are fewer opportunities to significantly extend the life of the facility as the above variables will have a diminishing impact. Upon the hiring a new engineering consultant (HDR Engineering, Inc.) last summer, County staff asked that the landfill facility be given a thorough evaluation to prepare for facility closure and any final possibilities for obtaining further capacity, without expansion of the facility footprint. Staff recommended extending landfill life to approximately January 2017. The Board requested additional information concerning a plan for the remediation of the impact of landfill operations on the Rogers Road community.