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6 <br />existence. Orange County is alleged to have been the first municipal waste landfill in <br />North Carolina to install groundwater monitoring wells in the 1070's. <br />Groundwater Contamination - Approximately 15 groundwater monitoring wells form an <br />early warning network for the detection of contamination before it reaches the property <br />boundaries. These well are sampled for a wide range of organic and inorganic <br />constituents twice annually. There have been some instances of exceedence of <br />groundwater standards (which are more stringent that drinking water standards) in two of <br />the monitoring wells. Our laboratory and hydro-geologist consulting firm maintains that <br />these exceedences are typical of most landfills, that the degree of exceedence is marginal <br />and not triggering any mitigation actions, and that they are either stabilized or in <br />diminishing in concentrations. There has been no indication that any impacted <br />groundwater has moved to or beyond property boundaries. Contingency plans exist <br />should it appear there is movement of any impacted groundwater toward property lines. <br />Concrete -The transfer station will have all floor areas constructed of a special resistant <br />concrete with drains and water separators designed to intercept all liquids. These liquids <br />will be filtered and diverted into the sanitary sewer. <br />Impact Study - The EPA seldom becomes involved in local waste management siting <br />decisions or evaluations and relies on state level regulations and enforcement to provide <br />this oversight. State environmental regulations are required to meet EPA standards. <br />Waste management facilities in North Carolina are highly regulated with rules for <br />locating and permitting disposal facilities being extremely stringent and frequently <br />exceeding more conventional environmental impact assessments. Given that the transfer <br />station is proposed to be located on property containing both closed and operating <br />permitted landfills, environmental monitoring and assessment will be greater due to the <br />established monitoring system, the long history of landfill operation and associated <br />monitoring, and the existing hydro-geologic knowledge and experience in the area will <br />likely make this location preferable to most green (undeveloped) sites. <br />Additional Alternatives: The County could modify its waste hauling licensing <br />requirements to include a requirement to maintain all factory installed collection vehicle, <br />body plugs and seals in an operable condition to avoid leaking. These requirements <br />could include periodic inspections and would apply to municipal, county and private <br />waste hauling vehicles. Standards for leaking bulk containers (dumpsters) could also be <br />established to reduce leaking. <br />Conclusion: <br />Many of the questions and concerns raised by the Eubanks Road community can be <br />addressed by Orange County, either alone or in cooperation with inter jurisdictional <br />partners and other public entities. A timely opportunity to mutually address a large <br />number of issues and associated community interests is the Rogers Road Small Area <br />Task Force, comprised of local government officials and residents of the community. <br />Orange County, by its membership on this Chapel Hill planning task force, can help <br />6