Inspections at MSW Landfills

Original Content is from USEPA Original Content is from USEPA Telecourse APTI T – 021-01 “The Use Telecourse APTI T – 021-01 “The Use of Federal Reference Methods in the of Federal Reference Methods in the Evaluation of Landfill Gas Emissions” Evaluation of Landfill Gas Emissions”

by by William T. “Jerry” Winberry, Jr.William T. “Jerry” Winberry, Jr.

EnviroTech SolutionsEnviroTech Solutions

Landfill

Landfill Gas Collection System ComponentsLandfill Gas Collection System Components

Landfillgas

Controlled emissions

Enclosed flare

Gas collection wells

Final soil cap cover

Electrical power out

Gas collection headerRecovery

system

Ambient air monitoring

Perimeter vents

Leachatemanhole

Groundwatermonitoring

well

Uncontrolledemissions

Gasleaks

Landfillgas

Surface monitoringFill material

Landfill Gas Collection System Components

Reasons for Inspections of MSW Landfills

Compliance determinationCompliance determination Complaint investigationComplaint investigation Source plan approvalSource plan approval Review or renewal of permitsReview or renewal of permits Special studiesSpecial studies

Pre-Inspection Procedures

File reviewFile review Regulation reviewRegulation review Equipment checksEquipment checks

File Review Initial design capacity reportInitial design capacity report Annual or 5-year NMOC emission rate reportAnnual or 5-year NMOC emission rate report Permit to construct (P/C) Permit to construct (P/C)

and permit to operate (P/O)and permit to operate (P/O) Collection and control system design planCollection and control system design plan

File Review Annual reportsAnnual reports Landfill closure reportsLandfill closure reports Control equipment removal reportsControl equipment removal reports Previous inspection reportsPrevious inspection reports Enforcement action: Enforcement action:

Complaints and notice of violationComplaints and notice of violation

File Review Enforcement action taken, orders of Enforcement action taken, orders of

abatement, variance historyabatement, variance history Compliance test dataCompliance test data Equipment malfunction reportsEquipment malfunction reports SSM Plan and any eventsSSM Plan and any events

Regulation Review

Identify all rules that apply to the facilityIdentify all rules that apply to the facility Review any references to the specific Review any references to the specific

rules which are noted in the landfill filerules which are noted in the landfill file Be familiar with each standard and Be familiar with each standard and

exemptionexemption

Equipment Check Hard hatHard hat GlovesGloves Safety vestSafety vest Respirator/dust maskRespirator/dust mask Method 21 system route mapMethod 21 system route map Steel-toed safety shoesSteel-toed safety shoes

Equipment Check Contd.: Safety glasses Safety glasses First aid kitFirst aid kit FlashlightFlashlight Field checklistField checklist Portable monitor (gas detector system)Portable monitor (gas detector system) Digital manometerDigital manometer

Portable Monitor

Obtain certified portable gas monitorObtain certified portable gas monitor Verify operating conditions and Verify operating conditions and

specificationsspecifications Assemble and start-up instrument Assemble and start-up instrument

according to manufacturer’s according to manufacturer’s instructionsinstructions

Leak check sampling systemLeak check sampling system

Portable Monitor Contd.:

Evaluate response factor (RF) with Evaluate response factor (RF) with known concentration of certified known concentration of certified methane gasmethane gas

Evaluate calibration precision with Evaluate calibration precision with certified methane gas standard using certified methane gas standard using zero gas or background as low zero gas or background as low calibration pointcalibration point

Repeat two additional timesRepeat two additional times

Portable Monitor Contd.: Calculate calibration precisionCalculate calibration precision Check response time during calibration Check response time during calibration

precision evaluationprecision evaluation Verify sample flow rateVerify sample flow rate

Notify the Landfill

Notify landfill of inspection so that Notify landfill of inspection so that relevant documents can be made relevant documents can be made available for reviewavailable for review

Obtain map and/or Obtain map and/or diagram of the landfill with elevations, diagram of the landfill with elevations, wellhead locations, header system wellhead locations, header system placement and control devices. placement and control devices.

Pre-entry

Look at landfill from neighborhoodLook at landfill from neighborhood Take wide angle picture Take wide angle picture

of landfill for fileof landfill for file Talk to neighbors about Talk to neighbors about

activities at landfillactivities at landfill

Pre-entry

Where possible, drive around the Where possible, drive around the outside perimeter of the landfilloutside perimeter of the landfill Notice any landfill odors?Notice any landfill odors? See any visible emissions?See any visible emissions? Litter in neighborhood which looks Litter in neighborhood which looks

like it originated from the landfill? like it originated from the landfill?

Entry

Enter by public access routeEnter by public access route Identify yourself, present your credentials Identify yourself, present your credentials Ask to meet with the site representativeAsk to meet with the site representative

Pre-Inspection Meeting

Explain purpose of inspection Explain purpose of inspection and discuss any new rule changesand discuss any new rule changes

Answer questions that the source Answer questions that the source personnel may have personnel may have

Identify equipment to be Identify equipment to be used in the inspectionused in the inspection

Pre-Inspection MeetingInformation

Verify facility informationVerify facility information Facility name, ownershipFacility name, ownership Facility address, telephone numberFacility address, telephone number Facility contact name, telephone numberFacility contact name, telephone number

Discuss safety proceduresDiscuss safety procedures

Pre-Inspection Meeting Information

Review Permit Review Permit Verify Verify

that permit is current and postedthat permit is current and postedthat permit is for correct equipmentthat permit is for correct equipmentthat permit operating conditions that permit operating conditions

are being metare being metdate permit issueddate permit issueddesign capacity informationdesign capacity information

Pre-Inspection Meeting

Review permit specification from office Review permit specification from office to on-site to on-site List of equipment/wellheads installed List of equipment/wellheads installed

or to be installedor to be installed Emission limits to be metEmission limits to be met Changes/modifications to permit Changes/modifications to permit

conditionsconditions Site-specific monitoring requirementsSite-specific monitoring requirements

Pre-Inspection Meeting

Operational LogsOperational Logs Historical emission records and self Historical emission records and self

monitoring data available from past monitoring data available from past 5-years5-years

Monitoring and calibration logbooksMonitoring and calibration logbooks

Pre-Inspection Meeting Operational logs for active collection Operational logs for active collection

systemssystems Logbooks associated with well head Logbooks associated with well head

monthly monitoring parameters:monthly monitoring parameters:TemperatureTemperatureGauge pressureGauge pressureGas concentrations of:Gas concentrations of:

•OxygenOxygen•NitrogenNitrogen

Pre-Inspection Meeting

LFG control system operational logs for LFG control system operational logs for flares, co-generation facilities, gas flares, co-generation facilities, gas turbines, or internal combustion engines turbines, or internal combustion engines Calibration, operation, and Calibration, operation, and

maintenance recordsmaintenance records Equipment “downtime”Equipment “downtime”

Pre-Inspection Meeting Heat sensor operational recordsHeat sensor operational records Continuous temperature recordingsContinuous temperature recordings Compliance testing performed Compliance testing performed

since last inspectionsince last inspection LFG monthly gas flow rateLFG monthly gas flow rate Well concentration readingsWell concentration readings

Pre-Inspection Meeting

Environmental DataEnvironmental Data Average wind speed for today Average wind speed for today

(< 10 mph)(< 10 mph) Rain fall over last seven daysRain fall over last seven days Barometric pressure Barometric pressure

over last seven days over last seven days

Pre-Inspection Meeting Sampling Grid PatternSampling Grid Pattern

Obtain from pre-inspection or create a Obtain from pre-inspection or create a sampling grid pattern over a map of sampling grid pattern over a map of the landfill, with parallel lines the landfill, with parallel lines approximately 30 meters apartapproximately 30 meters apart

Start grid pattern at control device, Start grid pattern at control device, then around perimeter of landfill, then then around perimeter of landfill, then into landfill with parallel linesinto landfill with parallel lines

Walking route

Landfill gas flare facility

AA

Physical Inspection of Landfill

Start the on-site physical inspection of Start the on-site physical inspection of the landfill at the outer perimeter the landfill at the outer perimeter

Acquire a “background/upwind” Acquire a “background/upwind” concentration of LFG using FRM 21 concentration of LFG using FRM 21 certified monitorcertified monitor

Physical Inspection of Landfill

Observe visible emissions (VE) Observe visible emissions (VE) Haul road, flares, energy recovery Haul road, flares, energy recovery

systems systems Continue to control equipment and Continue to control equipment and

follow the grid patternfollow the grid pattern

Physical Inspection of Landfill

Collection and control equipment, noteCollection and control equipment, note Comparison between landfill records Comparison between landfill records

and visual inspectionand visual inspection Observation of Leaks and maintenanceObservation of Leaks and maintenance Operations according to site-specific Operations according to site-specific

collection system design plan collection system design plan

Physical Inspection of Landfill

Monitor surface of landfill with Monitor surface of landfill with FRM 21 gas monitoring probeFRM 21 gas monitoring probe Position FRM 21 monitor with tip Position FRM 21 monitor with tip

approximately 2-4 inches off groundapproximately 2-4 inches off ground Follow the grid route around perimeter Follow the grid route around perimeter

of site, noting a reading every 30 of site, noting a reading every 30 meters. Record readings on field test meters. Record readings on field test data sheet (FTDS)data sheet (FTDS)

Physical Inspection of Landfill

Enter the site according to the grid route Enter the site according to the grid route mapmap

Take readings every 30 meters, until the Take readings every 30 meters, until the complete landfill surface has been complete landfill surface has been evaluated, using the grid routeevaluated, using the grid route

Any reading 500 ppm above background Any reading 500 ppm above background should be recorded on FTDS and marked should be recorded on FTDS and marked with a flagwith a flag

Physical Inspection of Landfill

Monitoring surface of landfill Monitoring surface of landfill Monitor any crack, hole, breach Monitor any crack, hole, breach

in the surface, and interface with in the surface, and interface with undisturbed native soil undisturbed native soil

Monitor around rocks and objects Monitor around rocks and objects sticking out of the surface of the sticking out of the surface of the landfill for possible LFG emissionslandfill for possible LFG emissions

Meter Reading - 15,000 ppm

Leak detectorprobe tip1/4 in. dia.

0.1 L/minsample intake rate

(minimum rate allowedfor Method 21)

LeakLandfill Surface Cover

Meter Reading - 500 ppm

3.0 L/minsample intake rate

(maximum rate allowedfor Method 21)

Leak detectorprobe tip1/4 in. dia.

LeakLandfill Surface Cover

MonitoringLFG Collection System

As you monitor the landfill, noteAs you monitor the landfill, note Any leaks heard coming from the LFG Any leaks heard coming from the LFG

collection systemcollection system Any broken header linesAny broken header lines Any well heads broken and venting LFGAny well heads broken and venting LFG

Monitoring LFG Collection System

Elevated concentrations of LFG:Elevated concentrations of LFG: Around horizontal or Around horizontal or

vertical well casingsvertical well casings Venting from LFG well vaultsVenting from LFG well vaults Around connecting tubing etc.Around connecting tubing etc.

Monitoring LFG Collection System

Monitor extraction well parameters and Monitor extraction well parameters and compare to pre-inspection valuescompare to pre-inspection values TemperatureTemperature Static pressureStatic pressure Gas concentrationsGas concentrations

Oxygen and NitrogenOxygen and Nitrogen

Monitoring Perimeter Gas Probes

Monitor perimeter gas probes and Monitor perimeter gas probes and compare to historical datacompare to historical data

Monitor perimeter water monitoring Monitor perimeter water monitoring wells and compare to historical data wells and compare to historical data acquired in pre-inspection meetingacquired in pre-inspection meeting

Monitoring Selected Wellheads

TemperatureTemperature Gauge pressureGauge pressure Gas compositionGas composition

Post-Inspection Procedures

Perform single point calibration of FRM Perform single point calibration of FRM 21 gas monitoring system21 gas monitoring system

Compile field data sheets and Compile field data sheets and observation notesobservation notes

Post-Inspection Meeting

Discuss deficiencies and inform owner Discuss deficiencies and inform owner of inspection resultsof inspection results

Advise source representative of any Advise source representative of any additional concerns that you might haveadditional concerns that you might have

Discuss corrective action to be taken for Discuss corrective action to be taken for identified leaksidentified leaks

Example Format for Inspection Documentation/Report PreparePrepare

A written description of the landfillA written description of the landfill A diagram showing the location of A diagram showing the location of

control equipment, emission points, control equipment, emission points, and tagging of any emission and tagging of any emission exceedancesexceedances

Example Format for Inspection Documentation/Report A statement indicating compliance or A statement indicating compliance or

violation for each emission point recordedviolation for each emission point recorded Recommendations, if any, such as a Recommendations, if any, such as a

source test or an engineering evaluationsource test or an engineering evaluation Assessment of fugitive emissions and Assessment of fugitive emissions and

other potential impactsother potential impacts