THORHILD LANDFILL FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS by Waste Management of Canada Corporation (WM)

Transcription

1 THORHILD LANDFILL FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS by Waste Management of Canada Corporation (WM) Table of Contents About the Landfill Why have you selected Thorhild County to build a landfill?... 2 Why do you need to build a landfill here? Why not use new technologies or build recycling facilities?... 2 What waste will be accepted at the landfill?... 2 In the future, will you apply to make this a hazardous waste landfill?... 2 What types of waste will you accept at the landfill?... 3 Landfill Operations What will you do to control construction noise?... 3 How will you ensure trucks are not cutting through local roads?... 4 How will you manage odour?... 4 What is the plan for fire protection?... 4 What will you do to control birds?... 5 How will you manage dust and litter due to wind?... 5 Environmental Protection How can you be sure the liners will protect the environment and groundwater?... 6 What nesting surveys have been completed and what will be done in the future?... 7 Water Management Who does your water testing and can I do my own sampling?... 7 Who takes responsibility if something happens to my water well because of the landfill?... 7 Community Engagement Will you buy local goods and services?... 7 What economic benefits will the landfill bring to the County of Thorhild?... 8 How else is the community benefitting from this project?... 8 What is the role of the Community Advisory Committee?... 8 How is WM ensuring they are hearing all views of the community including those against the landfill?... 9 Can you start advertising for community meetings locally?... 9 What is WM doing to compensate near neighbours?... 9

2 THORHILD LANDFILL FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS by Waste Management of Canada Corporation (WM) Why have you selected Thorhild County to build a landfill? In determining a suitable site for a landfill, Waste Management looked at overall geology, transportation and access within a 150 kilometre radius from the West Edmonton Landfill. The initial assessment indicated that some of the land in the County of Thorhild may be suitable. Following the identification of potentially suitable properties based on geology and access, we selected the most suitable, available property. Specialized consultants have confirmed that the hydrogeological and geotechnical conditions beneath the Waste Footprint comply with the strict requirements set out by the Province of Alberta. TheStandards for Landfills in Alberta state that landfill development can only occur where the underlying materials are sufficiently thick and meet defined standards for hydraulic conductivity. These conditions are met or exceeded at the Thorhild site, which means the landfill lands are suitable for development of a landfill facility. Why do you need to build a landfill here? Why not use new technologies or build recycling facilities? There are many important components to solid waste management today, from recycling centers and compost facilities to landfills and incinerators. Together, these components provide the infrastructure that communities and businesses need. Solid waste infrastructure varies in different geographies because the needs and the demands for different services vary. In this region, we have determined there is a long-term need for safe and professional disposal. Looking to the future, it is also important to understand that Waste Management s goal is to extract value from the waste that we manage, and we are doing this in innovative ways as new technologies prove to be commercially viable. Most of these technologies are still in development. As they mature, we will look for opportunities in geographies where other technologies may make sense, depending on waste streams and the needs of customers in the area. How much waste is expected at the landfill and where will the waste come from? The landfill is expected to receive approximately 1,500 tonnes per day when the site is operational, but this volume will depend on seasonality. Annually, we anticipate accepting approximately 2,000 tonnes of waste from the County and approximately 500,000 tonnes of waste from regions surrounding the site. We expect this waste to include municipal solid waste, industrial commercial, institutional waste and contaminated soils. It is unlikely that that landfill will receive any municipal solid waste from other parts of Canada. We do, however, receive occasional requests for deliveries of industrial or special wastes from neighbouring provinces. At this time, there are no plans to accept waste from the United States. In future, will you apply to make this a hazardous waste landfill? No. Waste Management has received permits from Alberta Environment for a Class II approval, which is a nonhazardous solid waste landfill. Hazardous waste will not be accepted at the Landfill Project. There are strict regulations about the types of waste that can be disposed of at a Class II landfill. As described in the permit, the

3 types of waste that will be disposed of here are municipal solid waste (i.e. typical waste that individuals throw out at home), construction and demolition debris, and industrial solid waste, which is waste that results from or is incidental to industry processes. What types of waste will you accept? All waste materials are subject to provincial and federal regulations that define what is acceptable at certain landfills. Waste Management has a waste screening protocol for each of our landfills to ensure that we accept only those materials that we are permitted to accept. For industrial and special waste streams, the protocol requires the waste generator to provide information and work with our technical staff to determine acceptability. Materials that are not allowed under the permit of a particular site are rejected in this process. At Thorhild, we are permitted to accept household garbage ( municipal solid waste, ) and commercial, industrial and special wastes that are not hazardous. Special wastes such as soils contaminated with grease or oil are tested prior to acceptance and confirmed by technical personnel to meet the criteria for landfilling. In addition, loads are randomly tested as they arrive at the landfill. Any waste that does not meet our criteria at any time during our screening process will not be accepted. Here is a guide for what will and will not be accepted at the landfill: Acceptable Material Municipal Solid Waste Construction & Demolition Debris Oilfield Waste Industrial and Special Waste Sulphur and Sulphur Containing waste Yard Waste Asbestos Bio-Solids Treated Biomedical Waste Unacceptable Material Hazardous Waste Batteries Explosives Domestic Waste Water Bulk Liquid Waste Radioactive Waste Domestic Wastewater Biomedical Waste Ozone-Depleting Substances Tires More information is available at the Alberta ESRD website: What will you do to control the construction noise? Waste Management had an independent expert conduct an Environmental Noise Impact Assessment, which indicates that while noise will increase for some residents, noise levels for the landfill project are below the levels set out in the Energy Resources Conservation Board Directive 38. Although noise mitigation is not required, we acknowledge that this is an important issue for residents. Through our experience at other landfills, we have developed expertise related to noise control and abatement programs to keep nuisance noise to a minimum. At the landfill, noise will be managed through: speed limits at the landfill; restricted operating hours;

4 perimeter berms; tree screening to aid in mitigating noise; and engineering controls to reduce noise on equipment (e.g. low frequency back-up alarms). The noise from waste hauling trucks on Highway 63 is not expected to be more noticeable than the noise from the traffic that already uses this major highway. If noise issues or concerns are identified once operations have commenced, we will work with neighbours to identify further mitigation measures and/or solutions as necessary. How will you ensure trucks are not cutting through local roads? Waste Management will establish a preferred route for all landfill-related commercial traffic. We will establish Highway 63 as the route to utilize for all commercial haulers and contractors to the site, ensuring that those haulers do not travel on any County roads. This restriction will not apply to local business or residents Road safety is a high priority at all Waste Management sites. We will ensure that our drivers and customers are aware of special circumstances requiring additional attention, for example local farmers moving cattle across the highway, increased farm traffic during seeding and harvest seasons, and when school buses may be running. How will you manage odour? Waste Management employs a variety of operational practices and infrastructure systems to control odours. These procedures and systems have proven to be effective at company facilities across North America. When waste arrives at the landfill, materials that are odorous will be covered immediately with other incoming waste materials or cover material to minimize odours. If certain waste is extremely odourous, we may choose not to accept it or to schedule a special receiving time to accommodate the material and the handling required to suppress the odours sufficiently. In terms of infrastructure, the major component of odour management is the gas management system. This vacuum-type system includes a sophisticated network of horizontal and vertical pipes that collect the landfill gas that is generated within the landfill by decomposing waste. Waste Management places its obligation to be a good neighbour among its highest priorities. If odour problems should occur, Waste Management will respond promptly and maintain regular communications with neighbours until the problem can be resolved. What is the plan for fire protection? An Emergency Response Plan was prepared for the site and is part of the Operations Plan. The Emergency Response Plan includes contingency items for emergencies such as: fires, spills and releases, bomb threats, barred or unacceptable waste, first aid or medical emergencies, demonstrations or labour unrest and severe weather. The landfill lands development plan includes access to the east surface water pond for County fire fighters pumper trucks as a source of fire water. The pond can be accessed at any time that fire fighters require, with convenient access and a safe pull off loading area. 4

5 Fires are prevented by rejecting hot loads, by regularly inspecting waste piles for the presence of hot or smoking materials, and by compacting and burying landfilled materials regularly. Open burning of any type is prohibited at this facility. Fire protection equipment onsite will include portable fire extinguishers installed throughout all buildings and mounted on all heavy equipment and company-owned hauling trucks. In addition, the water truck, loaders and heavy equipment can be used to segregate hot materials and to assist in fire control efforts. If a fire were to occur, the district manager or operator would determine the level of response, depending upon the level of risk. Site personnel are trained in the use of portable fire extinguishers to manage relatively small and isolated fires. If a large or threatening fire were to occur, the area would be evacuated and the fire department would be called immediately. What will WM do to control birds? Scavenging birds, often seagulls, are the primary nuisance birds associated with landfills. In order to minimize the populations, a combination of the practices listed below will be used to control birds. a) limit scavenging by minimizing the size of the working area; b) have a dedicated litter patrol/collection program to pick up trash that may be blown outside of active area; and c) cover all areas containing waste to prevent scavenging when the landfill is not active. The most effective of these practices is covering the waste with daily and intermediate covers to limit the amount of waste that is available for scavenging. All methods used will comply with the federal Migratory Birds Convention Act, which protects many of the birds that are attracted to the landfill. How will you WM manage dust and litter due to wind? We understand that litter is a concern. We will control litter at the working area using compaction and cover methods. Waste material will be compacted upon arrival and a minimum of 150 mm (6 inches) of cover material will be placed daily on the exposed waste to control litter. In addition, we will implement litter control systems, including: minimizing the size of the working area during windy conditions; fencing the perimeter of the landfill to prevent off-site litter; providing temporary fencing or screens adjacent to the working face; implementing a dedicated litter patrol/collection program; and monitoring prevailing wind direction and orient landfill operations accordingly. When we receive waste containing quantities of light or loose debris, we will cover these loads with a heavier waste or soil to prevent debris from being carried away from the active working area. Staff will monitor ditches and property boundaries for litter, labourers will be employed to retrieve any litter that is not controlled by the above measures, and additional personnel will be employed to assist in litter retrieval after abnormally high wind events. Dust can be generated from soil excavation, soil transport and placement, waste compaction and vehicle traffic. Several procedures will be used to control and suppress dust: 5

6 internal haul roads will be sprayed with water from site ponds and dust suppression additives to control dust caused by vehicles and/or landfill activities; waste material that has the potential to be dusty can be wetted prior to/or during the unloading process and covered immediately; customers hauling dusty loads will be asked to wet material when loading to prevent and/or minimize potential for dust emission when loads are tipped at the landfill; speed limits at the landfill will be enforced, which will assist with minimizing dust generated from vehicles; vegetation will be introduced to problem areas; and schedule dusty loads on a day with calmer winds. How can you be sure the liners will protect the environment and groundwater? Modern landfills such as this one incorporate a three-legged stool for groundwater and environmental protection. First, the Thorhild site is located optimally in a low permeability clay (meaning slow groundwater movement) location. Secondly, the project uses advanced landfill engineering design and operations. Lastly, the performance of all systems is verified through systems including environmental monitoring systems for both surface water and groundwater to provide proof of environmental protection. Specialized consultants have confirmed that the hydrogeological conditions beneath the Waste Footprint comply with the strict requirements set out by the Province of Alberta. The Standards for Landfills in Alberta state that landfill development can only occur where the underlying materials are sufficiently thick and meet defined standards for low hydraulic conductivity. Modern landfill liner systems perform well because they include multiple redundant components, each of which contributes to the overall performance of the system. These components include both synthetic and natural clay materials engineered to provide very low permeability and consequently a very high level of containment. The Thorhild landfill liner design involves a double liner system exceeding the Standards for Landfills in Alberta, which requires a single liner. This added redundancy provides a high level of liner performance. In addition to the double liner, the landfill design also incorporates a comprehensive leachate collection and extraction system. Leachate does not stay within the landfill; it is directed to a sump where it can be removed and transported for treatment. The leachate collection system minimizes the leachate levels on the liner. The on-going removal of leachate provides a further groundwater protection system. Lastly, the engineered landfill is surrounded by monitoring systems for both groundwater, surface water and landfill gas as an additional check that the aforementioned multiple and redundant systems are functioning as designed. What nesting surveys have been completed and what will be done in the future? Nesting surveys completed are listed below: Nesting Survey Date Prepared By Survey Trigger AECOM Grading work, land clearing and demolition ArborMetrics Solutions c/o AECOM Fortis power line installation to TL. 6

7 STRIX Ecological Tree clearing along Hwy. 63 and the service road between Hwy 63 and TL AECOM Trees and shrubs clearing within the area identified as Area 1 and Area AECOM Trees and shrubs clearing within the area identified as Area 2 and Area 3. Bird nesting surveys will be conducted prior to commencing or continuing any construction work at the landfill site. Surveys are performed in accordance with Thorhild County and Ministry of Alberta Environmental Sustainable Resources Development regulations. Presently, all surveys needed for the construction project scheduled to commence this June have been completed and filed with AESRD. Who does your water testing and can I do my own sampling? Waste Management contracts with third party experts to conduct sampling for surface water and groundwater. These experts collect samples and ship them under a custody seal to an independent certified laboratory that conducts the analysis. All of this information is submitted to Alberta Environment and the County for their review. At their discretion, Alberta Environment can choose to collect samples independent of our sampling process or observer our sampling process and split or obtain duplicate samples to send to a laboratory of their choosing. Because sampling requires a highly controlled process, we do not recommend that untrained individuals perform sampling. Trained experts are best equipped to do the sampling because analysis techniques are sensitive and will detect influences that may be inadvertently introduced during the act of sampling. There is also the risk of cross contamination from materials that may come into contact with samples during the sampling process. For instance, the analytical techniques will pick up compounds from vehicle exhaust if the sampling location happens to be downwind of an idling vehicle. Who takes responsibility if something happens to my water well because of the landfill? Waste Management would take this responsibility. The good news is that this landfill is engineered with overlapping environmental protection systems to meet or exceed rigorous government regulations. These are state-of-the-art systems that include engineered liners to completely encapsulate the waste and collection systems to safely manage both leachate and landfill gas. With these systems in place and rigorous regulatory requirements for monitoring and reporting to ensure that the systems are protecting the environment, impacts to water wells are highly unlikely. Will you buy local good and services? As a company and through our contactors, we are committed utilizing local businesses, labour, equipment, and material resources during construction and operation of the landfill, where possible. Since 2012, Waste Management and our contractors have spent more than $650,000 on local business, equipment and materials directly in the County of Thorhild. Tervita, our construction contractor, also hired two local operators in response to the advertisement that Waste Management placed in the local newspaper. We encourages local businesses and contactors to contact us to fill out an Expression of Interest from by visiting or call Rina Blacklaws, community relations, at or rblackla@wm.com for more information. 7

8 What economic benefits will the landfill bring to the County of Thorhild? Once the landfill is operational, Waste Management will make a significant annual payment to the County. This payment is called a royalty fee.. Based on current estimated waste volumes (500,000 tonnes per year at $2.50 per tonne), Waste Management will pay the County approximately $1.25 million per year. Waste Management also provides a hosting fee of $50,000. Will this new revenue stream mean my taxes will go down? Although this is a significant contribution to the County s general revenues, this does not necessarily mean that the tax rate in the County will change. The land taxation system is under the authority of the County of Thorhild. Any questions with respect to property taxes are best directed to County representatives. How else is the community benefitting from this project? WM is committed to continuing to be a valued partner in Thorhild County. In addition to the annual payment of $1.25 million to the County, the community will benefit in terms of local jobs, dollars that will be spent locally related to construction and ongoing operations, donations to the community and free services for County residents and businesses. Jobs: We will recruit for about 15 full-time local employees once the site is operational. Community donations: We have invested more than $350,000 in the community through various organizations since 2006, and this community investment will continue. We have committed to investing more than $50,000 per year to support local projects and organizations that are important for the health and vitality of the communities in Thorhild County. Dollars connected to construction and operations: We project to spend $127 million in construction over the next 20 years. During construction and throughout our operation in the years ahead, we are committed to procuring local services and goods, as possible. Free disposal: Waste Management shall also provide waste disposal generated within the boundaries of the County, up to a maximum of 100 tonnes per year per household or business. This means there will be no disposal costs (no landfill fees) whatsoever to the County, residents or businesses, up to the defined tonnage. What is the role of the Community Advisory Committee? The Thorhild Community Advisory Committee is a volunteer committee, established in January 2011, to review, discuss and provide informed advice on all aspects of WM s proposed facilities and site operations. The Committee is composed of a diverse group of community members, representing the views of youth, close neighbours, agriculture, business, senior citizens, county residents, and emergency response, representing all views of the landfill project. The Community Advisory Committee is committed to identifying community issues, needs, and perceptions of WM s operations. Members provide constructive advice and direction to WM that reflect community 8

9 values, and are in the best interest of the community as a whole. Meetings are scheduled quarterly, or at the discretion of the Committee, based on the issues or concerns the group wishes to discuss. How is WM ensuring they are hearing all views of the community including those against the landfill? WM is committed to open, transparent communication with residents of Thorhild County. WM meets with the Community Advisory Committee quarterly to identify and review community issues, needs, and perceptions of WM s operations. Committee members represent all views of the landfill project. Additionally, WM is committed to hosting community meetings with all other members of the community. These meetings will review different aspects of the landfill project, allow for questions and feedback, and give residents the opportunity to meet and socialize with the project team. Can you start advertising for community meetings locally? Yes. We heard your concerns at the community meeting on March 12, 2014, and we are now advertising for community meetings locally, including newspaper ads, on our website ( and flyers posted at local gathering places. What is WM doing to compensate near neighbours? In response to concerned expressed by residents living near the Landfill, a Property Value Protection Plan (PVPP) has been developed to address these concerns and ensure that eligible residents do not suffer financial loss if their land values are affected during the operational life of the landfill. The PVP Program is a voluntary program that will cover landowners within 1.5 miles immediately adjacent to the landfill lands who resided there prior to the announcement of the Landfill Project. Those landowners will be compensated for any demonstrable loss of land value should they decide to sell their property (actual loss must be demonstrated based on independent appraisals and offers to purchase). The application of the PVPP to individual landowners will be determined on a case-by-case basis. The general principles of the PVPP program are: land within 1.5 miles of the landfill will be guaranteed fair market value (FMV) by Waste Management should landowners wish to sell their land for any reason; properties must be listed based on at least one certified appraisal by a licensed, third party appraiser, with the assumption that the landfill does not exist; should the property and improvements generate offers during a pre-set period of time lower than the appraised FMV, Waste Management will ensure that the landowner receives the FMV difference from the sale; and the PVP Program will take effect if and when the site is developed and will continue for as long as the landfill remains open. The Impact/Benefit Program (I/BP) has been established to compensate immediate neighbours for any nuisances that they experience as a result of landfill operations. All residents whose homes were there prior to the announcement of the project within 1.5 miles of the boundary of the landfill lands will be eligible to participate in an Impact/Benefit Program as near 9

10 neighbours. There will be three amounts of compensation provided, depending on the distance a household is from the landfill lands. 10