press clippings

Weatherford Democrat, June 5, 2008 By Carman Williams

Changes may be in store for landfills

Landfill operators are expected to cover waste with six inches of dirt every 24 hours to discourage pests and keep odors and pollution down. A proposed rule change in the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) would allow landfills to replace the dirt with drill waste or other “contaminated materials.”

According to a TCEQ interoffice memo, no material can be used as a landfill cover if it contains more than 1,500 milligrams of petroleum hydrocarbons per kilogram. If the TCEQ passes the new standard, material with more than 1,500 milligrams per kilogram could be used as long as the amount was below protective levels. According to plans outlined in the memo, material would be tested for health risks before being used in landfills.

The memo also stated changing the standards on landfill covers would save landfill operators money because drill waste is cheaper than the dirt that is used now. TCEQ estimated that switching from dirt to drill waste or contaminated dirt would save municipal solid waste operators more than $4 million a year. TCEQ also estimated that allowing contaminated material to be used as an alternative cover would increase their disposal fee revenues by more than $300,000 a year.

Despite possible financial gains for both TCEQ and landfill operators, some local watchdog groups are opposed to the proposed changes.

Robin Schneider is with the Texas Campaign for the Environment, a group that promotes recycling and acts as a watchdog for the municipal solid waste industry. According to Schneider, the TCEQ is overlooking health and environmental risks that could be linked to the contaminated material.

“They [TCEQ] use money into the TCEQ and money saved by landfill owners as main arguments, rather than health and safety of the neighbors and of the environment,” Schneider wrote in an e-mail.

Schneider fears if TCEQ approves looser standards for landfill covers, Weatherford’s IESI landfill will begin using the contaminated material.

Tom Brown, chief operating officer at IESI, said the public has no need to worry about possible health risks.

“Some people think things are hazardous when they’re not,” Brown said.

He explained TCEQ and the Environmental Protection Agency hold material to high standards to ensure the public’s health will not be endangered.

“We consider those standards to be pretty high, and we follow those standards to a ‘T,’” Brown said. “We think that the regulations go far enough to protect the health of the people of Weatherford.”

Brown also stressed even if TCEQ approves new standards for landfill covers, IESI is not permitted to use those materials. He said the amendment to change the permit would be a multi-million dollar process taking place over several years and the community would be involved.

“It’s not something we’re pursuing,” he said.

TCEQ proposed the rule change Tuesday, and the public comment period is June 20 through July 21. If the changes are approved, they will be adopted Nov. 19.

cwilliams@weatherforddemocrat.com