The following is an excerpt from Hardwick Landfill History and Document Summary, Prepared by Genevieve C. Fraser; Environmental Monitor; Town of Hardwick, Massachusetts, June 30, 2005
EXCERPTS FROM “LANDFILL MONITOR’S JOURNAL
10/25/04 • 9:00 AM
Overcast. Inspected the landfill cell with binoculars. Predominantly white cardboard I suspect but there is also a strong odor – possibly sulfur and/or chemical smell along with the rubbish odor. I walked up the liner edge of cell 1 to the leachate area. Once again there is an oily sheen to the puddle areas plus a strong odor of gas.
10/27/04
Board of Health meeting Reported discovering a leachate breakout along the southern edge of Phase 1 capped area spilling onto the exposed liner. Additional leachate breakouts were noted along the eastern slope between Phase I and 2 along the liner and springing out from within the exposed soil area. Casella responded by bringing in engineers and plugging the areas with an impervious soil mixture. In a Landfill Inspection Report filled by Tighe & Bond on June 1, 2003, it was noted, “minor iron staining was observed on the external slopes of the Phase 1 area. The staining appears to be the result of iron oxides from the intermediate cover materials applied on Phase 1.” However, on closer 87 inspection, an oily substance was floating on the surface of puddled waters with the tell tale gas odor indicating it was indeed leachate. Photos and a color-coded map were supplied to the BOH.
11/22/04 • 9:00 AM
Strong odor of gas as you approach the landfill on Patrill Hollow Road. It is almost overwhelming at site near barn overlooking the landfill as well as the entire length of the road along the top of the ridge.
12/3/04 • 12:15 PM
Conducted site inspection of the retention area below site 1. No leachate is visible in the muddy water and no leachate outbreaks are visible along the east side of the slope. But there is a slight odor of methane gas.
12/12/04 • 1:00 PM
Drove to the area close to the n/w leachate outbreak and investigated. Walked up to the freshly capped area where gas odor is and some leachate visible.
1/11/05 • 10:30 AM
As I drive along Patrill Hollow Road past the weigh-in station, a strong odor of gas permeates the valley.
1/21/04 • 10:30 AM
Near transfer bins. A strong smell of gas permeates the air.
1/22/05 (Saturday) • 8:00 AM
Below zero. Overcast sky, few birds in sight. 0.9 miles from the landfill along Patrill Hollow Road, a faint odor of gas is present. 11:00 AM – Seagulls have begun to amass by the landfill open cell and both bins are full to overflowing. The metals bin and overflow area are also badly in need of being carted off. Because so many seagulls are now overhead, I traveled up to the newly created access road off of Cell 2 A to check if any new household trash has been illegally dumped in either Cell 2 a or B. Both appear to be clean of fresh trash though perhaps not as well compacted as in the past. Meanwhile I am forced to relocate because the gas is so strong I am beginning to feel dizzy
1/25/05 • 9:30 AM
There has been a steady stream of traffic. The road is extremely treacherous and the gas odor is evident about 0.5 miles from the southwestern edge of cell B. 10:30 AM – An SUV dumps at the dumpster as I move up to the overlook spot – nearly overcome with methane gas fumes. 3:00 PM – Bucket loader compacting down transfer bins, tapping down MSW and other items. The area is with saturated with a gas odor.
2/2/05
Corresponded with the BOH and Mark White about the meeting and other issues such as the gas odor that is traveling along Greenwich Road.
2/3/05
It is crucial that the BOH do all in its power to require that Casella alleviate conditions at the landfill that are creating gasses that are spreading to homes along Patrill Hollow Road, Greenwich Road and beyond. The DEP must be notified too. Fumes are inhaled by workers and residents alike as well as trash haulers and residents dropping off their trash. Though short term inhalation may not be a serious problem, there may be long-term health impacts for residents. I am particularly concerned about children and pregnant women who might be subjected to these gases on a frequent basis.
2/4/05
Letter from John Farese of HLI to the BOH regarding the use of coal ash and monitoring the ambient air quality along Patrill Hollow Road on a weekly basis until the active landfill gas system is operating. “As you are aware, we are continuing to work with the town to obtain approval to relocate Patrill Hollow Road enabling us to relocate the waste in that area and install a collection trench to eliminate potential gas migration.”
2/5/05 (Saturday) • 7:00 AM
Strong gas odor. Clear, 20s, a few gulls, crows and small birds present. Trucks enter and dump in the dumpster as the excavator continues to work on the metals pile.
2/8/05 • 11 AM
High 30s to low 40s. Overcast with a strong gas odor. The weather forecast calls for a storm starting tomorrow night and into Thursday. 8 – 12” predicted. The landfill is quiet. 6:30 PM BOH Meeting T&B and residents discuss odor migration. I presented map and gas stats of 100% combustibles with T&B reversal of info where east is labeled as west. The 100% combustibles were reading along Patrill Hollow Road not at the eastern section of the site from 01 – 03. Though presently the eastern section gases are also present and pose a hazard as sign indicate. Casella rep discusses the odor and possible solutions including a flare and gas collection system as well as the use of coal ash to absorb the odor (carbon in coal) I mentioned possible residuals within the ash including heavy metals which could become airborne.
2/9/05 • 11:15 AM
Scott walks to the gas outlet S/E outside of cell 2B checks for odors. There is a strong smell by the dumpsters. Though trucks and cars have been dumping into the bins today only one bin has a small amount of trash visible. However debris litters the ground outside the bin including the pizza boxes from last week.
2/12/05 • 8 AM
Grey, overcast, low 30s. The landfill was well covered with soils following the snow storm. Tom and Jim mark air conditioners as a pick-up and SUV exit the bin area. Strong gas smell by the office.
2/14/05 • 1:50 PM
Driving from the upper edge of the landfill along Patrill Hollow Road I noticed gas starting at the new access road entrance – the odor was evident all the way to the office area but seemed to let up as I approached the dumpsters.
2/18/04 • 12:45 PM
The bulldozer pats down the access road. Odor of gas is up gradient of the site.
2/24/04
BOH meeting. 7:00 PM. Rick from Casella explained issues pertaining to toxicity of the ash which will be mixed with cover material and used to absorb landfill gas odors. 30-50 people present – many complaining about the gas odor at and in their homes and how it makes them feel sick and their eyes water from the gas. They are concerned about the public health impact of the gas. Casella’s spokesperson explains that “bugs” digest the debris and this helps create the gas and that other gases (VOC) can travel with the methane and hydrogen sulfide. One resident complains that the gas travels in the early morning up to Main Street. It was explained that cover soils are no longer fresh loam. Nothing is virgin anymore, Rick explained. Approved contaminated soils are used as daily cover. A Licensed professional tests these soils and evaluates them for suitability. The state approves the list of VOCs and heavy metals that are allowed into the landfill. Then Casella reviews the soils data for further approval. One of the neighbors to the landfill claimed that his house is invaded by the gases. When asked about the monitoring system that only monitors for one gas, it was explained that to monitor for more than one gas would be too expensive. Some residents felt that monitoring stations should be set up around the town so that people can be alerted if things reach a level dangerous to health and safety. Bill Zinni claimed that 5 ppb were sampled last Friday. Others claimed that the gases are floating along Muddy Brook and hitting the pond. Kevin said that there were excessive odors September 30th and they were cited for failing to submit an active plan.
February 23, Casella began testing for H2S hydrogen sulfide gas along Greenwich Road, Patrill Hollow Road, Muddy Brook Road and along the perimeters of the landfill.
3/11/2005
Hardwick Landfill is fined $18,000 By James F. Russell Correspondent
”HARDWICK— The state has fined Hardwick Landfill owner Casella Waste Systems Inc. $18,000 and told the company daily fines up to $1,000 could ensue should Casella fail to correct problems at the Patrill Hollow Road waste site. The company was ordered to pay the fine within 30 days of a consent order, which was issued March 1 by the state Department of Environmental Protection. The order found that the company failed to control odors on the operating face of the landfill and off the landfill site and failed to submit an active landfill gas extraction and flare system plan to control odors. A rotten egg-like stench caused by hydrogen sulfite gas has permeated west Hardwick and Ware along Greenwich Road. The smell has some residents saying the landfill must cease operations. Casella is expected to gain permits and begin constructing the flare system late this month, DEP said. A Casella engineer told the Hardwick Board of Health last month, “We should have the system up and running mid-March at the latest.” The state declined to venture a guess when the gas extraction system might become operational. Board of Health Chairman Lawrence Ostiguy said the full board would review the DEP order. The consent order says Casella received restricted material at the waste site, failed to control stormwater flow and failed to adequately control ponding adjacent to the landfill. Enforcement action begun in October by the state resulted in Casella hiring an additional waste inspector to prevent banned items from entering the landfill, training current staff to recognize banned waste materials and engineering action to stem water runoff problems, DEP said. The order requires that Casella pay administrative penalties of up to $1,000 per day if it violates the consent order or fails to correct problems at the Hardwick landfill. The landfill has DEP permits to accept 82,800 tons of trash per year. Casella operates the Southbridge landfill and hopes to open a landfill in Templeton some day.”
RESIDENTS VOICE CONCERNS
The Board of Health has received a number of letters during Winter/Spring 2005 complaining of the odors and concerns over the long-term impact on the health of residents. A letter from Erin Roy expresses concern for the health of one of her sons who has been diagnosed with a rare disease that is typically the result of exposure to certain chemicals in the environment. She states that she has smelled odors emanating from the landfill for about 3-4 years.
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