EPA probes risks to I-77
BY Robert Wang
The Canton Repository
PIKE TWP - The Ohio Environmental Protection Agency is looking into whether tension cracks and possible slope movement at the Countywide Recycling & Disposal Facility could affect nearby Interstate 77.
In a letter to the landfill dated Aug. 22, the agency recommended that Countywide by Aug. 27 start installing a series of instruments along its west slope to measure movement of decomposing trash.
EPA spokesman Mike Settles said Tuesday that he believes agency inspectors found tension cracks at the landfill in early August.
“Ohio EPA is concerned that the formation of tension cracks may indicate the potential for slope movement in the west area of the landfill,” the letter says.
“Based upon ... the lack of a clear understanding of the total magnitude and mechanism of the South Slope movement, Ohio EPA is concerned that any slope movement in the West area of the landfill could pose a potential risk to the public and nearby infrastructure, which includes heavily traveled Interstate Highway 77.”
The letter signed by EPA enforcement coordinator Ed Gortner says that Countywide needs to be ready to take immediate action “in the event the inclinometer data demonstrates slope failure is imminent.”
COUNTYWIDE: NO PROBLEM
Countywide General Manager Tim Vandersall said the cracks are the normal result of the settling of waste. He said he has seen no signs of stability problems and that the cracks have not grown appreciably in size. Some have even gotten smaller.
He said the EPA is “just trying to be conservative. They don’t have the time involved at this site that we do.”
Countywide spokesman Will Flower said the landfill is constantly monitored, and “all indications are that the landfill is safe, has been and will continue to be stable. ... Countywide is absolutely 100 percent committed to providing the (EPA) with the information to assure them that this facility is safe.”
At the facility off Gracemont Street SW, millions of tons of decomposing garbage were dumped from 1991 to about 2005. The waste makes up a large hill, covered by soil and plastic, on an 88-acre area of the landfill. The hill is next to I-77 between the Fohl Road SW and Bolivar exits.
MORE DATA NEEDED
“The data (from the measuring instruments) will help us determine whether there’s a serious concern with the slope’s stability,” said Settles, who added that the EPA has been speaking with a slope stability expert in Illinois. “Right now we don’t have the data that suggests a slope failure could occur.”
Settles said he’s not aware of the EPA having any discussions with the Ohio Department of Transportation, which oversees I-77.
Local officials had concerns about Countywide’s stability last year. A reaction between water and aluminum waste not only caused a nauseating odor and according to the EPA, underground fires, but also apparently faster-than-expected settling at the top of the waste hill. Vandersall said Countywide slowed the settling by placing a stabilizing berm of 60,000 cubic yards of soil on the hill’s south slope.
The Canton Repository
PIKE TWP - The Ohio Environmental Protection Agency is looking into whether tension cracks and possible slope movement at the Countywide Recycling & Disposal Facility could affect nearby Interstate 77.
In a letter to the landfill dated Aug. 22, the agency recommended that Countywide by Aug. 27 start installing a series of instruments along its west slope to measure movement of decomposing trash.
EPA spokesman Mike Settles said Tuesday that he believes agency inspectors found tension cracks at the landfill in early August.
“Ohio EPA is concerned that the formation of tension cracks may indicate the potential for slope movement in the west area of the landfill,” the letter says.
“Based upon ... the lack of a clear understanding of the total magnitude and mechanism of the South Slope movement, Ohio EPA is concerned that any slope movement in the West area of the landfill could pose a potential risk to the public and nearby infrastructure, which includes heavily traveled Interstate Highway 77.”
The letter signed by EPA enforcement coordinator Ed Gortner says that Countywide needs to be ready to take immediate action “in the event the inclinometer data demonstrates slope failure is imminent.”
COUNTYWIDE: NO PROBLEM
Countywide General Manager Tim Vandersall said the cracks are the normal result of the settling of waste. He said he has seen no signs of stability problems and that the cracks have not grown appreciably in size. Some have even gotten smaller.
He said the EPA is “just trying to be conservative. They don’t have the time involved at this site that we do.”
Countywide spokesman Will Flower said the landfill is constantly monitored, and “all indications are that the landfill is safe, has been and will continue to be stable. ... Countywide is absolutely 100 percent committed to providing the (EPA) with the information to assure them that this facility is safe.”
At the facility off Gracemont Street SW, millions of tons of decomposing garbage were dumped from 1991 to about 2005. The waste makes up a large hill, covered by soil and plastic, on an 88-acre area of the landfill. The hill is next to I-77 between the Fohl Road SW and Bolivar exits.
MORE DATA NEEDED
“The data (from the measuring instruments) will help us determine whether there’s a serious concern with the slope’s stability,” said Settles, who added that the EPA has been speaking with a slope stability expert in Illinois. “Right now we don’t have the data that suggests a slope failure could occur.”
Settles said he’s not aware of the EPA having any discussions with the Ohio Department of Transportation, which oversees I-77.
Local officials had concerns about Countywide’s stability last year. A reaction between water and aluminum waste not only caused a nauseating odor and according to the EPA, underground fires, but also apparently faster-than-expected settling at the top of the waste hill. Vandersall said Countywide slowed the settling by placing a stabilizing berm of 60,000 cubic yards of soil on the hill’s south slope.
