Draft Environmental Impact Statement
NOTICE: Two public hearings have been scheduled to receive oral and written comments on the DSEIS: Tuesday, April 13, 2010, 6:00-9:00 PM, Campo Indian Reservation, California Wednesday, April 14, 2010, 6:00- 9:00 PM., Buckman Springs, California. More Info
Bob Royer
(206 ) 696-7979 Office
(206) 999-3586 Mobile
broyer@gallatinpublicaffairs.comNancy Murphy
(202) 222-8908 Mobile nancy@csrcommunications.com
Campo Landfill News Archive
|
Chairman Ralph Goff Vice Chairman Harry Paul Cuero Treasurer Marcus Cuero Secretary Annah Ceballos Committee Member Brian Connolly Committee Member Vanessa Parkhurst Committee Member Steven Cuero |
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is the landfill needed in the first place?
Despite aggressive recycling by manufacturers, individuals and municipalities, there is always a residual amount of the waste stream that requires disposal. Landfills designed with modern liner systems and sophisticated monitoring are safe alternatives for this necessary disposal. With recycling, they are part of the waste solution for many years to come.
Currently, the only major disposal options in San Diego County besides the City of San Diego's Miramar Landfill are controlled by one provider, a fact that makes it hard for communities and businesses to get the best price for disposal. In addition, the Miramar Landfill is currently projected to run out of capacity in 2017.
Isn't the landfill located on the reservation to avoid regulation?
The truth of the matter is that the fact of locating the landfill on the reservation provides equally stringent regulatory oversight. The landfill is no different than other modern landfills constructed across America. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the U.S. Department of the Interior, the U.S. Department of Fish and Wildlife, and the Campo Environmental Protection Agency (CEPA) are all involved in review and approval of this project. CEPA will permit the landfill and oversee the landfill under regulations equivalent to those of the State of California. The Campo Kumeyaay Nation has a cooperative agreement with California to ensure that CEPA regulations are in full compliance with state regulations for landfills.
Will the landfill accept hazardous waste?
Hazardous waste is prohibited by tribal and federal regulations at the Campo Regional Landfill site. While some of the protections in the landfill liner exceed the requirements for municipal solid waste disposal, the lease with the Campo Kumeyaay Nation forbids it and all relevant regulations prohibit it.
Who is BLT Enterprises?
BLT is California's largest private recycler, separating recoverable materials, selling them in many different recycling markets and disposing of the remainder. BLT Enterprises has been in business for more than 25 years. In addition to recycling expertise, BLT personnel were key players in the development of the Roosevelt Regional Landfill in Klickitat County, Washington. The BLT Team working on the Campo Regional Landfill permitted the landfill in Roosevelt, designed its liner, groundwater, methane collection and transportation systems. They were also responsible for the daily operating procedures and maintenance of the landfill.
What is Muht Hei?
Muht Hei is a tribally-chartered corporation serving as the economic development agency of the Campo Kumeyaay Nation. The words mean "New Land" in the Kumeyaay language and refer to a parcel of land that was added to their reservation in 1911.
Muht Hei is governed by a seven-member Board of Directors, all of whom are tribal members. Its purpose is to generate revenue to fund tribal government operations, provide employment and training opportunities, and improve quality of life on the reservation. Muht Hei is the agency that has leased the land to BLT for the operation of the landfill.
What are the business interests of the Campo Kumeyaay Nation?
The Campo Kumeyaay Nation (CKN) is home to the largest operating commercial-scale wind project on tribal lands in the United States, a 50 MW wind farm launched in 2005. In November 2008, CKN's General Council approved development of an additional 300 MW of wind power on its reservation in San Diego County. In partnership with San Diego Gas & Electric, a subsidiary of Sempra and Invenergy, CKN will jointly develop and operate the first phase - 160 MW - of the General Council approved 300 MW of wind development. In addition, CKN operates a construction materials quarry and is a gaming tribe, owning the Golden Acorn Casino & Travel Center.
The tribe brings substantial economic benefits to the east San Diego County region with about 500 jobs dependent upon tribal investment.
Why is this landfill different from other landfills in California or elsewhere in the country?
The CKN Solid Waste Management Code provides for more groundwater protection than federal landfill design standards. The proposed liner system is more robust and has an additional protective layer made up of an HDPE plastic geomembrane and a secondary leachate collection and leak detection system. The economic performance of the landfill depends on thorough and aggressive regulation. Permitting will occur only as a result of the oversight and approval of four regulatory agencies - the Bureau of Indian Affairs, the Campo Environmental Protection Agency, the US Department of Fish and Wildlife and the Environmental Protection Agency of the United States.
What will happen to the landfill gasses?
Decomposing organic material inside the landfill creates a gas mixture comprised of about 50% methane, 50% carbon dioxide, and trace quantities of other gasses. Landfill gas is required by regulation to be collected and treated, generally by combustion in a flare. Because the landfill gas includes 50% methane it can be used as a renewable energy source, either burned to produce electricity in an engine- generator or purified for use in natural gas fueled vehicles. Reuse of landfill gas reduces greenhouse gas emissions by offsetting other power production or fuel consumption and provides a source of renewable energy.
BLT will manage the landfill gasses in such a way as to produce electricity or other renewable fuels. Many landfills do this routinely and this landfill will be no exception. Renewable energy at the Campo Regional Landfill will continue CKN's aims to become a regional leader in renewable energy, with methane waste-to-energy and wind power playing significant roles achieving that goal.
Will the landfill smell?
Odor at modern landfills is controlled by the application of daily cover and the collection of landfill gas via a vacuum extraction system. Daily cover is typically soil but can include other commercially available products manufactured for that purpose. The Campo Regional Landfill will use soil for daily cover. The daily cover is placed over the exposed solid waste at the end of every working day. The vacuum landfill gas collection system includes perforated pipes spaced throughout the landfill that are connected by a piping system to a vacuum blower. Gas in the landfill flows into the perforated pipes and is directed to a flare or renewable energy recovery system for treatment that eliminates odor and other landfill gas contaminants. Quarterly surface emission monitoring is required to ensure the landfill gas collection system is performing adequately.
How is groundwater protected?
Groundwater is protected by the landfill bottom liner and leachate collection system, the final cover, and groundwater monitoring. The bottom liner system prevents the escape of contaminants from the landfill into the groundwater. The Campo Regional Landfill's bottom liner system is more robust than typical municipal solid waste landfills and includes a secondary leachate collection and leak detection system to back-up the primary liner and leachate collection system. The final cover is placed when the landfill is filled to grade in an area.
The final cover includes a gemembrane liner and geosynthetic drainage layer to prevent precipitation from entering the closed portion of the landfill. Precipitation is the source of leachate and eliminating it removes the principal source of groundwater contamination. Substantial additional groundwater field studies and analysis have occurred since the last EIS was published. The results of this new work demonstrate that the landfill can be monitored reliably. An extensive set of groundwater monitoring wells are included in the proposal to ensure reliable groundwater monitoring.
Will there be significant impact from truck traffic to the landfill?
Solid waste will be delivered to the Campo Regional Landfill by truck. Most trucks will be semi-tractor trailers hauling 40-48 foot containers of solid waste. The landfill is authorized by its lease with Muht-Hei to accept 1 million tons per year. At full capacity, that equates to about 123 semi-tractor trailers per working day. Additionally, some local haulers may haul directly to the landfill using curb-side compactor trucks. The CRL anticipates approximately 15 of such trucks daily. The access to the landfill will be via I-8 to Church Road then across an improved intersection at SR-94 and then along the existing BIA 10 that will be upgraded to two-lane asphalt with 12-foot wide lanes and shoulders. The structural integrity of Church Road will be upgraded by asphalt overlay to carry the additional traffic. Additionally, a paved bypass road will be constructed around the Tribal Center to avoid truck traffic on Church Road through the Tribal Center vicinity.
Will the landfill create any jobs in the area?
The Campo Regional Landfill will permanently employ approximately 15 people. Jobs will range from labor, equipment operator, truck driver, environmental technician, administration and management. These will be jobs with living wages and benefits. Seasonal construction jobs will also be available as the landfill builds its necessary infrastructure, new areas and closures.
