Client:  Real Estate Developer

Project:  Industrial Waste Landfill Closure

Location:  New Jersey

 
Description: EWMA was retained to prepare and implement a closure plan for a 16-acre industrial waste landfill in accordance with the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) requirements.  The landfill received non-recyclable paper, wood, steel, strapping wire and plastic from several paper mills that operated in Morris County between 1957 and 1980.  The company that operated the landfill did not complete its closure obligation, which was then assumed by the real estate developer.

 A complete file review and regulatory analysis was performed to determine the requirements for closing this landfill.  Since the landfill operated between 1970 and January 1, 1982, its closure was subject to requirements imposed by Chapter VIII of the New Jersey Sanitary Health Code, but it was not subject to the Sanitary Landfill Facility Closure and Contingency Fund Act.  A pre-existing Closure Plan had been prepared to meet the administrative and technical standards of the latter regulation, but significant cost savings were possible under the first set of standards. 

EWMA designed and implemented an investigation of the geology and hydrogeology of the site in addition to an environmental risk assessment to determine the impact the landfill had on the environment.  The purpose of this investigation was to reduce or eliminate certain aspects of the pre-existing closure plan by taking advantage of the flexibility available under the pre-1982 closure requirements.  EWMA’s investigation demonstrated that a leachate collection and/or control system was not necessary, and that an active venting system was unnecessary.  The NJDEP approved the landfill closure with an 18-inch layer of clean soil covered with a 6-inch layer of topsoil.  Passive methane gas vents were also approved and a leachate collection and/or control system was not required.
 
EWMA prepared  Soil Erosion and Sediment Control Plans and secured approval from the Soil Conservation district.  Also, stream encroachment and stormwater permit applications were prepared and filed.
 
EWMA located a suitable source (other than quarry-supplied certified clean fill) for approximately 40,000 tons of capping material, and obtained the necessary regulatory approvals for its use.  By locating this suitable capping material source, EWMA’s client realized a substantial cost savings.  Additionally, EWMA coordinated the capping, regrading and methane vent installation process. 

Based upon EWMA’s investigation, a significantly less onerous closure plan was approved by the NJDEP.  Additionally, EWMA’s risk assessment demonstrated that a clay cap and synthetic liner was not required and that the originally-proposed stormwater collection system was not necessary.  As a result of EWMA’s efforts and diligence, the cost of implementing the revised closure plan was approximately $1.2 million less than the original closure plan.