Transcript Title of Slide Presentation - Illinois Environmental

Inspections
at MSW Landfills
Original Content is from USEPA Telecourse
APTI T – 021-01 “The Use of Federal
Reference Methods in the Evaluation of
Landfill Gas Emissions” by
William T. “Jerry” Winberry, Jr.
EnviroTech Solutions
Landfill
Landfill Gas Collection System Components
Electrical power out
Controlled
emissions
Recovery
system
Gas collection
header
Enclosed
flare
Final soil
cap cover
Landfill
gas
Gas collection wells
Landfill Gas Collection System Components
Fill material
Surface monitoring
Ambient air
Gas
monitoring
leaks
Uncontrolled
emissions
Perimeter
vents
Landfill
gas
Groundwater
monitoring
well
Leachate
manhole
Reasons for Inspections
of MSW Landfills
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Compliance determination
Complaint investigation
Source plan approval
Review or renewal of permits
Special studies
Pre-Inspection Procedures
File review
 Regulation review
 Equipment checks
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File Review
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Initial design capacity report
Annual or 5-year NMOC emission rate report
Permit to construct (P/C)
and permit to operate (P/O)
Collection and control system design plan
File Review
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Annual reports
Landfill closure reports
Control equipment removal reports
Previous inspection reports
Enforcement action:
Complaints and notice of violation
File Review
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Enforcement action taken, orders of
abatement, variance history
Compliance test data
Equipment malfunction reports
SSM Plan and any events
Regulation Review
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Identify all rules that apply to the facility
Review any references to the specific rules
which are noted in the landfill file
Be familiar with each standard and exemption
Equipment Check
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Hard hat
Gloves
Safety vest
Respirator/dust mask
Method 21 system route map
Steel-toed safety shoes
Equipment Check Contd.:
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Safety glasses
First aid kit
Flashlight
Field checklist
Portable monitor (gas detector system)
Digital manometer
Portable Monitor
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Obtain certified portable gas monitor
Verify operating conditions and specifications
 Assemble and start-up instrument
according to manufacturer’s instructions
 Leak check sampling system
Portable Monitor Contd.:
Evaluate response factor (RF) with known
concentration of certified methane gas
 Evaluate calibration precision with certified
methane gas standard using zero gas or
background as low calibration point
 Repeat two additional times

Portable Monitor Contd.:
Calculate calibration precision
 Check response time during calibration
precision evaluation
 Verify sample flow rate
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Notify the Landfill
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Notify landfill of inspection so that relevant
documents can be made available for review
Obtain map and/or
diagram of the landfill with elevations,
wellhead locations, header system placement
and control devices.
Pre-entry
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Look at landfill from neighborhood
Take wide angle picture
of landfill for file
Talk to neighbors about
activities at landfill
Pre-entry

Where possible, drive around the outside
perimeter of the landfill
 Notice any landfill odors?
 See any visible emissions?
 Litter in neighborhood which looks like it
originated from the landfill?
Entry
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Enter by public access route
Identify yourself, present your credentials
Ask to meet with the site representative
Pre-Inspection Meeting
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Explain purpose of inspection
and discuss any new rule changes
Answer questions that the source personnel
may have
Identify equipment to be
used in the inspection
Pre-Inspection Meeting
Information

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Verify facility information
 Facility name, ownership
 Facility address, telephone number
 Facility contact name, telephone number
Discuss safety procedures
Pre-Inspection Meeting
Information
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Review Permit
 Verify
 that permit is current and posted
 that permit is for correct equipment
 that permit operating conditions
are being met
 date permit issued
 design capacity information
Pre-Inspection Meeting
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Review permit specification from office to onsite
 List of equipment/wellheads installed or to
be installed
 Emission limits to be met
 Changes/modifications to permit conditions
 Site-specific monitoring requirements
Pre-Inspection Meeting
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Operational Logs
 Historical emission records and self
monitoring data available from past 5-years
 Monitoring and calibration logbooks
Pre-Inspection Meeting
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Operational logs for active collection systems
 Logbooks associated with well head monthly
monitoring parameters:
 Temperature
 Gauge pressure
 Gas concentrations of:
• Oxygen
• Nitrogen
Pre-Inspection Meeting
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LFG control system operational logs for flares,
co-generation facilities, gas turbines, or
internal combustion engines
 Calibration, operation, and maintenance
records
 Equipment “downtime”
Pre-Inspection Meeting
Heat sensor operational records
 Continuous temperature recordings
 Compliance testing performed
since last inspection
 LFG monthly gas flow rate
 Well concentration readings
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Pre-Inspection Meeting
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Environmental Data
 Average wind speed for today
(< 10 mph)
 Rain fall over last seven days
 Barometric pressure
over last seven days
Pre-Inspection Meeting
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Sampling Grid Pattern
 Obtain from pre-inspection or create a
sampling grid pattern over a map of the
landfill, with parallel lines approximately 30
meters apart
 Start grid pattern at control device, then
around perimeter of landfill, then into
landfill with parallel lines
Walking
route
Landfill gas
flare facility
A
Physical Inspection
of Landfill
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Start the on-site physical inspection of the
landfill at the outer perimeter
Acquire a “background/upwind” concentration
of LFG using FRM 21 certified monitor
Physical Inspection
of Landfill
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Observe visible emissions (VE)
 Haul road, flares, energy recovery systems
Continue to control equipment and follow the
grid pattern
Physical Inspection
of Landfill
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Collection and control equipment, note
 Comparison between landfill records and
visual inspection
 Observation of Leaks and
maintenance
 Operations according to site-specific
collection system design plan
Physical Inspection
of Landfill
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Monitor surface of landfill with
FRM 21 gas monitoring probe
 Position FRM 21 monitor with tip
approximately 2-4 inches off ground
 Follow the grid route around perimeter of
site, noting a reading every 30 meters.
Record readings on field test data sheet
(FTDS)
Physical Inspection
of Landfill
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Enter the site according to the grid route map
Take readings every 30 meters, until the
complete landfill surface has been evaluated,
using the grid route
Any reading 500 ppm above background
should be recorded on FTDS and marked with
a flag
Physical Inspection
of Landfill
 Monitoring surface of landfill
Monitor any crack, hole, breach
in the surface, and interface with
undisturbed native soil
 Monitor around rocks and objects sticking
out of the surface of the landfill for
possible LFG emissions

Meter Reading - 15,000 ppm
0.1 L/min
sample intake rate
(minimum rate allowed
for Method 21)
Leak detector
probe tip
1/4 in. dia.
Landfill Surface Cover
Leak
Meter Reading - 500 ppm
3.0 L/min
sample intake rate
(maximum rate allowed
for Method 21)
Leak detector
probe tip
1/4 in. dia.
Landfill Surface Cover
Leak
Monitoring
LFG Collection System
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As you monitor the landfill, note
 Any leaks heard coming from the LFG
collection system
 Any broken header lines
 Any well heads broken and venting LFG
Monitoring
LFG Collection System
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Elevated concentrations of LFG:
 Around horizontal or
vertical well casings
 Venting from LFG well vaults
 Around connecting tubing etc.
Monitoring
LFG Collection System
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Monitor extraction well parameters and
compare to pre-inspection values
 Temperature
 Static pressure
 Gas concentrations
 Oxygen and Nitrogen
Monitoring
Perimeter Gas Probes
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Monitor perimeter gas probes and compare
to historical data
Monitor perimeter water monitoring wells
and compare to historical data acquired in
pre-inspection meeting
Monitoring
Selected Wellheads
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Temperature
Gauge pressure
Gas composition
Post-Inspection Procedures
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Perform single point calibration of FRM 21 gas
monitoring system
Compile field data sheets and observation
notes
Post-Inspection Meeting
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Discuss deficiencies and inform owner of
inspection results
Advise source representative of any additional
concerns that you might have
Discuss corrective action to be taken for
identified leaks
Example Format for Inspection
Documentation/Report
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Prepare
 A written description of the landfill
 A diagram showing the location of control
equipment, emission points, and tagging of
any emission exceedances
Example Format for Inspection
Documentation/Report
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A statement indicating compliance or
violation for each emission point recorded
Recommendations, if any, such as a source
test or an engineering evaluation
Assessment of fugitive emissions and other
potential impacts