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SAN JUAN COUNTY SOLID WASTE

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Deadline approaching for disposal of debris pile

Story by Sharon Kivisto
Photos by Triana Elan

posted 10/24/02
Cleanup of the large pile of construction and demolition debris at the Orcas Island landfill will become more expensive if a permit is not obtained by November 20, 2002. The pile would be considered a limited purpose landfill and would be subject to stricter requirements for closure.

For years the county allowed residents to dump debris from construction and demolition sites. "The pile was never permitted," said Solid Waste Manager Jon Shannon. "It needs to be dealt with." He hopes to take care of the problem through in place closure. "We'll push the pile back down, grade it over, cover it and leave it."

New solid waste regulations are scheduled to be adopted November 20, 2002. "Under the old regs, it can be closed with one foot (of covering material) on it," said county Environmental Health Manager Mark Tompkins. "The new regulations call for groundwater monitoring."

If a permitted facility is in the process of closing when the new regulations go into effect, the state allows 12 months to finish the process, according to Tompkins.

Commissioner Darcie Nielsen said, "I'm really concerned about the CDL pit. To assume it is inert material is a dangerous assumption." She asked if there was a way to do core samples in the pile.

Shannon said, "The answer is yes, but at what cost. My gut feeling is the monitoring already in place would be adequate." There are monitoring wells at the Orcas Landfill site.

Commissioner Rhea Miller suggested it would be relatively easy to use a front loader to break up the pile in order to get an idea of what is there. "I like the idea of getting it permitted immediately and getting it covered," she said.

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