DSAC Meeting March 25, 2026
The DSAC met on March 25, 2026, to discuss ongoing operations at the Coffin Butte landfill and PRC facility. Key topics included responses to DEQ letters, road cleanup operations, fire safety protocols, battery fire concerns, odor complaint tracking, and the review of the 2024 annual report before submission to county commissioners.
Summary
The Data Safety Advisory Committee (DSAC) convened on March 25, 2026, after being delayed due to county decisions regarding committee meetings. The meeting began with public comments and review of correspondence, including a DEQ response letter that some committee members hadn't seen. They discussed the process for developing a response letter to DEQ's comments, with the committee agreeing to review both letters within a week before submission.
Paul from Republic Services provided operational updates, including ongoing road cleanups on multiple highways using sheriff's department crews at $1,200 per event, and the acquisition of a co-mingled recycling facility in Salem. He reported on gas collection system improvements with new wells and headers being installed starting April 13th, and consideration of a second flare installation. Construction of cell 6C is underway for completion in October, while 6B is ready but waiting for dry weather to avoid leachate pumping.
Fire safety discussions revealed that Adair Fire Department expects businesses to monitor fire danger based on public notifications rather than providing 24-hour monitoring services. The committee discussed concerns about lithium battery fires at other landfills, with Republic reporting they handle small fires internally but haven't experienced battery fires at the landfill itself. A new state battery recycling program starting in 2029 was mentioned as a potential solution.
Subcommittee reports covered odor/methane fingerprinting studies by OSU researchers to distinguish emission sources between different facilities, groundwater monitoring communications with DEQ, and community engagement efforts to improve odor complaint tracking. Significant discrepancies were identified in complaint source data, with confusion between complaints going directly to Republic versus through DEQ.
The meeting concluded with review of the 2024 annual report for submission to county commissioners, showing 12.9 years of remaining landfill capacity, $9.5 million invested in gas collection systems since 2019, and various regulatory inspections including EPA surface emission monitoring that found 41 exceedances using different methodology than required routine monitoring.
Key Insights
- Paul states that Republic submitted all required informational and corrective action items to DEQ by February 1st deadlines, but received a judgment order after providing the documentation without any feedback from DEQ
- Paul explains that Republic now owns and operates a co-mingled recycling facility in Salem that was formerly Garden Services, starting operations in August with ongoing upgrades including a new bailer
- Paul reports that Republic is starting gas construction on April 13th, installing new headers, force mains, pipes and drilling new wells around the site to identify gaps in gas collection areas
- Paul states that cell 6B is ready to be filled but they're holding off until wet weather stops to avoid pumping out leachate while putting trash in
- Paul explains that Republic is sliver filling the front east side to recover about half a year's worth of airspace due to settling and not filling when they should have
- Chief Harris indicates through David's report that businesses are responsible for monitoring fire danger themselves based on public notifications, rather than expecting fire department monitoring services
- Paul states that if Consumer Power wanted to add another engine to the gas-to-energy facility, the emissions modeling would not allow it under current title five permit limits unless stacks were raised 50 feet
- David reports that OSU researchers conducted air sampling at three sites (PRC, landfill, and wastewater treatment plant) showing distinctly different emission fingerprints, proving the analytical technique works
- Paul explains that EPA inspectors found 41 surface emission exceedances by using different methodology than required routine monitoring, including sticking probes under tarps and down holes
- Julie reports that a new state battery recycling program legislation just passed that will set up statewide battery recycling by 2029, which Republic has supported for 3-5 years
- Paul states there's significant discrepancy in odor complaint tracking data, with the report showing 47% going to Republic but Paul saying he receives very few complaints directly
- Paul reports that Republic has weather monitoring equipment 30-40 feet from their office building that records temperature, rain, humidity and wind direction with timestamps
- Paul explains that Republic uses a flare to burn excess gas and completed installation of a new enclosed flare in October 2024 after DEQ sent a pre-enforcement warning in July
- Paul states that in 2024 the landfill was not issued any notice of violation by EPA or DEQ, clarifying there were no fines by either agency that year
- Paul reports that Republic invested $9.5 million in gas control and collection systems between 2019 and 2024, involving 57 vertical wells and 22,700 feet of horizontal gas collection piping
Topics
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