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Closure of A&L landfill to begin
By D.A. WILKINSON
LISBON
Work will begin after Memorial Day to finally close the A&L Salvage Landfill at 11225 State Route 45 in Lisbon.
R.B. Jergens Contractors of Vandalia, Ohio, has been chosen by the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency to do much of the work. The OEPA’s goal is to have the landfill’s permanent cap completed by Thanksgiving.
A&L was a construction-and demolition-debris landfill that could take asbestos. The landfill often was cited by the OEPA for improperly handing asbestos. Residents often complained about odors.
Mike Settles, a spokesman for the OEPA, said the move is a multimillion-dollar effort to properly cap and close a facility that had a 42-acre disposal area.
Erin Strouse, a spokeswoman for the OEPA, explained that the surface work would give the landfill a better shape, especially on the east side of the landfill.
The covering also will include clay put on hot spots that are burning below ground. A gas-collection system will be installed, and the landfill will be covered with a plastic cap. Soil and vegetation will be added to keep water away from the waste runoff.
Relocating the waste in the disposal area is expected to take 14 days or less in June or July. During that time, the community may experience periods of increased landfill odors. Jergens will work more than its normal 10-hour shift to minimize the time the waste is exposed and causing odors.
The OEPA will continue to monitor air emissions around the landfill.
The project is estimated to cost $3.2 million, which will be provided by the landfill’s owners. The landfill’s owners forfeited more than $4 million in financial assurance bonds that will be used to pay for capping the landfill and for post-closure care.
A&L Salvage stopped operation in early 2009. The state is pursuing its court complaint against A&L Salvage that seeks injunctive relief for past violations, payment of past-due landfill fees and a civil penalty.
Citizens with questions concerning the final capping and closure may contact Kristopher Weiss at the OEPA’s Public Interest Center at 614-644-2160 or at kristopher.weiss@epa.state.oh.us.