Abstract

This report describes a case study that applies EPA’s guidance for conducting air pathway analysis of landfill gas emissions. The guidance is of interest to Superfund remedial project managers, on-scene coordinators, facility owners, and potentially responsible parties. The site examined was the Bush Valley Landfill in Harford County, Maryland.

This site has a flexible membrane liner, 5 passive vents, and 17 monitoring probes. The case study exemplifies the use of the procedures and tools described in the guidance for evaluating landfill gas emissions to ambient air. The air pathway analysis is used to evaluate the inhalation risks to off-site receptors, as well as the hazards of both on-site and off-site methane explosions and landfill fires.

Landfill gases detected at the site were methane and chemicals of particular concern (COPCs), including 1,1,1-trichloroethane, 1,1-dichloroethene, 1,2-dichloroethane, benzene, chlorobenzene, 1,4-dichlorobenzene, chloroethane, dichlorobenzene, methylene chloride, toluene, trichloroethene, vinyl chloride, and xylenes.

The report includes values of 90th percentile concentration of COPCs and isopleths of the COPC concentrations overlaid on an aerial photograph of the site.

Contact

Susan Thorneloe

You will need Adobe Reader to view some of the files on this page.
See EPA's PDF page to learn more.