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'Qrqu iw.,.c® <br /> PUBLIC tEALTH SERVtES <br /> SAN JOAQUIN COUNTY ?� <br /> ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH DIVISION <br /> e• e <br /> Ernest M. Fujimoto, M.D., ., Acting Health Officer <br /> '9�jR®'Rta <br /> 445 N. San Joaquin Street • P.O. Box 388 ® Stockton, CA 95201-0388 <br /> (209) 468-3420 <br /> F W( <br /> May 4, 1994 <br /> Ms. Denise Bowell. <br /> California Department of Housing and Community Development <br /> P.O. Box 952054 <br /> Sacramento CA 94252-2054 <br /> RE: Housing Authority of San Joaquin County Migrant Farm Labor Camp <br /> 14320 E. Harney Lane, Lodi <br /> On April 5, 1994, the Environmental Health Division (EHD) issued a letter to the San Joaquin <br /> County Public Works Department (Public Works), the operator of the Harney Lane Landfill, <br /> which is adjacent to the labor camp referenced above, requiring them to increase landfill gas <br /> (methane) monitoring of the labor camp structures from quarterly to monthly during the months <br /> the camp is occupied. In addition, the EHD required Public Works to sample the landfill gas <br /> monitoring wells closest to the labor camp for ten trace volatile organic compounds commonly <br /> associated with landfill gas. <br /> Background <br /> Methane gas is currently being detected in perimeter gas monitoring wells at levels exceeding <br /> the regulatory limit of five percent methane by volume in air at the facility boundary. Low level <br /> methane gas migration to the labor camp structures has occurred, as indicated by quarterly <br /> monitoring by Public Works (see attached monitoring results). Methane gas may pose an <br /> explosion hazard in enclosed places at its lower explosive limit, five percent by volume in air. <br /> Harney Lane Landfill is currently undergoing closure activities. A required element of the <br /> landfill's closure is the future installation of a landfill gas control system. The gas control <br /> system operate by withdrawing, collecting, and flaring off landfill gas to help alleviate landfill <br /> gas migration. Even with a gas control system installed at the landfill, there is no guarantee that <br /> the landfill gas migration would cease. In theory, it should be reduced. Additional gas <br /> monitoring after installation would still be continued. <br /> Recommendations <br /> Because methane gas has been detected in labor camp structures and the gas control system is <br /> a future consideration, the EHD recommends that your department develop an emergency plan <br /> to notify the labor camp occupants and establish a maximum methane gas level, which when <br /> exceeded, would cause the camp to be vacated. <br /> A Division of San Joaquin County Health Care Services <br />