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III. Environmental Setting, Impacts,and Mitigations
<br /> L. Public Health and Safety
<br /> Public Resources Code, Section 43600 requires a landfill owner or operator to submit evidence
<br /> that it is financially able to cover the cost of closure and post closure maintenance. This
<br /> regulation also applies to public entities that own landfills. The CIWMB requires that the
<br /> evidence of financial ability is in the form of a trust fund,into which funds are deposited
<br /> annually,or an equivalent financial arrangement.
<br /> Existing Hazards
<br /> Existing public health and safety concerns in the area of the landfill are related to ongoing
<br /> operations. The concerns include the probable presence of commercially generated and
<br /> household hazardous waste,the potential for toxic air emissions, toxic releases to groundwater,
<br /> accidents,explosions from buildup of landfill gas,fires,and disease vectors.
<br /> Hazardous Wastes
<br /> Certain chemical and physical properties of a substance may cause it to be considered hazardous.
<br /> Under CCR,Title 22, Section 66261.10,a hazardous material is defined as a substance or
<br /> combination of substances,which because of quantity,concentration,or physical,chemical or
<br /> infectious characteristics, may either:
<br /> • cause or significantly contribute to an increase in mortality or an increase in serious,
<br /> irreversible,or incapacitating,illness;or
<br /> • pose a substantial present or potential hazard to human health or environment when
<br /> improperly treated, stored,transported or disposed of,or otherwise managed(CCR,
<br /> Title 22,Division 4.5,Chapter 11, Article 2,Section 66260.10).
<br /> Hazardous wastes are defined in the same manner. Hazardous wastes are hazardous substances
<br /> that no longer have practical use,such as materials that have been discarded,discharged,spilled, °
<br /> contaminated,or are being stored prior to proper disposal. According to CCR,Title 22,
<br /> hazardous materials and hazardous wastes are classified according to four properties: toxic,
<br /> ignitable,corrosive, and reactive(CCR,Title 22,Division 4.5,Chapter 11,Article 3).
<br /> A household hazardous waste is any household waste that can cause mortality or illness,or pose
<br /> a threat to health or the environment when improperly stored,disposed,or otherwise managed.
<br /> Studies have shown that hazardous wastes commonly make up approximately 0.5 percent to
<br /> 2.0 percent of municipal solid wastes. Waste characterization studies performed in San Joaquin
<br /> County in 1990 indicated that 0.7 percent of the waste stream consisted of household hazardous
<br /> III.L.6
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