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f <br /> aQu,►V <br /> 2 <br /> .G <br /> W, =aa <br /> HENRY M. HIRATA y EUGENE B. DELUCCHI <br /> DIRECTOR • • DEPUTY DIRECTOR <br /> OgLi;g ®Q MANUEL LOPEZ <br /> DEPUTY DIRECTOR <br /> COUINITY OF SAN 1 <br /> DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS <br /> P. 0. BOX 1810 - 1810 E. HAZELTON AVENUE <br /> STOCKTON. CALIFORNIA 85201 <br /> (208) 844-2281 •� w <br /> February 26, 1985 <br /> Mr. C. Leland Hall, Director <br /> Environmental Health Division Sq1V <br /> !O <br /> San Joaquin Local Health District <br /> 1610 E. Hazelton Avenue <br /> P. 0. Box 2009 T ��T' <br /> Stockton, CA 95201 <br /> RE : HA EY LANE SANITARY LANDFILL INSPECTION, FEBRUARY 1, 1985 <br /> Dear Mr. Hall : <br /> On February 1, 1985, the Harney Lane Sanitary Landfill was inspected by your <br /> agency, during which a Notice of Inspection form was given to San Joaquin <br /> County. This form noted that Section 3211 was in violation. Specifically, the <br /> report states "order of landfill gas noted today, provide information on moni- <br /> toring and control measure by March 1, 1985". <br /> Afterward, I spoke with Jim Miller who was present during the inspection. <br /> Mr. Miller said that he noticed gas odors escaping from the top of the sanitary <br /> landfill . <br /> I do not believe that Harney Lane is in violation of Section 3211. Generally, <br /> the gas which is produced in a sanitary landfill is methane, an odorless gas. <br /> The presence of methane can only be detected using sophisticated equipment. <br /> Therefore, it is highly unlikely that what the inspectors noticed was gas odors <br /> seeping from the site. <br /> All sanitary landfills will produce methane. Generally, this methane is not a <br /> problem until it migrates off the site and onto adjacent properties where it <br /> poses a hazard to humans, animals, or vegetation. To prevent this vertical <br /> movement of gas from landfills, the tos ,of the landfills are vented t0 allow <br /> gas to escape over the site. In severe cases, suction pumps are installed to <br /> draw gas from the landfill which is then vented into the atmosphere. If suf- <br /> ficient quantities of gas is available, then the gas may be mined for commercial <br /> use. Therefore, it is not uncommon, nor is it undesirable for the methane pro- <br /> duced in a landfill to vent through the cover into the atmosphere. When this is <br /> occurring, it is an indication that the landfill cover is working and that <br /> methane is not migrating vertically from the landfill. <br /> If methane is escaping through the cover of the landfill, then, where is the <br /> violation? If the Health District is requiring the County to furnish a report <br /> on methane monitoring and control measures, by March 1, 1985, the County must <br /> know what the violations are so they can be addressed. <br />