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migration from the base of the landfill, the new extraction wells will be preferentially screened <br />near the bottom of the landfilled waste to exert a greater vacuum at the base of refuse and <br />minimizing air intrusion from the surface of the landfill. <br />Similar to the existing LFG extraction wells, the new wells will be constructed of SCH40 PVC <br />pipe, however, the upper well section comprised of solid pipe will be lengthened from the <br />previous design to 35 to 50 feet. The lower section will still be perforated pipe, but will be <br />installed to a depth closer to the bottom of the waste mass. The construction details of a typical <br />LFG well are shown in Appendix C. The actual depth of the wells and length of solid and <br />perforated sections will be determined in the final design phase. Should field conditions present <br />an unexpected site condition (e.g. waste is shallower or deeper than anticipated) the final well <br />installation may also be adjusted in the field. <br />Water Board Question: How will these new and existing gas extraction wells be operated, <br />maintained and monitored? <br />County Response: <br />Vacuum will be applied to the new extraction wells gradually, slowly increasing the vacuum at <br />each well by adjusting each well head control valve based on the quality of the gas collected at <br />each well. These new wells will be monitored weekly until each well and the wellfield reaches <br />steady state operation, then monthly thereafter as part of the existing operations and monitoring <br />program. Routine operations, monitoring, and maintenance are described below. <br />The extraction wells will be operated to control landfill gas emissions and migration, to meet the <br />LFG quality goals of the onsite landfill -gas -to -energy (LFGTE) power plant while minimizing <br />air intrusion. Vacuum is increased or decreased using the well head control valve based on the <br />quality of the collected LFG. Wells are monitoring monthly for applied vacuum, operation <br />temperature, and concentrations of methane, carbon dioxide, oxygen, and nitrogen (balance gas). <br />Wells are inspected monthly for air leaks or any visible damage to the well head or casing. <br />Periodically, wells are "sounded" to check for the presence of water, casing damage from <br />settlement, or other blockages that would impede LFG recovery. <br />Water Board Question: How will these landfill gas wells be installed? <br />County Response: <br />The LFG extraction wells will be installed vertically using a bucket auger or similar drill rig. <br />Bucket augers are typically 24 -inch, 30 -inch, or 36 -inch in diameter. The wells will be installed <br />to a maximum depth possible without penetrating through the refuse mass. State of Engineering <br />Practice's call for installation depths of wells to be defined by a certain percentage of the refuse <br />thickness, usually between 70 percent and no more than 80 percent, allowing the LFG generated <br />at the base of the landfill mass to be collected. However, because the purpose of these wells is to <br />prevent LFG from impacting groundwater, we proposed to drill to within ten (10) feet of the base <br />of the landfill. <br />Water Board Question: What is the time schedule for installation, and for proposed phases, if <br />necessary? What criteria will be used to determine moving from Phase I to Phase Il? <br />Foothill Sanitary Landfill 9 Department of Public Works, Solid Waste Division <br />Revised Engineering Feasibility Study County of San Joaquin — December 19, 2014 <br />