COMPLIANCE INFO_JTD 9/3/2025 - Laserfiche WebLink

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3-17 This does not appear to be a consideration for the FSL site, as there are no large land-locked bodies of water in the vicinity of the site, as shown on the aerial photo map provided in Appendix E. 3.6 Fire Causal Event Fires at landfills are either surface or subsurface fires. The potential for these fires to occur is dependent on the location of the landfill relative to wildfires, management of wastes that are still smoldering, accidents or arson, and availability of vegetation or fuel for a fire. Subsurface Fire. The most common cause of subsurface landfill fires is an increase in the oxygen content in the waste caused by air intrusion through the final cover, which increases bacterial activity (aerobic decomposition) and raises temperatures creating “hot spots” that meet pockets of methane gas resulting in a fire. Subsurface fires can cause damage to the landfill gas collection systems and potentially the intermediate and final cover systems. The FSL has a standard operating procedure for managing LFG collection systems. FSL also has protocols and procedures for the operation of the landfill gas extraction wells and collection system to protect against underground combustion or oxidation events. This protocol has been established to ensure wells operating at an oxidization level above 5 percent are not causing a subsurface oxidation event. Based on the CalRecycle document on BMPs, “A landfill’s joint technical document and/or post-closure maintenance plan may contain provisions to prevent, monitor, and remediate subsurface fires. If not, subsurface fires should be addressed in the CA Plan.” Since the FSL’s JTD includes such provisions, this CAP does not address subsurface fires. Surface Fire or Wildfire. Surface fires or wildfires have been documented to destroy or damage all or portions of a landfill gas collection and monitoring system, vegetation and irrigation systems designed to protect the cover system, drainage systems, and utility conveyance systems. The potential damage is dependent on mitigating circumstances such as whether the structures are buried to be protected from fires, and whether there are engineered mitigation measures such as fire breaks to protect against surface fires. The BMP for a surface fire as a causal event is to evaluate the potential damage to structures, vegetation, irrigation systems, and monitoring and control systems for landfills located within or adjacent to fire hazard zones determined by the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE), and federal, or local fire control agency as moderate / medium, high, or very high. Based on the review of the San Joaquin County Fire Hazard Severity Zones (FHSZ) Map, and the CAL FIRE FHSZ map, the site appears to be within a zone designated as “moderate” fire danger. Copies of the FHSZ maps are provided in Appendix F. The San Joaquin County’s landfill staff also has a firefighting plan to supplement local firefighting resources. In addition, there are limited County-owned structures that could be damaged by a wildfire. This indicates that FSL is prepared and has contingencies for wildfires. If a wildfire were to spread onto the site or be initiated on site during a dry season, it is likely the dry cover vegetation would provide a fuel source for the propagation of the fire. The propagation of such a wildfire could damage some of the LFG piping system and surface extensions of some of the LFG wells. Because of the dry grass cover, the fire could spread rapidly and extinguish itself in a short period of time after the grasses are consumed. Under this condition, although some of the surface features of the LFG system