May 24, 2014 By Toni Cekada for The 6 min read

GERMAN TWP. — A report prepared by the state Department of Health (DOH) confirmed that an unpleasant odor does exist at a McClellandtown landfill, but indicated that it causes no health risk to the community.

The contents of the air sampling report about the Chestnut Valley Landfill were discussed at a special meeting Thursday. The state Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) provided a mobile lab to do the air samples earlier this year after township residents complained to the agency and to township supervisors about the smell.

The meeting was held as an opportunity for concerned residents to ask questions and better understand the contents of the report. In addition to the state health department, the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry — a federal health agency — worked on the report. Representatives from all three agencies answered questions for about 30 residents.

Scott Swarm, environmental group manager for the DEP, said there have been several steps taken to reduce the odors since February.

In April, 11 gas extraction wells, including four deep wells, were installed to extract any landfill gases so they do not leave the landfill. Nine horizontal gas collection trenches and 3,000 feet of gas extraction lines that connect the wells, and five de-water wells were also installed. The de-water wells will ensure that water does not enter the extraction wells.

Swarm said the landfill has also been using a thicker cover on a smaller surface area to decrease the smell.

But the control that Swarm believes will be the most helpful is the geosynthetic liner, which should be installed within the next two months.

Michael Forbeck, program manager for the DEP, said the liner will cover six acres, and is designed to provide a barrier in the landfill by sucking up and containing all gases.

Swarm also said two rounds of additional methane and hydrogen sulfide air sampling were conducted at the beginning and end of April. The testing was conducted on 13 locations both on and off the landfill. Those results were forwarded to the DOH, and data revealed the concentration amounts of methane and hydrogen sulfide were very low.

Residents present at the meeting, however, were displeased and expressed concern of having to deal with the odor again this summer.

“I appreciate all the effort, but it’s isn’t helping,” said Tammy Lambie of Messmore. “It’s a step, but we need more. We need to look at samples as the heat begins to rise.”

Swarm said the engineering controls that were implemented at the landfill will need a period of time to work.

“Once these engineering controls have an opportunity to work, I truly believe that what you are smelling will be greatly diminished,” he said.

State Rep. Tim Mahoney, D-South Union Township, asked Swarm how long it might take until the smell is gone.

“I would hate to go on record of picking out a number, but I can say that at other landfills, we have seen very good results after about six months. We would hope that would be the same for this situation,” Swarm said.

Swarm also said that when extraction wells were implemented last year, they were shallow and there were problems with water entering them. Since new and additional controls were installed in April, Swarm said the wells will increase in efficiency.

Residents, though, said they would still like to see additional testing during the warm summer months, when it is possible that the results would fluctuate.

“We would like to wait until the engineering controls have time to take effect before we conduct additional tests. This way, we can see if they are working,” Swarm said.

He indicated that Advanced Disposal, the company that owns the landfill, has been compliant with the state agency’s requests.

Some residents said they smell gases in their water, and are experiencing gray hair and hair loss.

Lois Dupont, of McClellandtown said that all of her family members who live in the community suffer from some type of illness.

“There has to be something when one family with young adults who all live in the same area have so much illness,” she said.

Karl Markiewicz, senior toxicologist for the ATSDR, said it was not possible for the public water system to be contaminated, and that if it were, the pipes would burst from the gas build-up.

“There is a microbe that produces hydrogen sulfide, and I’ve seen it grow in hot water tanks,” he said.

Markiewicz suggested that residents get their hot water tanks checked, and also to get a metal screen done to ensure that there aren’t high levels of any inorganic compounds in their bodies.

Residents also asked for an explanation for why the report said there is a low cancer risk for the community.

“If the data reveals that there is one extra cancer case out of 10,000, then something is wrong,” said Farhad Ahmed, health assessment section chief for the DOH. “In this case, there were 4.7 extra cancer cases out of 10,000,000, which is considered very low. This means that cancer could happen to any family by chance.”

German Township Supervisor Dan Shimshock asked Markiewicz what his greatest concern would be if his own family lived in the area.

“I would not have a health concern. It would be an odor concern for me,” Markiewicz said. “Based on this data, this is more of a nuisance concern. You can take samples until you’re blue in the face, but the best way to control this odor is to use the engineering controls. This is the final solution.”

Ahmed did say that individuals with pre-existing conditions, such as asthma or COPD, might be more sensitive to the odor.

Shimshock asked how the source of the smell can be identified.

Markiewicz said his job is analyze the data, not find the source. But he did say that hydrogen sulfide comes from numerous sources, including automobiles, and that air samples could fluctuate even if a vehicle drives by.

A great deal of the data was collected on Oct. 8-9, 2013, when the DEP utilized its mobile analytical lab to conduct air screening.The lab was set up at four locations around the landfill, including one background upwind sample location that served as a neutral site to gather a baseline reading.

At the end of the meeting, Lambie again said she would like to see additional sampling collected while the weather is warmer.

Swarm said that air sampling canisters will be set out again by August.

Jim Gebicki, a representative from Advanced Disposal, was present at the meeting, but did not take questions. He released a written statement after the meeting:

“Advanced Disposal has implemented numerous engineering efforts to aggressively curb off-site odors and is ahead of permit schedules for required controls. The landfill recently received approval to close active cell zones along the site’s perimeter to allow for greater gas extraction efficiencies and odor control. Advanced Disposal has been, and will continue to be, committed to upholding the highest environmental standards at our operating locations and to communicate openly and honestly with our customers.”

Another meeting may be set up after the engineering controls have time to take effect.