landfill gas emissions2 - Environmental Protection Agency€¦ · 2008, primarily methane gas...

Summary Report - Independent Assessment of Landfill Gas Emissions and Management Systems at 29 EPA Licensed

Landfills in the Republic of Ireland

Performed by Odour Monitoring Ireland on Behalf of the Environmental Protection Agency

(Office of Environmental Enforcement)

Summary Report - Independent Assessment of Landfill Gas Emissions and Management Systems at 29 EPA Licensed Landfills in the Republic of Ireland

DisclaimerAlthougheveryefforthasbeenmadetoensuretheaccuracyofthematerialcontainedinthispublication,completeaccuracycannotbeguaranteed.NeithertheEnvironmentalProtectionAgencynorOdourMonitoringIrelandacceptanyresponsibilitywhatsoeverforlossordamageoccasionedorclaimedtohavebeenoccasioned,inpartorinfull,asaconsequenceofanypersonacting,orrefrainingfromacting,asaresultofamattercontainedinthispublication.Allorpartofthispublicationmaybereproducedwithoutfurtherpermission,providedthesourceisacknowledged.

ThefactthataparticularinstrumentmakeormanufacturerorsupplierismentionedinthisdocumentdoesnotmeanthatOdourMonitoringIrelandarerecommendingorsupportinganyspecificmakeormanufacturerorsupplierofanyparticularequipment.

ISBN:978-1-84095-361-904/10/250

Office of Environmental Enforcement

PREF

ACE

COntEnts

ExECutivE summARy .................................................................................................................................................................. 1

2. intROduCtiOn ......................................................................................................................................................................... 22.1 Scope of the project .............................................................................................................................................................................. 22.2 Adopted technique for study .................................................................................................................................................................. 3

3. OvERviEw OF suRFACE EmissiOns mOnitORing On 29 wAstE liCEnsEd FACilitiEs ................................................................ 43.1 Key issues identified on facilities .......................................................................................................................................................... 4

4. Flux bOx mEAsuREmEnts And sPECiAtEd vOC AnAlysis ........................................................................................................ 94.1. Summary of results obtained for three landfills .................................................................................................................................... 10

5. COmPARisOn with 2008 AssEssmEnts .................................................................................................................................. 11

6. COnClusiOns ........................................................................................................................................................................ 12

7. RECOmmEndAtiOns ............................................................................................................................................................... 12

8. REFEREnCEs ........................................................................................................................................................................... 13

9. APPEndix 1 wAstE liCEnsE numbERs And FACility nAmEs And AddREssEs ........................................................................ 14

10. APPEndix 2 tAblE 3.1 tAbulAR OvERviEw OF summARy Findings FROm suRFACE EmissiOn suRvEy’s CARRiEd Out in 2009 ............................................................................................................. 16

1 Summary Report - Independent Assessment of Landfill Gas Emissions and Management Systems at 29 EPA Licensed Landfills in the Republic of Ireland

AnassessmentoflandfillgassurfaceemissionsandmanagementsystemswascarriedoutattwentynineEPAwastelicensedlandfillfacilitiesduring2009.ThesiteassessmentsincludedsurfaceVolatileOrganicCompound(VOC)monitoringtogetherwithareviewofthelandfillgasinfrastructure,systemsandpracticesbeingemployedatthefacilities.Followingthecompletionofeachsurvey,thoseareasidentifiedassignificantsourcesofemissionsintermsofdetectedVOCconcentrationswerecommunicatedtothelandfillmanagementteamforimmediateremediation.Thelandfillgascollectionsystemswerealsoassessedwithspecificemphasisonpipeworksize,condensatemanagement,verticalwellspacing,vacuumpressureandflarecapacity.Thissurveysystemprovidedreal-timedata,identificationofsurfaceemissionshotspotsandfacilitatedimplementationofimmediateremediationatthefacility.Theinformationgeneratedprovidedthelandfillmanagementteamwithspecificdetailsontheeffectivenessoflandfillcovermaterial,landfillgascollectionsystemoperationandthelocationofwhereadditionalmitigationwasrequiredwithintheoperationalfacilities.AdditionallyfluxboxmeasurementsandspeciatedVOC’smonitoringwerecarriedoutatthreefacilitiesnominatedbytheOEE.Thisreportshouldbereadinconjunctionwiththeindividualsiteevaluationreportsdevelopedforeachfacility.

KEy study Findings: Anumberofkeyfindingshavebeencompiledfromtheindividualsitesurveyswhichwillfacilitatethereductionofsurfaceemissionsfromlandfills.Theseinclude:

➤➤ Understandinghasimprovedin2009onlandfillgasabstractionsystemsonthe29facilitiesassessed.Theinteractionofmonitoring,balancing,design

andprocesscontrolofthissystemshouldbeusedtooptimiselandfillgasabstractiononeachfacility.Furthertrainingandongoingtrainingisrequiredinthearea,particularlyfornewstaffoperatingthesefacilitiesinthefuture.

➤➤ Surfaceemissionsmonitoringinconjunctionwithathoroughinvestigationoftheinstalledcollectioninfrastructureatlandfillsisaneffectivemeansofreducingemissionsoflandfillgaswithentrainedodourouscompounds.

➤➤ Flanksandslopedareashadagreaterpropensityforsurfaceemissionsoccurrencethananyotherareaswithinthelandfillssurveyed.

➤➤ Improvementsinmanagementprocedurestowardsreducingincidenceofblockageduetocondensatebuild-upandoxygeningresswhichleadtoreducedlandfillgasabstractionisrequired.

➤➤ Emissionsfromleachatesidesloperisersandleachatechamberswerenotedonanumberoffacilities.Anyprotrusionsofthewastebodyshouldbeadequatelysealedsoastoreducesurfaceemissions.

➤➤ Additionalresourcesintermsoflandfillgasinfrastructureacrossanumberoffacilitiesisrequiredifsurfaceemissionsaregoingtobeadequatelyreduced.Allelementspertainingtothelandfillgascollectionsystemshouldbecarefullydesignedtominimiselandfillgasemissionstoatmosphere.

➤➤ Fluxboxmonitoringwasnotconsideredtobearobusttechniqueinassessinglandfillgassurfaceemissions.Fluxboxmonitoringdoesnothavethespatialcoverageortheabilitytoproviderobustrealtimeresultsneededbylandfillmanagementonadaytodaybasistoreducelandfillsurfaceemissions.

ExECutivE summARy

Waste management facilities and especially landfill sites produce odours. Like the

majority of industries, the operation of landfills is faced with the issue of preventing

odours causing impact to the public at large. Design, operational and management

techniques can reduce the impact of odours from landfills. The assessment of the

effectiveness of such odour minimisation and mitigation techniques is limited

utilising traditional sampling and measurement of odours. Traditional odour

measurement techniques (e.g. Lindvall hood and US EPA flux hood) on facilities which

evolve rapidly are very limited in their application and speed on delivery of real-time

information.

2Office of Environmental Enforcement

Landfillgasalsocontainstraceamountsofothercompounds,suchashydrogensulphide,mercaptansandnon-methanevolatileorganiccompounds.Theseothercompoundsmaycauseodoursoraffectlocalairquality.Uncontrolledlandfillgascanalsomigrateundergroundaffectinggroundwaterandinsomecasesmaycauseexplosionsincorrectconditions.LFGemissionscanbecontrolledbyinstallinganetworkofcollectionwellsanddirectingthegastoacombustionplantfortheproductionofelectricity,foruseasfuelbyanearbyindustry,andbyflaring(i.e.burning).

LFGemissionsarehighlyvariable(Mauriceetal.1995)andseveralfactorsaccountforthesevariations.Theemissionisinfluencedbythetypeofdegradation,thequantityofabstractedgas,barometricpressurevariation(Christophersenetal.2001)andsoilconditions(e.g.,highersoilwatercontentorfreezingofthesoil,drysoilresultinginlowerbiologicalmethaneoxidation)(Maurice,andLagerkist,2003).ThequalityandquantityofemittedLFGdependsonthewastecomposition,moisturecontentofwaste,thelandfilldegradationstate,andthemethaneoxidationactivityinthelandfillcover.Theseprocessesresultindiurnal,seasonal,andspatialvariationsinemissionsthatmakeitdifficulttoestimateemissionratesfromfacilities(Maurice,andLagerkist,2003).

Over500compoundshavebeenidentifiedascontributorstolandfillodours(Parkeretal.2002).Thesecompoundsareeithercomponentsofwasteplacedinthelandfillsoraredegradationby-products.ThemainsourcesoftheseVOCemissionswithinlandfillsare:

➤➤ InadequateOperationalandmanagementtechniqueswithinthelandfill,

➤➤ PoorCovermanagementtechniques,

➤➤ Faultsincappingorgascollectionsystems,

➤➤ Openleachatechambersandtanks,

➤➤ Faultsinthelinersandcoversofclosedcells;(Chiriacetal.2007).

2.1 sCOPE OF thE PROjECtThestudywascarriedoutinthefollowingformat:

➤➤ Landfillsurfaceemissionsmonitoring,usingcontinuouskinematicVolatileOrganicCompound(VOC)withanintegratedGlobalPositioningSystem(GPS)todetectareasofpotentiallandfillgasrelease/flux,wascarriedoutateachnominatedfacility.Detectedlandfillgassurfaceemissionsareasweregeo-referencedandplotteduponabasemapforvisualinterpretationandremediation.

➤➤ Anassessmentoflandfillgasmanagementsystemsincludingareviewoffacilityproceduresandrecordsforlandfillgasmanagementsystemswascarriedout.Thisassessmentincludedflarecapacityevaluation,gasflowratemeasurements,staticpressuremeasurementsacrossthecollectionpipeworkandcollectionwellsandavisualinspectionoftheconditionandlayoutofthepipework.Inaddition,insomecases,thelandfillmanager

2. intROduCtiOn

Disposal of municipal solid waste in landfills is one of the main methods used to

dispose of waste in Ireland. Landfill gas (LFG) is produced continuously by microbial

action on biodegradable wastes under anaerobic conditions. The decomposition

of the organic component of municipal waste in landfills produces landfill gas

containing approximately 50% methane (CH4). Methane is a potent greenhouse

gas, it has a global warming potential 21 times greater than carbon dioxide.

There is significant motivation towards greater containment of such emissions

especially given recent commitments by the European Union on further reductions

in greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) by 2020. Emissions from the Waste sector in

2008, primarily methane gas released from landfills, amounted to 1.106 Mt CO2eq.

This figure shows a 7 percent decrease on the 2007 emissions, representing was the

main sectoral percentage decrease in 2008. Landfill gas utilisation and on-site flaring

offset more than 60 percent of methane production in 2008 (EPA, 2009).


attendedthesurveyandreceivedgeneralguidanceonthesignificanceoftheresultsgatheredthroughoutthesurvey.

➤➤ AdditionallyfluxboxandspeciatedVolatileorganiccompoundsurveyingwascarriedonthreelicensedfacilitiesnominatedbytheOfficeofEnvironmentalEnforcement(OEE).

➤➤ Ameetingwasheldwiththelandfillmanagementteamafterthesurvey.Thepurposeofthemeetingwastoinformthelandfillmanagementteamoftheoutcomeofthesurvey,andtoallowthelandfillmanagementteamtocommunicateanycontinuedengineeringissuescurrentlyoccurringonthesite.RecommendationstoreduceemissionswerepresentedtoeachlandfillmanagerwithinareportwhichwasissuedtothefacilitybytheEPAwithinamonthofthesurvey.

OdourMonitoringIrelandhasusedthisassessmenttechniqueon10EPAlicensedlandfillfacilitiesin2007,27EPAlicensedlandfillfacilitiesin2008and29EPAlicensedlandfillfacilitiesin2009onbehalfoftheEPAOEE.Theresultsfromall29EPAlicensedlandfillfacilitiesarepresentedwithinthissummaryreport.

2.2 AdOPtEd tEChniquE FOR studyThemethodadoptedforthepurposeofthisstudyaimedtoidentifyVOCsurfaceemissionsusingcontinuouskinematicVOC/GPS;geo-referencedetectedlandfillsurfaceemissionareasandplotthemuponabasemapforvisualinterpretationandremediation.

Keyelementsfromtechniques

Thekeypointsfromthetechniqueadoptedforthisstudyare:

➤➤ Integrated“OdourHog”intrinsicallysafe,surveyVOCdualmonitor,whichprovidesfastandaccuratereadingsoforganicandinorganicvapours.APhotoIonisationDetector(PID)usesanUltraviolet(UV)lightsource(photo)toioniseagassampleanddetectitsconcentration.IonisationoccurswhenamoleculeabsorbsthehighenergyUVlight,ejectinganegativelychargedelectronandformingofpositivelychargedmolecularion.Thegasbecomeselectricallycharged.Thesechargedparticlesproduceacurrentthatiseasilymeasuredatthesensorelectrodes.OnlyasmallfractionoftheVOCmoleculesareionised.APIDdoesnot

respondtomethane.AFlameIonisationDetector(FID)issimilartoaflamethermocoupledetector,butmeasurestheionsfromtheflameinsteadoftheheatgenerated.TheFIDdetectsthemethanefraction,whichprovidesgreatersensitivityintermsofmethaneleakagedetectionbutnotnecessarilyodourhencewhythePIDdataisalsosometimesinterpreted.Usingthecontinuouskinematic“Odourhog”withintegratedGPS,thecappingofthelandfillcanbesurveyedforpotentialleakageareas.Thoseareasidentifiedaregeo-referencedandhighlightedforremediation.

➤➤ Measurementstakeneveryfoursecondscontinuouslywithinthelandfilledareaandmarkeduponamap.

➤➤ Meteorologicalconditionswererecordedtoincludewindspeed,cloudcover,barometricpressure,airtemperature.

➤➤ Otherinformationrecordedincludescapmoisturecontentclassifiedasdry,mediumorwet.

➤➤ Surfaceswerescanned(<5cm)fromgroundwithaportableFID/PIDfittedwithaspecialisedsamplingprobewitha150mlfunnelatthetip.

➤➤ CalibratedinaccordancewithUSEPAMethod21andmethodologycontainedwithinEN13526:2002.

➤➤ Surveyoridentifiesallfeaturestoincludeworkingfaces,gasvents,leachatesidesloperisers,etc.whichmaycontributetogasfluxandlogthesewithintheGPShandheldunit.

➤➤ Suggestedrecommendationsandremedialactionswereincludedwithinreport(e.g.sealinggapsandfissures,closinginspectionpoints,maintainingpipework,installingadequatewells,balancingthefield,etc.).

➤➤ Generationofcontourcolourcodedmapaccompaniedbytabulatedinformationwithgridsreferencepointsincludingremedialactionforeachlocation.

➤➤ FluxboxsurveyinginaccordancewithUSEPAmethodology.ThisisdiscussedindetailinSection 4.

➤➤ Speciatedvolatileorganiccompoundmonitoringoninletfeedlandfillgastoflareandheadspacegasoffluxbox.ThisisdiscussedindetailinSection 4.


3.1 KEy issuEs idEntiFiEd On FACilitiEs Aspartofthestudyanumberofkeyfindingsandissuesbecameapparent.Thesewerebasedonobservations,surfaceemissionsresultsanddiscussionswiththevariousfacilitymanagers.

3.1.1 vertical abstraction wells

Problemswithverticalabstractionwellsandgasmanagementsystemswereencounteredonallthesurveyedlandfillfacilities(see Tables 3.1).InsufficientLFGabstractionsubsequentlygaverisetosurfaceemissionsfromtheareainandaroundthewellandinthezoneofinfluenceoftheverticalwell.Insufficientabstractionaugmentsintoanumberofpoints,whicharediscussedfurtherinthissection.Thesewere:

Inadequate well sealing:

➤➤ Inadequatesealingoflandfillgaswellswasasignificantproblemencounteredon16facilities(see Tables 3.1 and Figure 3.1).NoadequateLFGsystemswereinplaceononefacility.ThisresultedinsurfaceemissionsinandaroundthefeatureandalsoresultedinpreferentialpathwaysfortheingressofOxygenintothesystem.Thisresultedinlandfillmanagersturningbacktheappliedvacuumpressureonthewellheadinordertopreventtheriskoflandfillfire.

➤➤ Onpermanentlycappedareas,surfaceemissionsoccurredasaresultofsettlementresultinginlinerdetachingfromthepipework.

Construction of vertical well:

➤➤ Ifverticalwellsarenotconstructedtoasufficientdiametertheymaybecomeperchedwithleachate.Siteswithahighoccurrenceofperchedleachateshouldoptimiseverticalwellconstructiontotakeaccountofthisfact.

Inadequate condensate removal:

➤➤ Surfaceemissionsduetoinsufficientcondensateremovalfrompipeworkandremovalofleachatefromverticalwellswasencounteredon3facilitiesduringthevisits(see Appendix 2, Table 3.1 and Figure 3.2).NoadequateLFGsystemswereinplaceononefacility.Inadequateremovalofcondensateresultsinfailuretomaintaingasvacuumpressureatthewellhead.Accumulationofcondensateshouldbeengineeredoutusingsufficientfallsandcondensateremovalpots.

➤➤ Condensatemanagementplansshouldbeimplementedwithineachfacilitytoallowforthedevelopmentofprogressiveandproactiveproceduresandequipmentfortheremovalofcondensate.ItshouldformanintegralcomponentofdailyoperationswithineverylicensedfacilityinIreland.

➤➤ Sufficientconsiderationgiventothedesignofthelandfillgascollectionsystemincludebarometricdrip-legs,pumpedandgravitydrainknock-outpots,correctfallsinpipeworktoalloweasyremoval,dewateringwellheadsandlegsandcorrectsizingofpipeworksoastopreventfrequentblockages.

➤➤ Consequencesofinadequatecondensatemanagementleadtofloodedspursandheaders,lowvacuumatwellheadswhichinturngivesrisetoincreasedsurfaceemissions.

Inadequate abstractive capacity:

➤➤ Itwasnotedatonefacility (see Appendix 2, Table 3.1 ),thatsufficientabstractioncapacitywasnotbeingdeliveredtothegasfield.NoadequateLFGsystemswereinplaceonanotherfacility.

Inadequate flow control:

➤➤ Onanumberoffacilitiesinpreviousyears,therewaslimitedcapacitytocontrollandfillgasflowbecauseeitherballvalveswerefaulty,corrodedorinstalledincorrectly.Insomecircumstancestherewerenotreplaced.Thiswasnotthecasein

3. OvERviEw OF suRFACE EmissiOns mOnitORing On 29 wAstE liCEnsEd FACilitiEs The following section highlights the principal findings of the study site assessments

and Appendix 2, Table 3.1 summaries the key issues encountered on a site by site

basis. These tables should be read in conjunction with the notes provided in Appendix

2, Table 3.1 and Section 3.1.1 to 3.1.8.


2009,becauseinmostcasesvalveswhichwereidentifiedasbeingfaulty,corrodedorinstalledincorrectlyfromassessmentscarriedoutin2008werereplacedorrectified.Typicallyvalvesencounteredincludedballandsocketvalves,butterflyvalves,linearvalves,andAngleseatvalves.Butterflyvalvesshouldonlybeusedonspurorsubheaders.Ballvalvesappearedtobethemainchoiceonwellheadswhileasmallnumberoffacilitieshadlinearandangleseatvalvesinstalled.Sinceballvalvescanhavepoorflowcontrolofgas,theseshouldbesizedcorrectlytoallowforsufficientheadlossandflowcontrolattheverticalandhorizontalgasabstractionwell.Carefulconsiderationshouldbegiventothetypeofvalve,levelofcontrolrequiredwiththatvalveandeaseofmaintenance/replacement.

Gas fi eld balancing and lack of understanding:

➤➤ Understandinghasimprovedin2009onlandfillgasabstractionsystemson28ofthe29facilitiesassessed.Theinteractionofmonitoring,balancingandprocesscontrolofthissystemshouldbeusedtooptimiselandfillgasabstractiononeachfacility.Furthertrainingandongoingtrainingisrequiredinthisarea,particularlyfornewstaffoperatingthesefacilitiesinthefuture.

3.1.2 leachate side slope risers and leachate chambers

Problemswithrespecttosurfaceemissionsfromleachatesidesloprisersandleachatechamberswereencounteredon15ofthefacilities(see Appendix 2, Table 3.1 and Figure 3.3).Theissuesencounteredincludedinadequatesealingoftheleachatesidesloperisersorchambersandtheabsenceoflandfillgasabstractionfromtheleachatesidesloperisersorchambers.Sincetheleachatesidesloperisersandchambersprovideadirectconnectionintothewastebodyitisveryimportantthattheyarecapped,sealedadequatelyandplacedunderaslightnegativevacuumtominimiselandfillgasleakage.

3.1.3 Flanked areas

Flanked/slopedareasurfaceemissionswereencounteredon27ofthefacilitiessurveyed.Itshouldbenotedthattheonefacilitywhichdidnothaveflanked/slopedareasurfaceemissionshadveryhighsurfaceemissionsonothersurfaces.Ingeneralflanked/slopedareasweretoosteepthereforemaintenanceincludingreapplicationofcovermaterialandtrackinginloosecovermaterialcouldnotbeeasilycarriedout.Whenaflanked/slopedareaisnotmaintainedadequately,itwillbecomeetchedasaresultofwaterdamage(see Appendix 2, Table 3.1).Effortsshouldbemadetoconstructflanked/sloped

3

25

Number of facilities where adequate condensate removal was noted

Number of facilities where inadequate condensate removal was noted

*NoteonefacilityexcludedbecausetherewerenoadequateLFGsystemsinplace.

FiguRE 3.2 Graphical representation of the adequacy of well sealing across the surveyed facilities in 2009


FiguRE 3.1 Graphical representation of the adequacy of well sealing across the surveyed facilities in 2009

1216

Number of facilities with inadequately sealed wells

Number of facilities with adequately sealed wells


areastoconcurwiththerecommendationcontainedintheLandfilldesignmanual(EPA2003).Surfaceemissionsfromflanked/slopedareasweregreatestincomparisontoallemissionsourcesandthishasbeenidentifiedinotherEuropeancountriesasthegreatestemissionsourceduetothelateralpermeabilityandpathwaysformedwithinthewaste(i.e.anisotropicnatureofwaste).Gasabstractiontechniquesshouldbedesignedtominimisesurfaceemissionsfromflanked/slopedareas.

Twosuccessfultechniqueswereutilisedinsurveyedfacilities.Thisincludedbenchingoftheflanked/slopeareas(i.e. utilised on 7 of the surveyed facilities see Appendix 2, Table 3.1 )anduseofaGLCstitchedmembraneorLDPEgeomembraneoveraslopedarea (i.e. utilised on 10 of the surveyed facilities see Appendix 2, Table 3.1 ).Theflanked/slopebenchingtechniqueswerewellconstructedandhadveryminoremissionswhenmonitored.Howeversurfaceemissionswerenotedonotherflankedareaswithinthesamefacilities.Toeffectivelyreducesurfaceemissionsfromallsloped/flankedareaswithinalandfillfacility,theabovetechniquesshouldbeextendedtocoverallslopedflanked/areaswithineachlandfillfacility.Thebenchingofaflanked/slopedareahasanumberofadvantagesoverconventionalformation.Theseinclude:

➤➤ Morecontrolformaintenance-itwasobservedonanumberoflandfillfacilitiesduringthesurvey’sthatmaintenancewasnotpossibleonlarge

flanked/slopedareasduetoaccessproblems.Theuseofcorrectbenchingalleviatesaccessproblems,

➤➤ Lessstormwateretchingwasobserved,becausebenchedflanksaregenerallycompactedbetter,theydonothaveatendencytoravelaseasywithhighrainfall,

➤➤ BettercompactconstructionprovidingabarriertogastransmissionandOxygeningress-thebenchisconstructedbyplacingabankofclayapproximately3.50mhighalongtheedgeofthelift.Theclaybankactsasabarrierbetweenthewasteandtheedgeofthecell,thereforeallowingforoptimisedabstractiontobeplaceduponthewaste.Correctbenchingwouldbepreferredoverothertypesofflankconstructionbasedonthefindingsofthisstudy.

3.1.4 Flare and blower capacity

Flareandblowerstaticpressurecapacityissueswereencounteredononeofthefacilities(see Appendix 2, Table 3.1 ).NoadequateLFGsystemswereinplaceatoneotherfacility.Blowerstaticpressurecapacityissuesaremainlyduetoinsufficientstaticpressurewithintheflareblowertoovercometheresistancetoremovegasfromthelandfillgasfieldandtoforceitthroughtheflaringsystem.Thisresultedininsufficientgasabstractionwhichresultedinoverpressurisationinthelandfillgasfield.Therewasalackofunderstandingwithsomelandfillmanagersontheflareperformancecriteriaforflaringsystemsandthereappearedtobeadependencyonoverseasservice,whichwasnotreadilyavailableforimmediatefixingoffaults.Inmovingforward,allflaringsystemsshouldbeperformancetestedtoensuretheycanachievethestatedtreatmentvolumeandpressurecapacity.Sufficientflareblowerstaticpressureshouldbeincorporatedintotheflaredesigntoalsotakeaccountofpressurelossesthroughoutthegasfieldpipework.Sufficientflarevolumetreatmentcapacityshouldbemaintainedontheflaringsystemfornewfillphasesandthequantityofgasvolumecapacityatleastbasedonsitedataforrecentlyfillcell(i.e.ascertainthroughsiterecordsthevolumeoflandfillgasproducedpertonneofwastemateriallandfilled).Thefillingofadditionalcellsshouldnotoccuruntilproofisprovidedofsufficientavailableflaretreatmentcapacitywithinthesystem.Itisimportantfortheoperatortoobservecontinuousvacuumpressureappliedtothefieldinordertotrendanylossinperformancethroughoutaworkingday.Flarevolumeflowsensorsshouldbecalibratedregularlyandvolumeflowverificationshouldbeperformed.

1513

Surface emissions from leachate side slope risers and leachate chambers

No surface emissions from leachate side slope risers and leachate chambers


FiguRE 3.3 Graphical representation of the number of facilities surveyed in 2009 which had surface emissions from leachate side slope risers and leachate chambers.


3.1.5 gas management system

Onefacilityvisitedin2009didnothaveactivegasmanagementintheactivecell(see Appendix 2, Table 3.1).Onthisonefacilityfilledwasteagesrangedfrom9monthsto2years.Gasmanagementsystemsneedtobeintroducedinactivezoneswithinthelandfillasearlyaspossibletherebyminimisingemissionofodoursandgreenhousegases.Theenclosedflaringoflandfillgaswithlow%methaneconcentration(i.e.downto4to6%)cannowbeachievedusingadvancelowcalorificflaringsystemssolandfillgasfromactivecellscannowbeflaredwithoutanysupplementaryfuelrequired.

3.1.6 Other elements

AlargeamountofinformationispresentedinAppendix 2, Table 3.1.Eachfacilitymustbeevaluatedonanindividualbasis.Acomparisonbetweenfacilitiesisoflimiteduseduetotheheterogeneousnatureoflandfillandindeedvaryingconstructionandoperation

techniquesbetweenlandfills.Thekeyfocusonasitebysitebasisistoreducesurfaceemissionsineachfacilityonamicrolevel.Thisdataprovidesanoverviewofthesurveyfindingsfrom2009.

OneusefulmethodofillustratingthedataispresentedonFigures 3.4and3.5.

Sixfacilitieshadsurfaceemissionconcentrationswhichweregreaterthan40timestherecommendedlevelforopensurfaces(i.e.overthe100ppmvonsurfaces)(seeAppendix 2, Table 3.1 andFigure 3.4).Thegreatestvaluerecordedwas13,200ppmv(132timestherecommendedlimitonsurfaces-seeAppendix 2, Table 3.1 andFigure 3.4).

Eightfacilitieshadsurfaceemissionconcentrationswhichweregreaterthan10timestherecommendedlevelforfeatures(i.e.overthe500ppmvonfeatures-seeAppendix 2, Table 3.1 andFigure 3.5).Thegreatestvaluerecordedwas18,980ppmv(38timestherecommendedlimitonfeaturesseeAppendix 2, Table 3.1 andFigure 3.5).

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FiguRE 3.4 Graphical representation of facilities over the recommended limit for open surfaces (i.e. 100 ppmv on surfaces).


FiguRE 3.5 Graphical representation of facilities over the recommended limit on features (i.e. 500 ppmv on features).

3.1.7 Records

Fieldbalancingrecordswererequestedofallsurveyedfacilities.Ingeneral,fieldbalancingrecordscontainedtheappropriateamountofinformationintermsofdocumentedparameters.AllfacilitiesshouldrecordMethane,OxygenandVacuumpressureataminimumfromeachwellorfeaturethroughoutthesystem.Insomecircumstances,volumeflowmeasurementsshouldbeperformedinordertoobtainaflowprofileversusappliedvacuumpressureoneachverticalwell.Thisfacilitatesgoodlandfillgasmanagementonanongoingbasisthroughabetterunderstandingofthecharacteristicsofthesystem.

3.1.8 moving forward - Resources and training

Thestudyillustratedknowledgeandtrainingwithinfacilitiesisfragmentedwithsomefacilitieshavingadifferentunderstandingoftechniquesandtechnologies

associatedwithlandfillgasmanagement.Thestudyalsoillustratedthatthenecessaryresourcesrequiredtoadequatelymanagelandfillgasinsomefacilitieswerenotinplace.Thesituationhasimprovedfrom2008(seeSection5).However,atrainingcourseinlandfillgasmanagementshouldbemandatoryforeachlandfillmanageranddeputymanagermovingforward.

Forlargefacilitiesitissuggestedasbestpracticetohaveastaffmemberwithdesignatedresponsibilityforgasmanagementandoperations.Thispersonshouldbetrainedonoperationparameters(i.e.Landfillgasabstractionprovisions,flaringtypes,covermaterialtypesanddepth,flankedformation,expectedmethaneandoxygenlevelsacrossthesystem,landfillgasabstractionpipeworkandsizing,verticalandhorizontalabstractionsystem,designinstallationandcondensatemanagement,etc.).Withoutputtingtheproperresourcesandtrainingintolandfillgasmanagement,itwillbedifficulttoreducesurfaceemissions.Therecurrentlyisscopeforimprovementinthisareawithinlandfills.

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35

Multiples over recommended limit (500 ppmv atfeathures) for maximum concentration recorded


IntermsofspeciatedVolatileorganiccompounds(VOC’s),onesurfacelocationwasmonitoredforthefluxofspeciatedVOC’swhileonecompositesamplewastakenfromthegasmanagementsystemattheflareinaccordancewiththemethodologycontainedinEN13649:2002andMDHS72.

Thefluxchamberisusedtoisolateaknownsurfaceareaforemissionsmeasurement.Thefluxchamberconsistsofahemisphericalsealedchamber(seeFigure 4.1)wherebyclean,dry,VOCfreestandardsweepair(AirProducts)wasaddedtothechamberatameteredrateoflessthanorequalto3.25liters/minuteandverifiedusingaPrimaryflowcalibrator.Atemperatureandpressuresensorwasfittedtotheheadspaceofthechamber.Theheadspaceairwithinthechamberwasallowtoexchangeaminimumof5times(i.e.5AC)beforeanymeasurementsweremade.Withinthechamber,thesweepairismixedwithemittedvaporsandgasesfromthemeasurementsurfacebythephysicaldesignofthesweepairinlet.TheconcentrationoftheexhaustgaswasmeasuredatthechamberoutletforMethaneandspeciatedVOCswithaFIDandsorbenttubemethod.Thesamplerateoftheinstrumentationwasatminimumlessthan40%ofthesweepvolume.Valueswererecordedwhentheexhaustgasconcentrationinthechamberexhausthadstabilised.

Theemissionfluxfromasurfacecanbecalculatedusingthefollowingequation:

Ei=CiQ/A

whereEi=emissionrateofcomponenti(ug/m2/sormg/

m2/s);Ci=concentrationofcomponenti(ug/m3ormg/

m3);Q=sweepairflowrateintochamber(m3/s);andA=surfaceareaenclosedbychamber(m2).

Samplelocationswereinformedbytheresultsofthesurfaceemissionssurvey.

Theaccuracyofthefluxboxmethodisdependentonthenumberoffluxboxchambertestsconductedandcanonlyprovideanaveragefluxoverthesamplingperiod.AsreportedbytheEnvironmentAgency,gridspacingof20mto30mwhicharetypicalofdensitiesforsmallareas(lessthan3hectares)orforacademicresearch.Gridspacingof20mto30mhaveaprobabilityofdetectinga25m2circularfeatureof6%and3%,respectively,whichisverylow.Gridspacingof35mto50mwhicharemoretypicalofdensitiesappliedonacommercialbasistositesof5to20hectares,haveaprobabilityofdetectinga25m2circularfeaturethatisevenlessthan3%.Toimprovetheprobabilityofdetectingasignificantemissionfeature,awalkoversurveycanbeconducted(aswasthecaseforthethreefacilities)priortofluxboxtesting.However,thiscanskewtheresultstohighemissionfeaturesiffluxboxesaretargetedathighemissionfeatures.

Theadvantagesofthefluxboxmethodarethatitisrelativelysimpleandeconomicalforsmalllandfillsandtherearemethodologiesthatarewellestablished.

Thedisadvantagesinclude:

➤➤ Itisapointsamplingmethod.Unlessaveryhighdensityoffluxboxtestsareused,statisticallytherewillalwaysbearelativelysignificantdegreeofuncertaintyastotheactualemissionflux.

➤➤ Cannotaccountforemissionsfromconcentratedsourcessuchascracks,smallemissionfeaturesorleakagewithLFGwellsormonitoringpoints.

➤➤ Sinceitislabourintensive,itcanbetimeconsumingandcostlyforlargelandfills.

Intermsofthethreesurveys,itwasnotpossibletoprovidefullspatialcoverageacrosstheentirelandfillfootprintsduetothesignificantnumberofsamplesthatwouldberequired.

4. Flux bOx mEAsuREmEnts And sPECiAtEd vOC AnAlysis

During the 2009 surveys, flux box measurements were carried out at three facilities

nominated by the OEE. A dynamic surface emissions isolation flux chamber designed

and operated in accordance with USEPA guidelines was utilised to perform flux

emission measurements for Methane and Volatile organic compounds at pre-selected

locations within the landfill. Twelve monitoring locations were utilised on two

facilities namely Youghal and Corrunure Landfill facilities and thirty six locations

were utilised on Knockharley Landfill facility.


4.1. summARy OF REsults ObtAinEd FOR thREE lAndFillsTheresultsfromthefluxboxandspeciatedVOC’smonitoringrecordedthefollowingresults.Theseincluded:

1. Fluxchambermonitoringwascarriedoutat36distinctlocationswithinKnockharleylandfillfootprint.Thesurveyfoundthat9ofthelocationswereinexcessoftherecommendedUKguidelinesurfaceemissionfluxlevelsforsuchlocations.

2. Fluxchambermonitoringcarriedoutat6locationswithinYoughallandfillfootprintfoundthat4ofthelocationswereinexcessoftherecommendedUKsurfaceemissionfluxvaluesforsuchlocations.

3. FluxchambermonitoringcarriedoutatelevenlocationswithinCorranurelandfillfootprintfoundthat6ofthelocationswereinexcessoftherecommendedUKsurfaceemissionfluxforsuchlocations.

4. AtentativetotalmethanefluxemissionratewascalculatedforKnockharleylandfillsurfaceexcludinganymethaneemissionratesfromtheflaringcompounditself.Thetentativeestimatetotalmethanefluxof9.36kg/hrwascalculatedonthedayofthesurveybasedonpolylineareaextentmeasurementofAutoCADmapssuppliedbythelicensee.Assumingaconstantfluxovertheyear,thisequatestoatotalmethaneemissionrateof81,957kg/yr/.

5. AtentativelandfillgascollectionefficiencyestimatedwascalculatedforKnockharleyLandfillbaseduponthelandfillflaringcompound

operationdatacollectedonthedayofthesurvey.Thecalculationsuggeststhatacollectionefficiencyofupto98%wasbeingachievedonthedayofthesurvey.ThisisinlinewithvaluesreportedbyHuitricandKong,(2006),Huitricetal.,(2007)andSpokasetal.,(2006).

6. IntermsofspeciatedVOC’s,typicalcompoundsweredetectedinvaryingconcentrationsonallthreelandfillfacilities.Themaincompoundsdetectedandincludedlandfillgastracercompoundssuchaslongchainhydrocarbons,Aldehydes,Aromatics,Alkenes,Alkanes,Ketones,Phthalates,Alcoholgroup,Sulphurcontainingorganics,ReducedsulphurcompoundsandNitrogencontainingcompounds.

Ifmovingforwardwithfluxmeasurementtechniquesthefollowingshouldbeconsidered:

➤➤ Considerperformingfluxboxmeasurementatagreaterspatialcoverageacrossoneresearchfacilityandtocorrelatetheresultsofthiswithotherviabletechniquesavailableforperformingfluxmeasurement.Thesetechniquesinclude:

➤♦ Dynamicplumemethodwhichutilisedenhancedsurfaceemissionssurveyingwithreversedispersionmodelling.ThistechniquehasbeenusedandvalidatedintheU.S.A.successfullyanditskeybenefitsinthisrespectarethatitcanbeintegratedintotheexistingsurfaceemissionssurveyingtechnique.

➤♦ OTM10whichhasbeenvalidatedbytheUSEPAandinvolvesradialplumemappingmethodologyinaverticalconfigurationforthemeasurementoffugitiveemissionflux.ThistechniqueiseasytosetupandisvalidatedbytheUSEPA.Itisnotsuitableforlargelandfillsandcanonlybeusedtomeasuretheemissionsfromthetopplatformsofalandfill(i.e.notthe

Sorbent Sampling TubeSorbent Sampling Tube

Air SamplingPump

Flux Flux FluxSampled OutSampled Out

TemperatureTemperature

Regulator and FlowmeterInstrument Grade Air

Sweep Air InSweep Air In

Subsurface ContaminationSubsurface Contamination

FiguRE 4.1 Graphical representation of fl ux chamber sampling train.


slopes).Itisalsowinddependentandreliesonmeasurementwithintheplumedownwindoftheemissionsource.

➤♦ Massbalancemethodwhichinvolvesmeasuringthewindandcontaminantconcentrationprofilesthroughthefullheightoftheplume,andintegratingtheconcentrationandwindspeedwithrespecttotheheightabovethegroundsurface.Theexistingmethodsusemastsofballoonstoobtainvariationsofconcentrationwithelevation.Itisthemostaccuratemethodwitherrorrangeof-18%to+5%accuracy.Itiswinddependentandisveryexpensivetoimplement.

➤♦ MobileplumeFTIRspectroscopywhichhasbeenusedextensivelyinSwedentomonitorthefluxofgasesfromarangeoffacilities.Thistechniqueinvolvesthereleaseofatracergasfromwithinthestudyareaandthemonitoringoftheconcentrationinambientairofthetracergasasatargetgas.Oncethe

micrometeorologicalconditionsandtracergasemissionrateisknown,thefluxofmethaneinthedownfieldcanbemeasuredandrelatedtoamassemissionconcentration.Thetracergasbasicallyactsasaninternalstandard.Thetechniquetheoryissimpleandthemethodcanbequalitycheckedbymakingmeasurementatseverallocationstocheckthemethanetracerratiosaresimilar.Thetechniqueisonlysuitableforsufficientlystrongsourcesatasufficientdistancedownwind(soastoallowforsufficientmixing(range100to1,000mdownwind).AnexpensiveFTIRisrequiredalthoughthiscanbehiredinforaperiodoftimeanditiswinddirectiondependent.

TheassessmentofoneoracombinationofthetechniquesmayallowforthevalidationofasuitabletechniqueforlandfillsinIrelandtoprovidemoreaccuratefiguresonmassemissionratesofmethanewhichwillfeeddirectlyingreenhousegasfigureswhichwillbeimportantinallowingIrelandachieveitsreductioncommitments.

Duringtheassessmentsin2009,acomparisonwith2008assessmentfindingsoneachfacilitywascarriedout.Comparisonswerecategorisedintothreedistinctgroups:

➤➤ “Improvements”indicatingthatareductioninsurfaceemissionswasattainedsincethe2008assessment.

➤➤ “Minorimprovements”indicatingthataminorreductioninsurfaceemissionswasattainedsincethe2008assessment.

➤➤ “Noimprovements”indicatingnoreductionoraworseninginsurfaceemissionssincethe2008assessment.

Intotal29facilitiesweresurveyedin2009and27in2008.Thetwonewfacilitiessurveyedin2009couldnotbecompared,leavingacohortof27facilitiesthatcouldbecompared.Improvementswererecordedat14ofthe27facilitiesin2009(seeFigure 5.1).MinorImprovementswererecordedat6ofthe27facilitiesin2009(seeFigure 5.1).NoImprovementswererecordedat7ofthe27facilitiesin2009(seeFigure 5.1).Thereforein52%ofcasestherewasanimprovement

insurfaceemissionswhencomparing2008with2009assessments.Itshouldbenotedthatnoimprovementswererecordedatonefacilitywhichhadverylowsurfaceemissionsin2008.Surfaceemissionsatthisfacilityremainedlowin2009.

5. COmPARisOn with 2008 AssEssmEnts

147

6

Improvements

Minor improvements

No improvements

FiguRE 5.1. Status of improvements in surface emissions since 2008 based on 2009 study fi ndings


Thefollowingconclusionsweregeneratedfromthestudy.Theseinclude:

➤➤ Landfillsurfaceemissionsandlandfillgascollectionssystemswereassessedat29licensedfacilitiesinIrelandduringtheperiodof2009,

➤➤ FluxboxmeasurementsandspeciatedVOC’smonitoringwerecarriedoutatthreefacilitiesnominatedbytheOEE.Typicalspeciatedcompoundsweredetectedinvaryingconcentrationsonallthreelandfillfacilities,

➤➤ Overall,improvementsinsurfaceemissionswererealisedin52%ofcaseswhencomparedwith2008surveyresults,

➤➤ Landfillgascollectionsystemswereassessed,intermsofeffectiveoperationandabstractivecapacityontheeachfacility,

➤➤ Thetechniquefortheassessmentofsurfaceemissionsprovedveryeffectiveinmonitoringandsurfaceemissionsatthelandfillfacilities,

➤➤ Thistechniqueallowsforauditingoftheeffectivenessofthelandfillgascollectionsystemandtheidentificationgeographicallythelocationofsurfaceemissionzoneswithintheoperatinglandfill.Persistentsurfaceemissionzonescanbeidentifiedfromsubsequentsurveys.Thiswillallowfortheimplementationoffocusedmitigationofsurfaceemissionswithintheoperatinglandfillandaudittheeffectivenessofimplementedmitigation.

6. COnClusiOns

➤➤ Trainingshouldbeprovidedtolicenseesonlandfillgasmanagementsystemsoperation,designissuesandtroubleshootingsuchasystem(e.g.thekeydriversforoperatingandmaintaininglandfillgascollectionsystemincludingmethanelevels,oxygenlevels,vacuumpressureandvolumeflow).Asectiononlandfillgasmanagementsystemoperation,typicaldesignandtroubleshootingofthesystemshouldbeprovidedintheFAScourseonWastemanagement.

➤➤ Astructuredforumforlandfillmanagersandlandfilloperationsstafftomeetanddiscussissuespertainingtolandfillgasmanagementandsurfaceemissionsreductionwouldfacilitategreaterunderstandingofpossiblemitigationoptions.

➤➤ Inmovingforward,anumberofguidancedocumentsshouldbepreparedtoinclude,asaminimum,thefollowing:

➤♦ Monitoringoflandfillgas,interpretationofresultsandtroubleshooting,

➤♦ Surfaceemissionsmonitoring–minimumrequirements,

➤♦ Typicallandfillgassystemdesign,operationandpitfalls,

➤♦ Keymethodsforthecontroloflandfillgassurfaceemissions.

7. RECOmmEndAtiOns


1. Casey,J.,Sheridan,B.,Henry,M.,Reynolds,K.(2008).EffectiveToolsforManagingOdoursfromLandfillFacilitiesinIreland.InternationalConferenceonEnvironmentalOdourMonitoringandControl,Rome6-8July.

2. Chiriac,R.,Carre,J.,Perrodin,Y.andFineL.(2007).CharacterisationofVOCemittedbyopencellsreceivingMSW.JournalofHazardousMaterials149,pp249-263.

3. Christophersen,M.,Holst,H.,Chanton,J.,Kjeldsen,P.(2001).Lateralgastransportinsoiladjacenttoanoldlandfill:factorsgoverningemissionsandmethaneoxidation.WasteManagement&Research19,126–143.

4. EnvironmentalProtectionAgency(EPA),(2003).“LandfillManualsLandfillMonitoring”.ISBN:1-84095-127-3.

5. EnvironmentalProtectionAgency(EPA),(2009).“IrelandsGreenhouseGasEmissionsin2008”.Release13thDecember2009.Availableatwww.epa.ie/downloads/pubs/air/.../Prov_GHG_Inventory_Dec_%202009.pdf

6. EnvironmentalProtectionAgency(EPA).(2000).“LandfillManualsLandfillSiteDesign”.ISBN184095-026-9.

7. HuitricR.andD.Kong(2006).“Measuringlandfillgascollectionefficiencyusingsurfacemethaneconcentrations”,SolidWasteAssociationofNorthAmerica(SWANA)29thLandfillGasSymposium,St.Petersburg,FL.

8. Huitric,R.,D.Kong,L.Scales,S.Maguin,andP.Sullivan(2007).“FieldComparisonofLandfillGasCollectionEfficiencyMeasurements,”ProceedingsfromtheSolidWasteAssociationofNorthAmerica’s30thAnnualLandfillGasSymposium.Monterey,California.

9. Maurice,C.andLagerkvist,A.(2003).LFGemissionmeasurementsincoldclimaticconditions:seasonalvariationsandmethaneemissionsmitigation.ColdRegionsScienceandTechnology36,pp37-46.

10. Maurice,C.,Bergman,A.,Ecke,H.,Lagerkvist,A.(1995).Vegetationasabiologicalindicatorforlandfillgasemissions:initialinvestigations.Sardinia’95,FifthInternationalLandfillSymposium,CISA,Cagliari,Italy,pp.481–494.

11. Parker,P.,Dottridge,J.,Kelly,S.(2002).InvestigationoftheCompositionandEmissionsofTraceComponentsinLandfillGas.R&DTechnicalReportP1-438/TR,EnvironmentAgency,2002,ISBN1-84432-018-9,140pp.

12. Spokas,K.,J.Bogner,J.Chanton,M.Morcet,C.Aran,C.Graff,Y.Moreau-le-Golvan,N.Bureau,andI.Hebe,(2006).Methanemassbalanceatthreelandfillsites:whatistheefficiencyofcapturebygascollectionsystems?WasteManagement,26,pp.516-525.

13. Wilcox,L.(2007).LandfillGasCollectionandControlRegulation.MinistryofEnvironment.Ontario,Canada.

8. REFEREnCEs


Licence Number Facility Name and Address

W0004-01 Arthurstownlandfillfacility,Kill,Co.Kildare.

W0028-01 BallydonaghLandfillFacility,Ballydonagh,DublinRoad,Athlone,Co.Westmeath.

W0109-01 Ballaghaderreenlandfillfacility,Ballaghaderreen,Co.Roscommon.

W0024-01 BallynacarrickLandfillFacility,Ballynacarrick,Ballintra,Co.Donegal

W0078-02 BallaghvenyLandfill,Ballymackey,Co.Tipperary

W0165-01 Ballynagranlandfillfacility,Ballynagran,Co.Wicklow.

W0009-02 BalleallyLandfill,Balleally,Lusk,Co.Dublin

W0109-01 CentralWasteManagementFacility(CWMF),BallyduffBeg,Inagh,Co.Clare.

W0077-02 Corranurelandfillfacility,CootehillRd,Cavan,Co.Cavan.

W0021-01 DerrinumeraLandfillFacility,Derrinumera/Drumilra(Townlands),Newport,CoMayo

W0029-01 DerryclureLandfillFacility,Derryclure,Co.Offaly.

W0074-02 DonohillLandfill,Garryshane,Donohill,Co.Tipperary

W0030-02 DunmoreLandfillFacility,Dunmore,Co.Kilkenny.

W0201-01 Drehidlandfillfacility,KillinaghUpper,Carbury,Co.Kildare

W0178-01 EastGalwaylandfillfacility,KillaghMore,Ballyhaun,Ballintober,Ballinasloe,Co.Galway.

W0017-03 Gortadromalandfillfacility,Ballyhahill,Co.Limerick.

W0191-02 Holmestownlandfillfacility,Glenduff,Bolgerstown,Muchwood,Ballyeaton,Co.Wexford

W0012-01 KinsaleRoadLandfill,Ballyphehane,Curraghconway,Inchisarsfield,SouthCityLinkRoad,Cork.

W0026-02 Kyletaleshalandfillfacility,Clonsoughy,Kyleclonhobert,Co.Laois

W0081-01 KTKLandfillLimited,BrownstownandCarnalway,Kilcullen,Co.Kildare

W0146-01 Knockharleylandfillfacility,Knockharley,Navan,Co.Meath.

W0047-02 NeiphinTradingLtd,Kerdiffstown,Naas,Co.Kildare

W0001-01 NorthKerryLandfill,Muingnaminnane,Tralee,Co.Kerry

W0025-02 Powerstownlandfillfacility,KilkennyRoad,Co.Carlow.

W0067-01 RathroeenLandfillFacility,Rathroeen,Ballina,Co.Mayo

W0020-02 ScotchCornerLandfill,Letterbane,Annyalla,Castleblaney,Co.Monaghan

W0014-01 SilliotHillLandfillFacility,SilliotHillandBrownstown,Co.Kildare,Kildare.

W0060-02 Whiteriverlandfillfacility,Dunleer,Co.Louth

W0068-02 YoughalLandfillFacility,YoughalMudlands,Youghal,Co.Cork.

9. APPEndix 1 wAstE liCEnsE numbERs And FACility nAmEs And AddREssEs

Table 3.1 Tabular overview of summary findings from Surface emission survey’s carried out in 2009

Parameter W0017-03 W0191-02 W0012-01 W0026-02 W0081-01 W0146-01 W0047-02 W0001-01 W0025-02 W0067-01 W0020-02 W0014-01 W0060-02 W0068-02

Surface emissions from Vertical Wells:

Due to Uncapped vertical well ***

Due to Inadequate abstraction from wells ***

Due to Inadequate condensate removal ***

Due to Inadequate abstractive capacity ***

Due to inadequate well sealing ***

Leachate slope risers:

Surface emissions from leachate side slope risers and leachate chambers ***

Abstraction from leachate riser, chambers or leachate drainage layer ***

Flanked areas:

Surface emissions on flanked areas (3*) (2*) (2*) (1*) (5*) (4*) *** (8*) (6*) (10*) (1*) (3*) (6*)

Flank construction:

Sloped ***

Benched ***

Geo Membrane Or liner ***

Surface emissions:

Due to Inadequate abstraction from area ***

Due to Inadequate cover material application ***

Due to Inadequate tracking ***

Other Elements

LFG Management Systems in operation ***

Sufficient Flare and blower static pressure capacity *** ** **

Abstraction in active cell n/a *** n/a

Surface Emissions in active cell n/a *** n/a

The system was adequately labelled ^^ ^^ ^^ *** ^^ ^^

Methane & Oxygen Concentrations at the flare were acceptable ***

Vacuum pressure across the abstraction system was acceptable ***

Blockages were noted in gas collection pipe work ***

Surface Emissions Locations 100 ppmv to 500ppmv 1^^^ 1^^^ 3^^^ 1^^^ 1^^^ 2^^^ 4^^^ 2^^^ 3 5 3 3 2 3

Surface Emissions Locations 500 ppmv to Maximum ppmv recorded 8^^^ 5^^^ 9^^^ 8^^^ 5^^^ 6^^^ 10^^^ 19^^^ 7 9 10 1 7 23

Number of localised sources over the recommended

guideline limit around features (500 ppmv)5 2 5 6 1 2 0 21 0 3 1 3 6 20

Number of diffuse sources over the recommended

guideline limit from surfaces (100 ppmv)4 4 7 3 5 6 14 5 10 10 12 1 3 6

Multiples over recommended limit (500 ppmv at features)

for maximum concentration recorded8.79 4.75 10.79 9.47 1.59 8.62 0 14.51 5.41 7.27 11.68 3.24 4.17 37.96

Multiples over recommended limit (100 ppmv on

surfaces) for maximum concentration recorded29.01 9.57 132.53 20.14 23.34 17.14 37.15 48.58 26.13 30.56 43.31 3.66 17.68 114.29

Total Number of Surface Emissions locations 9 6 12 9 6 8 14 26 10 14 13 4 10 26

Notes: *denotes number of instances. **denotes not conclusive. ***denotes no adequate systems in place. ^denotes it was not possible to accurately identify exactly the nature of emissions. ^^denotes in place but not adequate. ^^^denotes that the number of surface emission locations does not necessarily represent the extent and intensity of the surface emission zone. ^^^^denotes that elevated oxygen concentrations were recorded at one enclosed flare. denotes Yes (i.e. yes there was surface emissions from facility or yes parameter was in operation) dependant upon question asked in parameter box. denotes No (i.e. No there was not surface emissions from facility or No parameter was in operation) dependant upon question asked in parameter box.

Office of environmental enforcementSummary Report - Independent Assessment of Landfill Gas Emissions and Management Systems at 29 EPA Licensed Landfills in the Republic of Ireland

10. appendix 2

Parameter W0004-01 W0028-01 W0109-01 W0024-01 W0078-02 W0165-01 W0009-02 W0109-01 W0077-02 W0021-01 W0029-01 W0074-02 W0030-02 W0201-01 W0178-01

Surface emissions from Vertical Wells:

Due to Uncapped vertical well

Due to Inadequate abstraction from wells

Due to Inadequate condensate removal

Due to Inadequate abstractive capacity

Due to inadequate well sealing

Leachate slope risers:

Surface emissions from leachate side slope

risers and leachate chambers

Abstraction from leachate riser, chambers or leachate drainage layer

Flanked areas:

Surface emissions on flanked areas (9*) (5*) (5*) (4*) (6*) (1*) (4*) (3*) (5*) (5*) (5*) (5*) (6*) (4*) (3*)

Flank construction:

Sloped

Benched

Geo Membrane Or liner

Surface emissions:

Due to Inadequate abstraction from area

Due to Inadequate cover material application

Due to Inadequate tracking

Other Elements

LFG Management Systems in operation

Sufficient Flare and blower static pressure capacity

Abstraction in active cell

Surface Emissions in active cell

The system was adequately labelled ^^ ^^

Methane & Oxygen Concentrations at the flare were acceptable ^^^^ ^^^^ ^^^^

Vacuum pressure across the abstraction system was acceptable ^^

Blockages were noted in gas collection pipe work ** ^^

Surface Emissions Locations 100 ppmv to 500ppmv 5^^^ 2^^^ 5^^^ 2^^^ 6^^^ 2^^^ 3^^^ 2^^^ 5^^^ 4^^^ 0 3^^^ 3^^^ 1^^^ 2^^^

Surface Emissions Locations 500 ppmv to Maximum ppmv recorded 6^^^ 10^^^ 3^^^ 8^^^ 16^^^ 1^^^ 8^^^ 4^^^ 5^^^ 7^^^ 11^^^ 9^^^ 3^^^ 10^^^ 5^^^

Number of localised sources over the recommended

guideline limit around features (500 ppmv)0 6 0 2 12 1 6 1 1 3 0 4 0 7 4

Number of diffuse sources over the recommended

guideline limit from surfaces (100 ppmv)11 6 8 8 11 2 5 4 9 8 11 8 6 4 3

Multiples over recommended limit (500 ppmv at

features) for maximum concentration recorded0 11.2 0 8.7 21.17 1.09 5.06 2.42 4.68 17.44 28.81 7.12 0 7.58 6.84

Multiples over recommended limit (100 ppmv on

surfaces) for maximum concentration recorded25 39.6 13.6 68.39 19.03 4.42 18.93 20.22 15.54 39.98 128.59 19.39 18.11 10.51 8.28

Total Number of Surface Emissions locations 11 12 8 10 23 3 11 5 10 11 11 12 6 11 7

Table 3.1 Tabular overview of summary findings from Surface emission survey’s carried out in 2009

Office of environmental enforcementSummary Report - Independent Assessment of Landfill Gas Emissions and Management Systems at 29 EPA Licensed Landfills in the Republic of Ireland

Headquarters and South East RegionEnvironmental Protection AgencyPO Box 3000, Johnstown Castle EstateCounty Wexford, IrelandBosca Poist 3000, Eastát Chaisleán Bhaile SheáinContae Loch Garman, ÉireT: +353 53 916 0600F: +353 53 916 0699South/South West RegionInniscarra, County Cork, IrelandInis Cara, Contae Chorcaí, ÉireT: +353 21 487 5540F: +353 21 487 5545East/North East RegionMcCumiskey House, RichviewClonskeagh Road, Dublin 14, IrelandTeach Mhic ChumascaighDea-Radharc, Bóthar Cluain SceachBaile Átha Cliath 14, ÉireT: +353 1 268 0100F: +353 1 268 0199West/North West RegionJohn Moore RoadCastlebar, County Mayo, IrelandBóthar Sheán de MórdhaCaisleán an Bharraigh, Contae Mhaigh Eo, ÉireT: +353 94 904 8400F: +353 94 904 8499E: [email protected] W: www.epa.ieLoCall: 1890 33 55 99

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