Title
Old Landfill Remediation (B)
This item is to provide information on Old Landfills for which the City has responsibility as well as an update on the progress of the Airport Landfill Remediation project.
Explanation
The Recreation, Cultural Affairs and Public Works Committee heard a presentation from City staff on this referral on February 25, 2013 and discussed relevant issues.
The Data and Analysis section of the Solid Waste Element of the City of Gainesville's Comprehensive Plan includes a section on the History of Solid Waste Management. This section identifies the landfill operated by the City of Gainesville at the Gainesville Municipal Airport, a City operated dump for combustible refuse near the South Main Street Wastewater Treatment Plan, and a third landfill operated by the City located on Archer Road five miles from downtown which accepted junk vehicles, large logs, and other items not considered suitable for the airport landfill. Each of these landfills was closed prior to 1985; therefore are exempt from Florida Administrative Codes regarding Landfill Closure regulations.
The Old Dump located off South Main Street was a remediation project that the City became aware of in 2001after Florida Department of Environment Protection (FDEP) staff conducted an investigation of the Sweetwater Branch as an extension of the Depot Park Coal Tar Remediation project. The banks of the landfill were shared with the banks of the Sweetwater Branch. Erosion of the banks resulted in exposed landfilled material. The City's Old Landfill Bank Stabilization project included the reconstruction and stabilization of the banks to prevent further exposure with a total cost of approximately $2 million.
The Airport Landfill consisted of three areas: trash area, garbage area, and construction and demolition debris area. The trash area reportedly operated in the 1940's when the airport was constructed and operated as the Alachua Army Air Base. The garbage area reportedly operated between 1964 and 1971. Both the trash and garbage areas were closed in the early 1970's. Approximately 2' of cover was placed over these two areas. The cover consisted of fine to medium grained sand and grass.
The construction and demolition debris area opened in 1981. Material deposited in this area included lumber, concrete rubble, asphaltic concrete rubble and corrugated metal culvert pipe.
A firing range and a Fire Training area were located in the vicinity of the landfill beginning in the late 70's. The Fire Training area ceased operation by 1981.
Through the late 1990's until 2002 the City was under consent order with the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) to conduct groundwater testing to monitor contaminates. In December 2005, FDEP personnel visited the landfill site and observed large piles with cans, bottles, demolition debris such as culverts and roofing materials, as well as tires. In addition, the edge of the landfill encroached into approximately 1 to 2 acres of jurisdictional wetlands and there was evidence of erosion of the upland portions of the landfill surface.
In 2006 the City's environmental consultant developed a Conceptual Closure Plan which they submitted to FDEP. The Conceptual Closure Plan was modified during subsequent meetings with FDEP staff. Due to changes in the Solid Waste management staff and other issues occurring within the department, work on this project was suspended in 2007.
In June 2012, the City of Gainesville's Public Works Department contracted with Geosyntec to develop final plans for FDEP's approval. Final Plans are expected to be complete by the end of summer 2013.
Fiscal Note
Solid Waste funding is available to cover the estimated costs of $75,000 for design and $1.6 million for construction of the Closure Plan for the Airport Landfill.
Recommendation
The Recreation, Cultural Affairs and Public Works Committee recommends that the City Commission remove this item from the referral list.