Quarry Landfill Capping Progress

What steps have been taken?

Since Spring 2022, when DEQ convened a panel of experts to help identify steps that will mitigate the odor from the quarry landfill, Bristol, Virginia has been engaged in the process of completing these steps with the assistance of a variety of experts, engineers, and area contractors.  This work is in addition to the prior efforts at the quarry landfill and is anticipated to result in the “capping” of the quarry landfill.

These steps build upon Bristol, Virginia’s prior efforts:

• The City contracted SCS Field Services to upgrade the quarry landfill gas extraction and dewatering systems by installing new pipes, collectors, and headers in an effort to mitigate odors and emissions identified in the southeast portion of the quarry landfill;
• Charles R. Underwood, Inc., was hired to replace leachate and gradient pumps within the wet well at the quarry landfill to promote enhanced leachate collection and treatment operations; and
• Installed 21 new gas extraction wells during Q4 of 2021.

In acting on the recommendations of the DEQ Panel Report, Bristol, Virginia is also undertaking a variety of actions including:

• Installation of a sidewall odor mitigation system began in December 2022 and was completed in June 2023s;
• Comprehensive monitoring of temperature, gas, and water in and around the quarry landfill;
• Installation of additional gas wells to pull gas and liquid from the quarry landfill was also completed in June 2023;
• Implementation of a stormwater monitoring system; and
• Capping of the quarry landfill with a geomembrane cap that will further stop gases from escaping, which is still ongoing.

The quarry landfill stopped accepting waste as of September 9, 2022. Since then, the City completed installation of a dirt cover on October 10, 2022 and invited Bristol, TN representatives to inspect the installation of the cover. The inspection took place on October 11, 2022. The City is continuing to monitor and maintain the soil cover.

Capping a landfill is a multi-step process that can include the use of clay, sand and gravel, a geomembrane and soil, concrete, or asphalt to begin transitioning a waste area to its next use or phase. In this case, the City is utilizing soil as the main ground cover and evaluating its options for long-term solutions or uses. To learn more about the capping process from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”) website, click here.

In addition to the installation of a dirt cover, on September 30, 2022 the City accepted a bid from drilling contractor Connelly & Associates, Inc. related to the installation of the dedicated temperature monitoring system for the quarry landfill. Bristol chose Connelly & Associates, which was one of two contractors to submit a response to the bid, during the City’s second request for proposals for the installation.  Connelly & Associates completed the installation work for the temperature monitoring system by the anticipated December 31, 2022 deadline.

What further steps will be taken?

On a recommendation from the Expert Panel that convened in March 2022, SCS Engineers designed a sidewall odor mitigation system for the quarry landfill.  SCS Engineers reviewed the design with VA Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) and two experts who sat on the panel. The work for the sidewall odor mitigation system was awarded to SCS Field Services, with work beginning on the system in December 2022. The sidewall odor mitigation was constructed and became fully operational by the imposed June 2023 deadline.

The City will be conducting regular inspections and monitoring for erosion, cracking, or holes to document the locations and rates of settlement within the quarry landfill in order to make repairs as needed. Groundwater monitoring wells will also be placed around the quarry landfill to help determine if any leaks are present.

We continue to work with governing agencies including Virginia’s Office of Attorney General, the Virginia DEQ and the EPA to comply with legal orders and regulatory requirements.

What is the timeline of activity?

• January 2021
  • Engineering consultants Draper Aden Associates and SCS Engineers designed expansion of and improvement to gas collection system in the southwest corner of the quarry landfill.
• Mid-2021
  • Due to continuing issues with odor mitigation, Draper Aden designed a new odor mitigation plan including the installation of 21 new gas extraction wells, bringing the total number of such wells to 38. Solution failed to mitigate odors emanating from the landfill.
• January 3, 2022
  • City Manager Randy Eads requested assistance in finding solutions from Virginia DEQ and the EPA.
• March 2022
  • City Manager’s request results in convening of expert panel by DEQ to discuss and propose solutions to mitigate odors.
• April 25, 2022
  • Expert panel report produced.
• June 2022
  • Per the report, Bristol began installing intermediate cover. SCS Engineers design and put to bid a dedicated system of temperature probes.
• August 2022
  • Bristol hired expert panel member to design and consult on the odor mitigation systems recommended by the expert panel.
• August – October 2022
  • Negotiations between engineers, DEQ, and the city leads to consensus on a timeline to complete recommended actions from the report, such as:
    • Ceasing acceptance of waste (Completed September 9, 2022)
    • Installation of intermediate cover (Completed October 10, 2022)
    • Installation of a dedicated thermocouple system temperature probe system (Completed)
    • Development and construction of the sidewall odor mitigation system (Project Completed June 2023.)
    • Leachate extraction & monitoring (Temporary Completed July 2023)
    • Enhanced gas collection systems (Completed June 2023)
    • Increase perimeter gas collection system near sidewalls (Completed June 2023)
    • Develop and implement Stormwater Plan (Once all remediation actions are completed, a temporary synthetic membrane will be installed over the landfill. Includes construction of storm water basin before installation of Ethylene Vinal Alcohol cover.) – In Progress