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Who is Waste Management?. WMIF acquired the Pine Ridge Recycling and Disposal Facility (PRRDF) in 1996 amid complaints by landfill neighbors At the time: -Pug Mill (frequent truck traffic) -Transport trailers from Kaley Trucking Company Smells / Odor.
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Who is Waste Management? • WMIF acquired the Pine Ridge Recycling and Disposal Facility (PRRDF) in 1996 amid complaints by landfill neighbors • At the time: • -Pug Mill (frequent truck traffic) • -Transport trailers from Kaley • Trucking Company • Smells / Odor The largest waste management company in North America History
Who is Waste Management? • By 1999, the Class III landfill ceased to operate and in 2000 the final cover was installed • Subsequently, Pug Mill shut down • Passive flares and a gas collection trench were installed to mitigate odor History
Existing Operation at PRRDF • Permitted Operation Hours: Monday – Friday 7:00 AM – 5:30 PM Saturday 7:00 AM – 1:00 PM • Only C&D waste is accepted at PRRDF;designed to avoid odor issues encountered due to Class III waste placed by previous owners • C&D landfill typically operated with 5-6 employees on site - Utilizing requisite heavy equipment - Small office trailer - Truck scale and scalehouse
Regulation Summary • C&D – Discarded materials generally considered to be not water soluble and non-hazardous: steel, glass, brick, concrete, lumber, wallboard, asphalt, etc.. From structural construction, demolition, or renovation. • 1994 – EPA delegated solid waste regulation, in Florida, to FDEP. • FDEP rules regulated C&Ds, • Developed by TAGs of experts. • 1997 – FDEP significantly increased regulations for C&Ds requiring groundwater monitoring, financial assurance, and FDEP-certified training for spotters and operators. • 2001 – FDEP updated Chapter 62-701, FAC again without requiring bottom liners for C&Ds. • 2005 – Applied to County EPD for landfill expansion in accordance with County Code (among most stringent in State.) • 2006 – EPD advised that their review was satisfied and project should proceed to DRC, then BZA. • 2008 – FDEP expected to promulgate updated rules this year, and current draft contains no requirements for bottom liners after 10 years of collecting groundwater quality data from C&Ds.
Construction and Demolition Debris Disposal Need • Several years of rapid growth • By January 2007, County approved within Horizon West • 10,500 residential units • 573,000 SF of commercial space • Horizon West future plans • 38,000 AC of compact urban development • 6-7 mixed use villages and town center • Each village will have 2-4 neighborhoods around community center, schools, parks, townhouses, apartments, stores, retail offices. • Minimum density of 5 dwellings per net acre • Millions of tons of C&D disposal required
Waiver Review Criteria • Reviewed by EPD and DRC; each has recommended approval • Seven Criteria • Location of Real Property; • Distance of the proposed solid waste management facility from improvements on adjoining real property; • Effect of proposed waiver on adjoining property; • Current physical conditions on the real property whereon the solid waste management facility is proposed to be located; • Whether the waiver would be contrary to the public health, safety and welfare and/or adopted plans, policies, or ordinances of the County; • Any special conditions applicable to the real property whereon the solid waste management facility is proposed to be located; and • Whether the waiver would nullify the intent and the purpose of this article.
Special Exception Criteria1 – Similar in noise, vibration, dust, odor, glare and heat producing characteristics • Similar characteristics to permitted A-1 Zone uses such as: • Borrow pits • Dairy farms • Fertilizer manufacturing • Planned development construction • Landfills limited to A-1 or A-2 zoning • More environmentally responsible to expand existing landfills than to take greenfields.
Dust Mitigation • Watering dirt roads • Cover over areas without vegetation • Perimeter trees • Grass on final slopes • Paved entrance road parallel to Rex Road • Orange grove • RIBs • Rural residential • Served by dirt roads Dust Control Measures at PRRDF Surrounding Area Conditions
Noise, Vibration, Glare, and Heat Causes • No significant glare or heat due to operations • Heavy equipment noise and vibration are not intrusive. • Passive flares • Flame is barely visible • Security cameras • Weather stations • Passive flares • Not audible 15’ away • Not visible to property owners • Emit slight glow During Operating Hours Non-operating Hours
Noise Tests • Dosimeter used to measure noise at 10 locations • Main causes of sounds caused by ambient sources: • Pets • Road Traffic • Air Traffic • NOT Landfill Operations • Average decibel reading at entrance of 57.7 • Measurements along Phil C. Peters Road: • 53.9 • 56.0 • 55.1 • PRRDF does not significantly increase noise levels
Vibration Tests • Seismometer used to measure vibration • Test conducted between active landfill and edge of property. • Conclusions: No danger of structural damage from vibrations at this site.
Odor Tests • Hydrogen Sulfide • 10 locations tested • 5 ppb was peak • 8-10 ppb is average human detection threshold • Proposed County standard is 30 ppb
2-Meeting Performance Standards • Must meet standards of Chapter 32 • All EPD RAIs have been satisfied, and EPD has recommended approval • FDEP permits issued • DRC recommended approval • BZA recommended approval • WMIF has maintained compliance with State and County regulations at PRRDF
3-Landscape Buffer • Proposed landscaping buffer meets or exceeds County requirements • Includes shade trees planted around perimeter at least every 40’ (maximum). • Proposed landscaping satisfied DRC • Required by EPD to block view from neighbors
4 – Similar and Compatible with Surrounding Area • Orange Groves • Rapid Infiltration Basins (RIBS) • Rural Residential • Current and proposed landfill is compatible with rural area • Property used for heavy equipment and earth moving operations since 1930s. • Permitted as landfill since 1981.
5 - Consistent with Existing Development and County’s Comprehensive Policy Plan • Surrounding rural residences • Unlikely for future lot subdivisions or major increases in population density • Nearest planned development is Horizon West ½ mile away • PRRDF will not be visible within Horizon West or Avalon Road • CPP includes a solid waste element • CPP identifies PRRDF as providing C&D landfill capacity through 2015 Existing Development Future Development
6 - Detrimental Intrusion • The use is existing and will not intrude into existing residential areas • Scientific data support that the landfill does not threaten public health, or safety. • FDEP has issued permits for expansion. • EPD, DRC and BZA recommended approval
7- Request Shall Not Adversely Affect Public Interest • DRC and BZA recommended approval of elevation increase based on demonstrated need and compatibility with surroundings • 26+ years of landfilling at PRRDF • 70+ years of heavy equipment • Property values not adversely affected • Expansion will be visually buffered to prevent negative impact on values
Public Interest (cont’d) • Concerns regarding truck traffic • WMIF and EPD specifically prohibit PRRDF traffic from using residential neighborhood roads • In 2001 WMIF removed a pug mill operation, thereby substantially reducing traffic • FDOT monitors restricted routes and WMIF has offered funds to AHPOA to secure additional traffic enforcement • No PRRDF traffic involved in any accident in the area since 2004 • Improvements to SR 429 and Avalon Road
Public Interest - Groundwater • Landfill bottom designed 5-feet higher than 100-year high groundwater elevation, overlying natural, low-permeability clay. • C&D has been active for about 10 years and all wells monitoring C&D landfill continue to be in detection monitoring (no enforcement issues). • Pine Ridge wells are monitored routinely, and reports are reviewed by FDEP and EPD. • Five more wells will be installed to monitor downgradient of the C&D Landfill. • Recent DOH well sampling of neighboring potable wells indicates no cause for concern and no impact to drinking water from the landfill.
Public Interest–Proactive Steps • WMIF always has 24-hour contact number on signage. • WMIF offered to provide HOA with $1,000 per month for additional traffic enforcement • Soil cover to promote runoff and reduce the potential for odors. • Conservative design (high landfill bottom). • WMIF purchased a meter to measure H2S. • WMIF attended County meetings and responded with suggestions for landfills.