Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutLandfill Soil Gas Investigation Public Meeting Invite for 3-4-14 CITY OF BOZEMAN 04 Bo Bozeman, Montana Department of Public Works t February 11, 2014 Dear Homeowner: Thank you for your cooperation with the City's ongoing landfill soil gas investigation in your neighborhood. We have attached to this letter a brief update on our activities at the Story Mill Landfill. The City, in conjunction with the Montana Department of Environmental Quality, is planning to expand groundwater sampling in the vicinity of the landfill. We expect to begin drilling additional groundwater wells near the end of February. You may see drill rigs in your neighborhood later this month. Tetra Tech will be contacting property owners adjacent to drilling activities. In addition, Tetra Tech will continue to follow up with some homeowners for mitigation system testing and additional air sampling. 1, along with Mayor Jeff Krauss, and representatives from the City's technical consultant (Tetra Tech, Inc.) would like to meet with you and your neighbors at a public meeting scheduled for Tuesday March 4,2014 at 6:30 p.m. at the Bozeman Holiday Inn at 5 East Baxter Lane. At that meeting we will explain additional groundwater sampling actions, provide a progress report on the sampling and mitigation efforts undertaken this past fall and winter, and provide an overview of the process for designing, selecting, and constructing a remediation system on the landfill. Members of the City Commission, City staff, and representatives from the Montana Department of Environmental Quality will be available to describe the action plan and answer questions. Thank you for your cooperation as the City works to understand the site and the issues facing your neighborhood. Sincerely, Craig Woolard, Ph.D, P.E. Director of Public Works Street address: 20 E.Olive St. Phone: (406)582-2273 Mailing address: P.O.Box 1230 Fax: (406)582-2263 Bozeman,Montana 59771-1230 TDD: (406)582-2301 CITY OF BOZEMAN Bozeman, Montana ti�o4 8�2�9 Department of Public Works V � ip co. Story Mill Landfill Investigation Update- February 2014 The Bozeman Landfill Soil Gas Study is focused on the investigation and mitigation of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in soil gas beneath the Bridger Creek Phase II and III neighborhoods,which are adjacent to the former Story Mill landfill. The project is being implemented by the City and its' engineering consultant,Tetra Tech. At this time mitigation efforts are focused on Bridger Creek Phase III,the neighborhood located immediately south of and adjacent to the landfill. Soil gas monitoring is continuing to occur in Phase III as wells as residences across Mclllhatten Road (Phase II). Background Information From 1970 until 2008,the City of Bozeman operated a landfill pursuant to a Montana Department of Environmental Quality(DEQ) permit, located between Story Mill Road and Mcllhattan Road approximately% mile northeast of downtown Bozeman.The landfill handled refuse generated by the citizens and businesses of the City. A landfill gas extraction system was installed in 1997 on the portion of the landfill that was designed before the use of modern impermeable liners. Landfill gas is eliminated by extracting and burning it in a flare and in compliance with the DEQ Solid Waste Program and a DEQ air quality permit.The system is designed to control the accumulation of potentially explosive landfill gases such as methane. However,the primary contaminants of concern that led to the current investigation at the landfill are volatile organic compounds (VOCs).VOCs are a class of compounds that are part of many products found in industrial and residential products including gasoline, paints, cleaning products, paint thinner, air fresheners, carpet, upholstery, etc. Currently,VOCs are being monitoring in a network of soil gas probes throughout the Phase I and II neighborhoods and in soil gas beneath homes in those neighborhoods. Additional action has been taken to mitigate VOCs through the installation of mitigation systems similar to what is used for radon. VOC Mitigation in Residences The City's engineering consultant, Tetra Tech has been working since September 2013 to install mitigations systems in every Phase III home.To date, 26 of 28 homes have operating systems. A VOC mitigation system is essentially an engineered radon system,typical of what is installed in homes in the area.They entail a fan that pulls air from beneath the basement slab or crawlspace of the home.To date, the mitigation systems have been effective in creating a vacuum beneath the homes and intercepting soil vapors.These systems will be routinely checked to ensure there is proper vacuum created beneath the concrete slabs of the home and that air velocity within the system is adequate. In addition, collection of air samples from the mitigation systems and from within the homes will be conducted periodically. Groundwater Investigation In response to the Montana Department of Environmental Quality's request,the City will be installing nine additional monitoring wells around the Phase II and Phase III neighborhoods to further understand the role that groundwater is playing with regards to VOC transport from the landfill. Drilling is tentatively scheduled to begin at the end of February, or as weather permits. Street address: 20 E.Olive St. Phone: (406)582-2273 Mailing address: P.O.Box 1230 Fax: (406)582-2263 Bozeman,Montana 59771-1230 TDD: (406)582-2301 Public Meeting The next public meeting will be held on Tuesday, March 4, 2014 at 6:30 pm, at the Holiday Inn, located at 5 Baxter Lane in Bozeman.The agenda will include updates on sampling, mitigation systems and the groundwater investigation, and landfill remediation. It is anticipated that DEQ staff will also be in attendance to answer questions. Interested homeowners are encouraged to attend. Additional Information and Contacts For additional information regarding the City of Bozeman's efforts to protect the citizens of Phase II and III or for general information about vapor intrusion in homes, please visit the following web pages. ➢ City of Bozeman: http://www.bozeman.net/Projects/BozgrtianLandfillSoilGasStudy/Home.aspx ➢ DEQ Vapor Intrusion Guidance: http://www.deg.mt.gov/StateSuperfund/viguide.mcpx ➢ DEQ Solid Waste Program: http://www.deg.mt.gov/SolidWaste/defauIt.mcpx ➢ EPA Vapor Intrusion Guidance: http://www.epa.gov/oswer/vaporintrusion/ Please contact the following City or Tetra Tech employees with questions or comments: City of Bozeman Mr. Rick Hixson, City Engineer 406-582-2280 Tetra Tech Mr. Kirk Miller Sr. Project Manager 406-447-1456