HomeMy WebLinkAbout09-04-07_Authorize the Acceptance of Asbestos-contaminated _16
Commission Memorandum
REPORT TO: Honorable Mayor and City Commission
FROM: Debra H. Arkell, Director of Public Services
Chris Kukulski, City Manager
SUBJECT: Acceptance of asbestos contaminated soil at the Bozeman Landfill
MEETING DATE: September 4, 2007 CONSENT AGENDA
BACKGROUND: As part of the Montana Department of Transportation (MDT) Main Street
Make Over project, City staff made arrangements with the contractor to have some of the soil
and asphalt millings removed from the project deposited at the Softball Complex on Haggerty
Lane. The soil was spread out to level a portion of the parking park, and the asphalt millings
were to be used to pave some of the parking lot. During this project it was discovered that the
soil contained anthophyllite, an asbestos ore originating from the Karst mine southwest of
Bozeman. Asbestos is known to cause disease in human lung tissue, including asbestosis and
lung cancer. Main exposure routes for asbestos are ingestion or inhalation of airborne dust
containing asbestos fibers.
Some of the soil has already been removed from the site and hauled to the Missoula landfill, but
an estimated 220-250 cubic yards of soil containing asbestos ore remains at the site. TetraTech,
Inc., an environmental firm based out of Helena, is overseeing the removal of the soil. The soil
will be kept wet during removal to reduce the possibility of the fibers becoming airborne, and
will be “burrito wrapped” in plastic. This is the same process used when the new library site was
cleaned up of the same materials. The work is anticipated to begin on Tuesday, September 4
with the first loads of material being ready to transport to the landfill on Wednesday, September
5, 2007. It is estimated to take a maximum of two days to haul the material to the landfill.
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Commission Memo
Acceptance of asbestos at Landfill
September 4, 2007
Page 2
Commission Resolution No. 4009, adopted in March 2007, (as well as all previous landfill fee
resolutions) states that the Bozeman Landfill does not accept asbestos unless specifically
approved by the Bozeman City Commission. The Department of Environmental Quality
consulted with the City Manager about the possibility of accepting this soil at the Bozeman
landfill. While the city has no role in the removal of this soil, it was deposited on our property at
our request and timely clean up is in our best interest. The Solid Waste Superintendent has
advised the City Manager that there is room at the landfill for this soil. Staff has consulted with
DEQ Solid Waste personnel and was advised that this material will not have to be marked or
surveyed, as long as it is buried in the general area the last material was buried in. Per our fee
Resolution, we will charge MDT approximately $73.55 per ton for the disposal. On average, a
cubic yard of dirt weighs one ton. Because the scale at the landfill is non-certified, the tipping
fee will be estimated based on volume.
RECOMMENDATION: Authorize the acceptance of asbestos contaminated soil at the
Bozeman Landfill at a fee of approximately $73.55/ton.
FISCAL EFFECTS: If 250 cubic yards at one ton per cubic yard is disposed of,
approximately $18,300 in revenue would be received. By taking this soil, the amount of
household waste that could be deposited in the Landfill will be reduced.
ALTERNATIVES: As suggested by the City Commission.
Respectfully submitted,
_________________________________ ____________________________
Debra H. Arkell, Director of Public Services Chris A. Kukulski, City Manager
Cc: Steve Johnson, Solid Waste Superintendent (via email)
Richard Hixson, City Attorney (via email))
Dustin Johnson, P.E., Staff Engineer (via email)
Tim Cooper, Staff Attorney (via email)
Mike Davis, Tetra Tech, Inc. (via email)
Colleen Owen, DEQ (via email)
File 503
File 560
Report compiled on
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