[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6603877,"mediaKeyId","2996700-e87dc7aad14b9f3982c5fab96f4562be","parentId",2996700,"title","Groundwater, PFAS and methane monitoring emerge as central concerns in Coffin Butte discussion","audioSeconds",2353,"startMs",3378000,"endMs",5731000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2996700-e87dc7aad14b9f3982c5fab96f4562be&start=3378&end=5731","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2996700-e87dc7aad14b9f3982c5fab96f4562be/thumbnail_3378000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6603877/Benton-County/Oregon/Groundwater-PFAS-and-methane-monitoring-emerge-as-central-concerns-in-Coffin-Butte-discussion","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6603877-43b5739dceda930881f9ca060945a301/orig.mp4?Expires=1771137186&Signature=B0mNpgdk~h3ZIDaF0r-RVWxTcWsTKdaNAmNGCEhIAefnyqUKHymyfvNdo8eOHVLIhg3MaDfbOcKSvh2bF6kWoub6GgAsQ6OBtifPe~LumK2fAsYBf4CMFfpg14lDPLEvxv-fS1xD9IpQFYCoOmawxAcw4WZkIo5PErp1~SN745P~Vjghnm4q2xVXfhPj0tM-Z2B38Z8XwqoRpTUx4vfUhhLjZgPGDKAZ~977l8WOudhPe3DdctMWItV5KPHc88Zgwz8A6lxd7xV3oYCA1Sk9fJV0ihwBZg5FTIvMkJHtyGH4MmegtJXIHnb0R6aagOlesQC9ioBSwP6Z6a1ccHyQhw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Benton County, AR","date","2025-04-15T17:06:39.773Z","article","Republic Services and Benton County staff spent a substantial portion of the July 31 DSAC meeting reviewing the landfill’s environmental monitoring program and responding to questions about groundwater, PFAS and methane emissions.

Republic staff said Coffin Butte conducts semiannual groundwater monitoring at a network of approximately 35 wells and performs required leachate and underdrain sampling; they told DSAC that the most recent monitoring rounds showed results “below drinking water standards” for the parameters DEQ requires. Company presenters noted historic elevated arsenic in certain wells and described those measurements as stable and consistent with regional background levels rather than a new contaminant plume.

The committee and company discussed PFAS — the family of long-lasting per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances — and its presence in waste streams and leachate. Republic staff characterized landfills as receivers of PFAS-containing products, not producers of PFAS, and said the issue is evolving as state and federal agencies develop testing and treatment requirements. The company said it will work with wastewater partners and regulators as rules develop. Committee members asked for more targeted data from the landfill’s monitoring reports and appendices; Republic and county staff agreed to provide the annual environmental monitoring reports and to point committees to specific appendices that show long-term trends.

Methane and fugitive emissions drew extensive discussion. Republic representatives described the site’s gas control system — noting an investment of roughly $9.5 million since 2019 and saying Coffin Butte has “about 3 times” the number of gas wells per acre compared with an industry average — and explained that state and federal regulations currently require quarterly or prescribed walkover monitoring by technicians using EPA-approved methods. Several committee members urged the company to use aerial or advanced remote-sensing approaches that have become available (for example, emissions mapping flown by third parties) to detect fugitive methane more frequently and with different detection technologies; company staff said they are engaged at the national level with EPA and other organizations to evaluate emerging monitoring methods and that they are participating in broader efforts to standardize newer approaches.

Republic also described routine operational sampling and remediation of isolated contamination allegations: staff said they removed topsoil where equipment had been washed outside a maintenance shop, tested the area with a third-party firm and placed the removed soil into a permitted cell; the firm’s follow-up testing, Republic said, cleared the area.

Committee members requested easier public access to the county’s and the company’s monitoring files, including long-term trend plots and appendices that show results for specific monitoring wells. Republic and county staff said they will help direct DSAC members to the appropriate annual monitoring report sections and to historical data archives where available.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","July 31, 2024 DSAC Meeting - Benton County, Oregon","oneSentenceSummary","Republic Services and Benton County staff reviewed groundwater monitoring, PFAS, and methane control at Coffin Butte Landfill on July 31 and agreed to provide DSAC members with long-term monitoring reports and targeted appendices.","taxTitle","Benton County, Oregon","taxId",8787,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6603883,"Republic Services details Coffin Butte operations, proposed smaller expansion and environmental investments",236,3078000,3314000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2996700-e87dc7aad14b9f3982c5fab96f4562be&start=3078&end=3314","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2996700-e87dc7aad14b9f3982c5fab96f4562be/thumbnail_3078000.jpg","/articles/6603883/Benton-County/Oregon/Republic-Services-details-Coffin-Butte-operations-proposed-smaller-expansion-and-environmental-investments","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6603883-0b3baf8dc422e2dd934dab85a0adf408/orig.mp4?Expires=1771137186&Signature=U6gr6h60PtYCbniHA4rkMz8cGnovt5QeUCRDQrsXXYWIO5iD9SlzwUaU-4tvqA8yNipxLEt6-6wYlSGNr2w~uti0ICmLG4xAU67VKPJe0eN1Li8hSroWYdhDbvbT8tEvteE4IC4OEuuqN10UdZFXsrwFAoVwFixQ3teVY3S2r0YCEnWtQ9AfWWxDp9vITFU9lYjwqqPMigAvQXceHthO5hQqSl4NH4G3ewe~1ina1O-bld7FWGao3cKfVcqufMVZWH8s0c8SSd2eZrEvhJv2uA7XeBnnKVaMKtOPQnwhHa1HUumb6WfWbpD8ILoQCmjHxU~IXGgqnWOH5SpUOMoumg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Republic Services representatives briefed Benton County’s Disposal Site Advisory Committee on July 31 about Coffin Butte Landfill operations, recent investments in landfill gas collection and composting, and a revised expansion proposal they say is smaller than an earlier application.

Brett Davis, general manager for Republic Services’ Western Oregon region, and other company staff described Coffin Butte as a broadly regional facility that accepts waste from across the Willamette Valley. Davis said the site covers about 740 acres, of which roughly 24% is currently used for active disposal (about 178 acres); the remaining property includes closed, capped cells and managed wetlands. Ian McNabb, the Republic representative on the committee, said Republic has increased investment in the landfill gas system, and “on average, landfills have about 1 gas well per acre. In Coffin Butte, we have 3 gas wells per acre.” He and other Republic staff noted an existing power-generation partnership that they said supplies enough energy to power about 4,000 homes.

Republic told the committee the company recently reduced the footprint of its expansion request compared with an earlier 2021 submission. The reduced proposal would be about half the size of the prior request and — according to company remarks at the meeting — would extend the landfill’s capacity by roughly 18 years. Company representatives also said that without expansion, active airspace in the currently permitted area would provide substantially fewer years of life (commenters gave different figures in the meeting transcript for remaining life without expansion; see clarifying details).

Republic discussed diversion and recycling programs tied to the site. Company presenters said the facility and partners divert roughly 40,000 tons a year of yard debris and organics for composting and related products; Republic noted a local compost product marketed to agriculture and retail customers. The company also described investments and funds used for environmental protection: staff referenced an environmental trust fund established years ago (reported balance noted as approximately $16 million in the meeting) and stated that closure and post-closure financial assurances are updated annually by professional engineers and submitted to the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ).

Company staff described operational topics including quarry rock use for cell construction, road and traffic measures included in the expansion proposal (Republic said it will keep Coffin Butte Road open and add turn lanes and bike lanes), and controls for leachate handling (Republic reported agreements to accept some leachate at Corvallis and Salem wastewater plants). Republic representatives also identified other routine permits the site holds and said the facility had no regulatory violations last year.

Committee members asked about capacity, the quarry timeline and traffic routing, and requested copies of the county’s environmental monitoring reports and the company’s annual monitoring appendices. Republic offered to arrange a site tour of Coffin Butte and nearby Pacific Region Compost in the fall.","Republic Services presented its 2023 annual report to the DSAC on July 31, covering Coffin Butte Landfill’s operations, gas collection investments, compost/diversion programs, financial assurances, and a proposed reduced expansion tied to a conditional use review.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6603887,"Benton County advisory panel reestablishes procedures, vows clearer public access to meeting materials",10181,297000,10478000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2996700-e87dc7aad14b9f3982c5fab96f4562be&start=297&end=10478","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2996700-e87dc7aad14b9f3982c5fab96f4562be/thumbnail_297000.jpg","/articles/6603887/Benton-County/Oregon/Benton-County-advisory-panel-reestablishes-procedures-vows-clearer-public-access-to-meeting-materials","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6603887-b44fab1f40bba21f4e829143edc698bd/orig.mp4?Expires=1771137186&Signature=Mro5dj9LvCZbB2WwUR4rhMtNUOnRmfove5c3vRgGULAy5SlSIc4StliyJNutc2nOvJPIbZ1Iv9hBhyVTbfPx6D6cU~cAMC-FhmaC~SHnQ6rPYuSfxAGKIFYvsr1~HFUJdCGR~KIhOAJtCjoiQvAVFh~06S-pr6x7kEFu-soDNJK4C-dNucTZ41m~FBMdSn7PNWtbrmoDdLuNEsX-~zcNhjn4ZCeLiV1ujmX9nYK3MRM4R4rynjNeYbWN8GhRUewRaHzN4RQmxyJDlHPPtgOFvAy6QihK3efjRLTQN5QdU02uF19rlIbHOTTe2qBLp0zx5oEDrKCcz-5C6qxQPwraQA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Members of Benton County’s Disposal Site Advisory Committee (DSAC) met July 31 for an orientation and to review updated bylaws, with county staff and committee members emphasizing public access to meeting materials and next steps for overdue annual reports.

The meeting, led by Chair Ken Eklund, focused on committee roles, expectations and logistics. County Administrator Rachel MacKenny told the group she attended to review expectations and asked members to “come at the table with an open mind and committed to treating others with respect.” Solid waste program staff said they will work to make meeting materials more accessible online before future meetings.

The committee’s functions are defined in state law and county code and, as spelled out at the meeting, include reviewing siting and operation of the regional disposal site, providing a forum for public concerns, and preparing an annual report. Bailey Payne, Benton County’s solid waste program coordinator, said staff will continue to organize DSAC meetings, supply relevant information and compile required reports. Payne said materials and summaries will be made available on the county website; members also asked staff to post presentation files before future meetings when possible.

Longstanding committee business surfaced during introductions: the group has not completed annual reports for several years. Chair Ken Eklund and members said DSAC still lacks a finalized 2021 report and also owes 2022 and 2023 reports. Payne said he has drafted a 2022 report and will work with members to combine drafts and fill gaps; staff agreed to circulate the committee’s draft of the 2021 report to members after the meeting.

Committee members pressed staff to restore clearer public-facing procedures for submitting comments and documents. Eklund proposed website language telling residents how to submit written comments and where to send them; staff said they will post updated contact and submission instructions and determine a reasonable deadline for written materials to be included in meeting packets.

The group agreed to schedule regular DSAC meetings and to poll members about the best recurring day and time. Members also requested an on-site tour of Coffin Butte Landfill and nearby Pacific Region Compost; Republic Services representatives offered to organize a site visit in the fall. Staff said future meetings will include public comment periods and that DSAC or any resident can submit comments during the formal land use review process for the landfill expansion, once the county completes its application completeness check.

Speakers quoted in this article appeared during the July 31 DSAC meeting and include county staff and committee members. No formal votes or motions on ordinances or contracts were taken at this meeting.","At an orientation meeting July 31, members of the Disposal Site Advisory Committee reviewed bylaws and the committee’s responsibilities, raised concerns about meeting packets and public access to documents, and agreed staff will post materials and a draft 2021 annual report online.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Groundwater, PFAS and methane monitoring emerge as central concerns in Coffin Butte discussion

Republic Services details Coffin Butte operations, proposed smaller expansion and environmental investments

Benton County advisory panel reestablishes procedures, vows clearer public access to meeting materials