The Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly Finance Committee heard detailed staff briefings Oct. 14 on funding and studies tied to the Central Peninsula Landfill, including an appropriation of U.S. Treasury Local Assistance and Tribal Consistency funds, a staff request for a sole-source Phase 1 feasibility evaluation for a Class I underground injection control well, and replacement and repurposing work on landfill equipment.

Committee members were told the US Treasury funds in the ordinance are intended for three components: replacing the existing sheepsfoot compactor, demolishing the existing baler, and funding a design effort to redesign the baler facility. The committee also debated a resolution authorizing a sole-source award to SCS Engineers for an expanded feasibility study of deep-well injection of landfill leachate.

The work outlined is meant to address long-term leachate disposal and landfill operations. "These funds are to be spent on... replacing the existing, sheepsfoot compactor," borough staff said, adding the funds also cover demolition of the baler and a redesign study of the baler facility. On the potential injection well, borough staff said an initial screening study exists and the proposed Phase 1 work would review available local information to better define feasibility and likely project costs.

Mr. Hedges, speaking for borough staff, described the SCS Engineers engagement as an expansion of work already done. "This project started out with a minor investigation into the feasibility associated with injection oil, at Central Peninsula Landfill," he said. He added the firm has experience with municipal solid-waste facilities and that borough staff want them to analyze publicly available local information "that could better refine that feasibility and scope" for a potential larger project.

Assembly members sought operational and timing details. When asked about when a baler would be back in service, Mr. Hedges said the timeline depends on how the borough configures the space and that staff were seeking quotes on equipment. "We don't have that timeline right now because... how we configure that space is part of this process," he said. He added the borough expected to receive quotes to move a baler they had purchased from another location "before the end of the week."

Members also pressed on costs cited during discussion. One assembly member flagged the apparent cost estimates: roughly $1.2 million for a compactor and about $450,000 for baler removal and reconfiguration. Staff acknowledged those numbers were public-facing estimates and said they expect the competitive bidding process to provide final pricing.

Committee members raised environmental and permitting questions about injection wells. Mr. Dunn asked whether the study would address environmental impacts or just outline permitting steps. Borough staff replied that the study would expand on recommendations tied to federal regulations and the permitting process, which evaluates environmental requirements. The mayor added that permitting will specify required studies and that injection is identified in agency literature as a preferred method of leachate disposal. "The permitting spells out what's required for the studies as well," the mayor said.

The committee also discussed alternatives and related landfill matters. Mr. Hedges said the borough previously pursued a leachate concentrator project but had concluded injection is the preferred method; the concentrator would remain as a fallback. On landfill gas, Mr. Hedges said a recent study found the landfill currently lacks sufficient gas production to support methane-to-energy projects for the foreseeable future.

At the committee meeting these items were presented on the consent agenda. The ordinance appropriating U.S. Treasury local assistance and tribal consistency funds and the sole-source resolution authorizing SCS Engineers for the Phase 1 evaluation were introduced and discussed; no committee vote was recorded in the finance-committee transcript.

The assembly will consider these items further as they move through the borough's formal agenda process and as required permitting and procurement steps proceed.