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Commission hears consultant: leachate leaving Lamco landfill; camera inspection ordered
Summary
A county-hired consultant said leachate was reaching stormwater and recommended an immediate camera inspection to show whether a crushed collection pipe is restricting flow; the commission directed staff to arrange inspection and to request QC reports and weekly monitoring documents from the contractor and consultants.
Chris Klein, a consulting engineer retained to review landfill operations, told the Loudon County Commission that sampling confirmed leachate was present where it should not be and that, in his engineering opinion, "leachate was leaving the site." He said samplers found higher conductivity and elevated ammonia concentrations in stormwater than at the leachate outlet, and that pumps and hoses were seen directing leachate toward the stormwater outfall.
Klein said inspectors found multiple areas of leaking leachate and evidence of a collapsed or pinched connection in the leachate collection system that appears to be restricting flow. The March 2024 camera scoping and later closed-circuit footage showed what Klein described as a "pinched" or collapsed black coupling where a PVC section meets a slotted pipe inside Module A. Klein recommended excavation to inspect and repair the crushed segment, saying slip-lining and grouting may not fix the underlying collapse and could create a new bottleneck.
During the workshop, County staff and commissioners described several problems they want resolved: the apparent disconnection between parts of the leachate collection system and the stormwater system; temporary pumps that were later turned off (after county consultants arrived), which they say stopped flow into the stormwater pond; and gaps in on-site quality-assurance (QA/CQA) presence during the period of concern. A speaker who identified himself as Brian Byers said he was "trying to figure out what this long term permanent solution is gonna be for the Lamco" and raised concern about mud and debris washing into streams.
Commission staff reported that Republic (the landfill operator) provided a corrective-action plan and other reports but that those documents did not fully match the observed field conditions. A staff member said she found the most recent submittal "inadequate" and that contract negotiations will incorporate unresolved obligations and remedies. Commissioners discussed potential escalation to the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC) if the county and operator cannot reach an acceptable plan.
The commission directed several immediate steps: have consultant Chris Klein arrange a camera inspection of the suspect pipe and provide a site viewing for county staff and commissioners; request Promise Engineering's QA/CQA reports for the weeks around the incident and then weekly thereafter; confirm whether Republic has already slip-lined the pipe and, if so, obtain before-and-after camera footage; and, if satisfactory documentation is not produced, refer the matter to TDEC. Commissioners also indicated the county may seek contract remedies or, if necessary, legal relief to resolve continuing compliance and liability concerns.
Klein and county staff discussed technical tradeoffs. Klein said excavation to visually confirm the condition of the collapsed coupling is the most definitive option in his view, while the operator's proposed repair—slip-lining the pipe and pressure-grouting the void—could mask the problem and reduce the pipe’s capacity. Klein described the leachate-collection system as "basically like a French drain" and warned that if a constricted segment remains, leachate will "fill up" and emerge elsewhere.
Staff also reviewed groundwater-monitoring and corrective-action materials submitted by the operator. The groundwater-monitoring plan under review includes enhanced (assessment) monitoring for constituents such as nitrates and certain metals; staff said the county will confirm notification thresholds and mapping of nearby private wells. Commissioners emphasized the need to reduce the likelihood of leachate reaching groundwater because long-term monitoring and remediation can be costly.
The county will attempt to coordinate camera inspection logistics with the operator and on-site contractors. County staff said they expect to receive camera footage and third-party QA reports and will circulate those materials to commissioners; they asked the operator to cover the cost if the inspection demonstrates noncompliance by the operator. If the camera inspection and documentation do not substantiate an adequate corrective plan, staff said they will promptly involve TDEC and may pursue contractual or legal remedies.
Why it matters: leachate that leaves a landfill can carry contaminants into surface water or groundwater, triggering regulatory responses and long-term monitoring obligations. Commissioners characterized the situation as unresolved and said they will press for documentation, inspections and, if necessary, enforcement to limit environmental and financial exposure.
