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County plans survey and TRC review to extend landfill life; board seeks timeline for follow‑up work session
Summary
Supervisors authorized a consultant survey to determine available vertical capacity at county landfill cells, with instructions to forward survey results to engineering firm TRC so staff can estimate additional operating years and closure needs. The board requested a prompt work session once survey data are available.
At the Aug. 14, 2017 work session the board discussed the county landfill’s remaining capacity and directed staff to contract for a topographic/elevation survey of existing cells to estimate how much additional volume could be used under regulatory caps.
County staff said a vendor will stake and measure the highest permissible elevation for each cell and report how many additional years of capacity remain if the county raises fill to that elevation. A staff member said the cost estimate for the survey was modest (about $3,300) and that the survey results should be provided to TRC (an engineering firm) for follow‑up engineering and closure cost analysis.
Why it matters
Accurate cell capacity estimates affect closure planning, post‑closure financial assurance and the need to identify new disposal sites or alternatives. In prior years the county has funded cell construction and closure reserves; staff said known variances in historical compaction or differential settlement can reduce expected longevity and that a field survey will provide a data‑driven longevity estimate.
Next steps
Staff will commission the survey, forward results to TRC for analysis, and seek a work session with supervisors to review TRC’s findings and any recommended options (e.g., additional cell construction, acquisition of new landfill property, or operational changes). Board members emphasized the need to pace this work so staff and consultants can return with clear options and cost estimates.
