ADEM holds public hearing on proposed renewal and expansion of Dothan Sanitary Landfill permit

DOTHAN, Ala. — The Alabama Department of Environmental Management held a public hearing May 22 on a proposed renewal and modification of the municipal solid waste landfill permit for the City of Dothan Sanitary Landfill, permit No. 35-06. The draft permit would expand the facility to 506.67 acres, increase the municipal solid waste (MSW) disposal area to 74.1 acres and the construction-and-demolition (C&D) disposal area to 14.1 acres; the permit would allow a maximum average daily disposal of 400 tons.

ADEM hearing officer Tom Burks opened the session at the Dothan Civic Center and said the department had made a preliminary determination that the proposed renewal and modification "would be in compliance with the applicable state and federal solid waste disposal requirements, and thus, protective of public health and the environment," and that ADEM will consider all oral and written comments before making a final decision. Isabel Bella, speaking on behalf of ADEM's land-division staff, reviewed key draft-permit conditions including a 10-year permit term, a composite liner and leachate collection system, semiannual groundwater monitoring and quarterly explosive-gas monitoring.

Why it matters: Neighbors and their attorney told the department they oppose expansion and…