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Committee presses for clarity on methane capture, Title V permit and EPA document request
Summary
DSAC members and public commenters raised questions about landfill gas capture, the site’s Title V air permit, and a recent EPA document request. Committee members asked Republic Services and county staff for monitoring data and for clarity about emissions and how they are tracked.
Disposal Site Advisory Committee members and public commenters pressed for more data on landfill gas production and management, the status of the Coffin Butte landfill’s Title V air quality permit and recent EPA requests for documents.
Committee members recounted a recent presentation about on‑site gas engines and noted plans to retire older internal combustion engines and consider renewable natural gas (RNG) pathways that would scrub and inject landfill gas into a regional pipeline. Members said these operational changes could alter the volume of gas captured or routed for beneficial use.
Several speakers requested data on methane capture and emissions. Committee members asked whether the site is a “super emitter,” how much gas is being produced vs. captured, and how monitoring accounts for potential fugitive losses. DSAC member Chuck and others identified the Title V air permit review as connected to these questions; staff said the site’s Title V permit had not been reexamined since about February 2015 and that rescheduled DEQ hearings and delayed permitting review were a concern.
Public commenter Debbie Palmer urged NRAC and DSAC to recognize that conditions of approval represent an affirmative approval and warned that, historically, conditions for the facility had not been enforced. Republic Services’ operations staff described the odor complaint response process, said field crews investigate complaints when they have adequate information, and outlined plans to improve the public complaint form and website access to allow more immediate responses.
Ending: DSAC agreed to collect specific methane and emissions questions into the shared working document and to request gas‑capture and Title V permit documents from county staff and Republic’s consultants for technical review.
