Board renews major amendment for CSI Bennett facility with operating conditions and 10-year expiration

The Adams County Board of County Commissioners on April 15 approved a major amendment to the Certificate of Designation for Conservation Services Inc.’s Bennett asbestos and nonhazardous disposal facility (case EXG2024-2), imposing operating conditions and setting a 10-year permit expiration.

Nick Eagleson, planner with the county’s community and economic development department, summarized the amendment request: extending the facility’s operating approvals, redesignating a planned municipal-solid-waste cell to an industrial-solid-waste cell, accepting technologically enhanced naturally occurring radioactive material (T-NORM) below state administrative-release levels per Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) rules, and closing the biobed treatment units.

Tom Schweitzer, WM (Waste Management) engineering manager for Colorado, said CSI has operated at the site since 1989 and provided technical detail about the facility’s containment systems, environmental monitoring and staffing. “Environmental monitoring results show no releases from the landfill and demonstrate the facility’s compliance with Colorado solid waste environmental protection standards,” Schweitzer said. He said CSI estimates 75–100 years of remaining capacity within the permitted boundary but requested a longer permit term to allow capital investment decisions; the company asked for a 35-year term.

Staff and the Planning Commission discussed several operational limits. Staff recommended a 10-year expiration and a wind-speed threshold that would require immediate stoppage of material-handling activities at a sustained 25 miles per hour or gusts above 35 mph, with documentation in quarterly reports. The applicant asked the board to adopt Planning Commission language allowing a higher threshold (the applicant proposed 45 mph; the state regulation reads 40 mph sustained/55 mph gust for facilities that accept municipal solid waste). Planning Commission had recommended a 20-year term and a 45-mph closure threshold; staff recommended the more conservative 10-year term and the 25/35 mph operational threshold for material handling.

The county’s proposed conditions require the operator to repair and maintain the East 80 Eighth Avenue entrance within three months, to maintain records of complaints and wind-related shutdowns, to install white-noise backup alarms on equipment, and to ensure waste acceptance follows CDPHE and county EDOP standards. The county also incorporated CDPHE’s February 27, 2025 letter as binding conditions. Staff noted the applicant agreed to the staff-recommended 5 p.m. Saturday closing time (the applicant had sought 7 p.m.).

Public comment included residents who said they experience dust and requested clearer enforcement and monitoring. Royce Graham, a nearby resident, described dust on local roads and asked whether air and water monitoring results were publicly accessible. County environmental staff said groundwater and monitoring results are submitted jointly to the county and to CDPHE and that the state maintains a searchable record system. Two employees spoke in support of CSI, noting employment and local contributions.

After discussion, Commissioner Odorizio moved to approve the amendment as recommended by staff with 11 findings, one condition precedent, 18 conditions and two notes. The motion passed 5–0.

Approval requires the operator to comply with the county’s EDOP, maintain required monitoring and reporting, and meet closure and stormwater permit obligations. Staff retained enforcement language that failure to comply could prompt a show-cause hearing and potential permit revocation.

Planning staff and public-health personnel said routine proactive county inspections of landfill facilities occur quarterly, and CDPHE’s compliance inspections occur at least semiannually; the county indicated it will continue to coordinate inspections and respond to neighborhood complaints.