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Council authorizes intrusive testing at Waterman Landfill after methane exceedances
Summary
The council unanimously approved a contract to perform trenching and borings at the former Waterman Landfill to identify the landfill footprint and investigate methane "hot" readings detected during monitoring.
The San Bernardino City Council unanimously authorized city staff to proceed with intrusive testing at the former Waterman Landfill after staff told the council that methane monitoring probes had registered readings exceeding regulatory standards.
Director Marrow (city staff) told the council the 19'acre site had been operated as a municipal landfill between approximately 1950 and 1960 and that the city later assumed monitoring responsibility. The city operates a methane collection system at the site and uses the captured gas to power a generator. According to Marrow, monitoring probes began showing elevated methane readings in 2017, and the local enforcement agency, the San Bernardino County Department of Environmental Health, issued a notice of violation directing the city to take further action.
"They feel that there may have been additional waste outside of what we've considered the historic boundaries," Marrow said, explaining why the agency asked the city to perform additional monitoring and intrusive site work, including trenching and boring to verify the landfill footprint and characterize conditions that could be producing the hot probe.
Council member Ortiz moved to approve the agreement to perform the investigative work; the motion was seconded and carried in a unanimous vote. Council members recorded their votes in roll call and staff indicated the work will proceed to locate the landfill footprint and better characterize methane concentrations.
Why this matters: Elevated methane readings near the landfill can present regulatory and environmental risks; locating the full waste footprint is a prerequisite to determining any required remediation and ensuring public safety and compliance with county environmental oversight.
What's next: The approved agreement funds trenching and borings to determine whether waste extends beyond the historic footprint; staff will report findings to the local enforcement agency and return to the council as required by environmental review or remediation timelines.
