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Environmental groups tell Albany council concerns about Coffin Butte expansion: methane leaks, monitoring gaps and leachate risks
Summary
Beyond Toxics and Valley Neighbors presented data claiming repeated methane leaks at Coffin Butte, substantial monitoring exemptions (76% average in 2024, 92% in Q4), 40 million gallons of leachate/year and disputed economic benefit claims; speakers urged the council to consider regional alternatives and requested access to monitoring and well reports.
Environmental advocates told the Albany City Council the proposed Coffin Butte landfill expansion raises air‑quality and water‑quality concerns that will affect nearby communities and regional waste planning.
Mason Levitt of Beyond Toxics and Mark Yeager of Valley Neighbors for Environmental Quality and Safety framed the expansion as a Benton County land‑use decision but said Albany should consider the local public‑health and environmental consequences. Levitt cited CarbonMapper imagery and said the group documented methane plumes at Coffin Butte on 12 flights over two years. "100% of the time, they have found one or more massive leaks of methane happening…
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