ADEM holds hearing on Arrowhead Landfill permit changes as residents raise odor, health and coal ash concerns

Uniontown, Ala. — The Alabama Department of Environmental Management on Nov. 18 held a joint public hearing in Uniontown to take comments on two proposed permit actions for Perry County Associates LLC’s Arrowhead Landfill: issuance of a major source operating permit (MSOP No. 107-0003) and a modification of the municipal solid waste landfill permit (No. 53-03).

Tom Burks, the department’s designated hearing officer, opened the meeting at Uniontown City Hall and described the record, deadlines and where application materials and the draft permits are available. He said the department posted hearing notices on its website and extended the public comment period; the department will accept written comments through 5:00 p.m. on Dec. 22, 2025.

John Robert Gill, an Environmental Engineering Specialist Senior in ADEM’s Air Division, told the hearing the permit modification would increase the landfill’s design capacity and make the facility subject to federal New Source Performance Standards for municipal solid waste landfills, with associated monitoring and reporting requirements. Gill said the department’s preliminary determination is that the facility, if it meets permit conditions, would not violate applicable air quality standards, and that ADEM can consider only air-quality–related comments in its decision.

Hunter Baker of ADEM’s Land Division summarized the proposed landfill permit modification (Permit 53-03), saying it includes a vertical expansion of previously approved landfill units, implementation of a landfill gas collection and control system, a proposed renewable gas plant and an updated operations plan. Baker said the applicant requested variances from portions of the ADM Administrative Code (including provisions identified in the hearing as 335-13-4-221B and 335-13-4-22C) that would allow steeper operating slopes and greater daily lift thickness than otherwise specified. The department made a preliminary determination that the modification would comply with applicable state and federal solid waste requirements.

Several residents presented oral testimony. Laura Washington, identifying herself as a long-time resident, said recurring landfill odors enter homes and vehicles and described health impacts for her family: "My son, who has actually had asthma, he's been sick for a long time." She also said local tap water is "dirty" and that her household has purchased bottled water.

Portia Shepherd, representing Black Belt Women Rising and speaking as a Uniontown resident, urged ADEM to reconsider expansion until outstanding concerns are addressed. Shepherd said the landfill "fundamentally changed the story of this landfill and the story of this community" after coal ash was placed near homes and churches, and urged stronger oversight. She cited complaint data and asked for enforceable, measurable odor standards, independent monitoring and a public dashboard. Shepherd told the hearing "Approximately 63 percent of unique complaints have not recorded corrective action," and questioned the need for expansion, quoting figures from the application that she said show the facility has substantial unused capacity (she quoted "80,336,343 yards of unused space" and stated "3,658,936 tons that are currently placed in the landfill"). Shepherd said those numbers suggest the expansion "is not being requested out of necessity" and called for a community relief fund, infrastructure investment and a seat for residents on environmental oversight bodies if expansion proceeds.

ADEM staff asked whether a company representative from Arrowhead wished to speak; none appeared. Hearing officer Burks said attendees who could not speak in person — including at least one registrant who could not enter the building — may submit written comments for the record. Burks closed the hearing and reiterated the public comment deadline of 5:00 p.m. Dec. 22, 2025; the department said it will consider all oral and written comments before making final permit determinations and will post responses and final actions to its e-file system and video to its YouTube channel.

The record for these proceedings includes ADEM’s Statement of Basis and the draft permits posted on Oct. 10, 2025, and notice of the comment-period extension posted Oct. 27, 2025. The department emphasized that its review focuses on whether the permit application satisfies applicable environmental statutes and regulations and on air- and solid-waste–related permit requirements, not zoning or unrelated community issues.