Albany residents and Republic Services clash over proposed Coffin Butte landfill expansion

Republic Services representatives told the Albany City Council on Sept. 24 that a proposed expansion at Coffin Butte would be 50% smaller than their original request, would not close Coffin Butte Road, and would provide about seven more years of regional disposal capacity while communities develop a solid-waste plan. "We reduced the size of the expansion area by 50%," the company said during a 40-minute presentation to the council.

The company’s municipal manager, Julie Jackson, and environmental manager, Paul Coster, described engineering controls at the site: three times the typical number of gas collection wells, a dual liner and leak-detection system, an enclosed flare installed to replace visible open flames, and 35 groundwater-monitoring wells. Coster said the operation has invested millions in wells and gas collection and that "we…