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SPSA outlines Cell 7 construction, permit changes and public hearing dates
Summary
SPSA staff updated the board on Cell 7 construction, mining of Cells 5 and 6, and permit modifications; DEQ temporary authorization issued in January expires July 9 and SPSA scheduled public hearings July 2 (regional plan) and July 8 (permit modification). Staff said dredged spoils from the Midtown Tunnel were encountered and are being sampled.
SPSA staff told the board on June 24 that work on landfill Cell 7 and related mining at Cells 5 and 6 is proceeding and that several regulatory milestones and public hearings are imminent.
The authority said the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) issued a 180-day temporary authorization in January to allow design changes to Cell 7 and mining of benches on Cells 5 and 6; that authorization is set to expire July 9 and SPSA has requested an extension. Staff announced two public hearings: July 2 for proposed changes to the regional solid waste management plan and July 8 for modifications to solid waste permit number 417. DEQ will respond after the public hearings, staff said.
During mining work, crews found that some areas contain dredged Midtown Tunnel spoils (large volumes of clean fill rather than trash). Staff said sampling is underway to verify the material is suitable for reuse. "We're sampling it now to make sure we've taken samples of this material to make sure that it's clean for that very reason," staff said.
Staff explained the technical construction sequence for Cell 7, including placement of a geocomposite drainage layer, 40-mil HDPE liner, geosynthetic clay liner, 60-mil geomembrane and protective sand/infiltration layers; they also described leachate and gas monitoring systems and the importance of liner integrity and leachate management.
Why it matters: the permit changes and mining extend available landfill airspace through 2028 (staff estimated capacity at Cells 5 and 6 through 2028 if modifications are approved) and public hearings will allow DEQ and the public to review the changes. Sampling results from dredged spoils will determine reuse or require alternative management.
Next steps: public hearings on July 2 and July 8, continuing sampling of dredged material, and awaiting DEQ responses to permit modification requests.
