Solid Waste Management Program
Construction Schedule at Bridgeton Sanitary Landfill
Home | Site Background | Air Sampling | Construction Schedule | Odors |
| Reinforced Concrete Pipes | Subsurface Smoldering Event | West Lake Landfill | Overview
Updated May 20, 2013
Bridgeton Sanitary Landfill sits in a uniquely urban environment adjacent to an international airport and surrounded by the interstate highway system and includes both residential subdivisions and commercial properties. The department has been working with Republic Services to implement alternatives that take into consideration what is less disruptive to residences and businesses surrounding the landfill. As Republic Services implements these alternatives, they have provided the following information about construction activites.
Upcoming Construction
Beginning on May 20, weather dependent, and continuing through June 14, Republic Services will start the reinforced concrete pipe (RCP) abandonment and installation of 25 perimeter collection sumps, a part of the new interim capping system. Republic Services is providing a Temporary Housing Program for local residents living near the Bridgeton Landfill during the RCP construction. For information about Temporary Housing, please visit the Bridgeton Landfill website at: http://www.bridgetonlandfill.com/ and select the option for Breaking News and Updates.
Air monitoring and air sampling by the Department of Natural Resources will increase during this period of heavy construction. The department’s contractor will conduct four-hour air samplings at locations outside the permitted boundary of the landfill during each RCP’s abandonment. (A total of six sampling events.) A map will be generated each day samples are collected reflecting locations based upon weather condition. These events include sampling for VOCs, reduced sulfur compounds and aldehydes. Daily monitoring events will continue to occur on a scheduled path twice per day and will be expanded to include additional monitoring cycles at downwind locations during construction activity. During the week of May 29, a comprehensive sampling event is planned. Additionally, department staff will be on-site and available to collect leachate, water or other samples, as might be needed during the period construction work is under way.
View a map showing all the areas on the landfill with excavation either abandonment of an RCP or the addition of a perimeter collection sump.
Reinforced Concrete Pipes (leachate collection wells). The department has created a Reinforced Concrete Pipes Web page to provide additional information on this topic.
Temporary Cap and Cap Integrity System
On March 25, 2013, Bridgeton/Republic submitted to the department a plan to install a synthetic cap system over the entire South Quarry to address odors. As a part of installing this cap system, Bridgeton/Republic will install 25 perimeter collection sumps and abandon or close 6 reinforced concrete pipes which were part of the landfill’s old leachate management system. Odors are expected to increase during this construction activity and diminish after completion. As of May 17, the synthetic cap and cap integrity system have been approved by the Department of Natural Resources. Construction of the cap and related system can begin as RCPs are abandoned and perimeter collection sumps are put into place.
The following are links to the final plans, narrative and approval letters related to the synthetic cap system:
- Temporary Cap and Cap Integrity System-Plan Narrative, revised May 10, 2013.
- Engineering Plans for the Temporary Cap and Cap Integrity System, revised May 2013.
- Temporary Cap and Cap Integrity System Construction Quality Assurance Plan, revised May 7, 2013.
- Department of Natural Resources Approval of Temporary Cap and Cap Integrity System, May 17, 2013.
- Department of Natural Resources Approval of Temporary Cap Integrity Construction Quality Assurance Plan, May 17, 2013.
Storm Water Management Design Report
- Bridgeton Landfill – Storm Water Management Design Report submitted by Cornerstone Environmental Group LLC. for Bridgeton/Republic (sub. 4/13 rev. 5/13)
- Bridgeton response to Department comments on Bridgeton Landfill – Storm Water Management Design Report. (4/23/13)
- Department of Natural Resources comments on Bridgeton Landfill – Storm Water Management Design Report. (4/22/13)
- Department of Natural Resources approval letter for the Bridgeton Landfill – Storm Water Management Design Report (5/7/13)
Republic's Completed Construction
Gas Extraction Wells 
On June 20, 2012, Bridgeton Sanitary Landfill submitted a request to the department for modifications to their gas collection and control system. On July 11, 2012, the Department of Natural Resources issued a letter to Bridgeton Sanitary Landfill providing comments on the landfill’s June 20 submittal and providing comments based upon a visit to the landfill on June 14 where observations were made as to the physical changes at the landfill, the status of the subsurface smoldering event, and the need for gas system expansion, gas migration and odor control. (Photo of gas extraction well.)
SCS Engineers submitted for Bridgeton Landfill on Aug. 3, 2012 responses to the comments from the department regarding the proposed expansion to the landfill gas collection and control system. On Aug. 14, Bridgeton Landfill submitted a request for a change to a submitted letter modification requesting expansion of the gas monitoring probe network. On Aug. 22, department staff once again visited the landfill observing continued physical conditions, changes to infrastructure and met with landfill staff to move forward on corrective actions to control the subsurface smoldering event including odors. On Aug. 30, 2012, the department approved the Bridgeton revised request for modification to the gas monitoring probe permit. After Bridgeton provided responses to the department’s other comments by way of an Oct. 3, 2012 letter, the modification to the gas extraction system at the Bridgeton Sanitary Landfill with certain conditions was approved.
(Photos below are a rig drilling a gas extraction well.)
May 11, 2013 - Republic Services performed maintenance on gas extraction well (GEW72) and odors were expected to increase from approximately 9:30 a.m. until 1 p.m.
May 7, 2013– The department received calls from the public on May 7 concerning increased odors south of the landfill property. Weather conditions, low winds and high barometric pressure, resulted in little air movement in the area. Republic Services also indicated they completed some work on a leachate collection well.
May 1, 2013 - Republic Services performed some maintenance on gas extraction well (GEW74) and odors were expected to increase from approximately 9:30 a.m. until 1 p.m.
April 25, 2013 - Republic Services performed some maintenance on a perimeter gas extraction well (PEW37) and odors were expected to increase from approximately 10:30 a.m. until 2 p.m.
April 9, 2013–Republic Services installed a total of 40 gas extraction wells. Bridgeton/Republic are operating the wells to decrease the amount of landfill gas and associated odors escaping to the atmosphere.
March 23, 2013 -- Odors were elevated while Republic Services drilled Gas Extraction Well, GEW64A.
March 21, 2013 -- During the drilling of Gas Extraction Well 88, elevated odors have resulted as a pocket of landfill gas and steam was encountered. The department’s AreaRae equipment continues to collect data related to odors.
March 15, 2013 – During drilling of gas extraction well, or GEW 71B, elevated odors have resulted as a pocket of landfill gas and steam was encountered during the drilling operation. The department’s AreaRae equipment continues to collect data related to odors.
March 11, 2013 – During the drilling of gas extraction well, or GEW 58, elevated odors resulted when a pocket of landfill gas and steam was encountered during the drilling operation. The department’s AreaRae air monitoring equipment is continuing to collect data related to odors.
Feb. 15, 2013 - During installation of a gas extraction well, significant odors were created resulting in several odor concerns. As a result, the department collected air samples that evening. Analysis is provided on the Air Sampling page.
(Photo of the new enclosed flares and other gas collection and control system.)
Interceptor Plan
Bridgton/Republic began construction on the interceptor plan beginning the week of Jan. 21, 2013 and completed the plan the first week in March to minimize movement of subsurface heat and to further address odors. Operation of enhanced gas interceptor wells began on April 8, 2013. The interceptor plan creates a low pressure area vacuum curtain or “wall” that will allow landfill gas to be controlled, so it can be safely destructed in the current landfill gas collection and control system to reduce heat from the subsurface smoldering event. (See map detailing locations of interceptor wells and TMPs.) View the department's Solid Waste Management Program’s approval letter for the interceptor plan. In response to the department’s request, Bridgeton/Republic has expanded the interceptor and temperature monitoring probe plan.
Within 45 days of the entry of the First Agreed Upon Order of Preliminary Injunction signed on May 13, 2013, Bridgeton Landfill is required to submit a North Quarry Contingency Plan, Part 1, which is required to include the following:
- Establishment of trigger criteria for installation of additional Temperature Monitoring Probes in the North Quarry, along with a plan and schedule for installation, if triggered;
- Establishment of trigger criteria for installing interceptor wells within the North Quarry to control further migration of the subsurface smoldering event, along with a schedule for such well installation, if triggered, and
- Establishment of trigger criteria for capping the North Quarry with an EVOH geomembrane cap, along with a schedule for such capping, if triggered.
(Photos above and beside are gas interceptor wells.)
(Photo of Department of Natural Resources' staff evaluating gas interceptor wells.)
Temperature Monitoring Probes
The First Agreed Upon Order of Preliminary Injunction signed on May 13, 2013 provides that the department may require the installation of additional temperature monitoring probes or alternative monitoring equipment, along with expanded settlement monitoring. (See Subsurface Smoldering Event website to learn more about temperatures recorded by the probes.)
April 8-9, 2013 – Republic Services anticipates some increase in odors as they abandon the site planned for temperature monitoring probe #15. Republic Services was unable to complete installation of this temperature monitoring probe as the thermocouples could not be set due to pressure in this area of the waste mass.
April 9, 2013 – Republic Services reported five additional temperature monitoring probes are completed and are monitoring temperatures in the waste mass within the neck between the south and north quarries. As noted above, temperature monitoring probe #15 was not installed. 
Leachate Line, Leachate Collection Wells and Leachate Management System
May 7, 2013 - The department received calls from the public concerning increased odors south of the landfill property. Weather conditions, low winds and high barometric pressure, resulted in little air movement in the area. Republic Services indicated they completed some work being on a leachate collection well. (Photo to the right: Department staff evaluating extent of leachate flow.)
Jan. 14, 2013 - Bridgeton/Republic reported a leachate line had broken resulting in an immediate increase in odors and associated complaints. Parts to repair the broken section of line took nearly one and one half weeks to obtain and for the complete repair to occur. This broken line resulted in an immediate increase in odors and associated complaints. The line has been repaired.
Feb. 2, 2013 - A leachate release was discovered resulting from a pipe becoming disconnected from the landfill’s leachate collection system. Leachate samples were collected by department staff and by Republic’s contractor for analysis to determine if further action is necessary.
Ongoing - Bridgeton/Republic began shipping a portion of the leachate generated at the facility to an off-site service provider for management due to a compliance order from the Metropolitan Sewer District. On Jan. 24, 2013, their off-site service provider notified Bridgeton/Republic the leachate shipments had been determined to exceed the limit for benzene. Bridgeton/Republic is enhancing pretreatment of the leachate to eventually meet Metropolitan Sewer District discharge standards. Until such time, off-site disposal of leachate has resulted in an increase in heavy truck traffic around the landfill property. Bridgeton/Republic began a limited discharge to the Metropolitan Sewer District during the last week in April. Bridgeton/Republic continues working with the Department of Natural Resources, the Metropolitan Sewer District and various contractors to resolve outstanding issues with disposal of leachate fromt the facility.
Leachate Management System
The Department of Natural Resources approved the construction of a 316,000 gallon leachate tank on March 20, 2013 and on April 23, approved the Bridgeton Landfill Leachate Tank and Transport Disposal plan to assist the landfill with proper management and disposal of leachate generated at their facility. The following documents relate to that approval:
- Bridgeton Landfill Leachate Tank and Transport Disposal Plan submitted by Civil and Environmental Consultants, Inc. for Bridgeton/Republic. (3/28/13)
- Civil and Environmental Consultants Inc. Response for Bridgeton/Republic to Department Comments on Leachate Tank and Transport Disposal Plan. (4/17/13)
- Department of Natural Resources approval letter for the Bridgeton Landfill – Leachate Tank and Transport Disposal. (4/23/13)
- Attachment A - Comments on supplemental plan sheets in Attachment D of March 28, 2013 submittal.
- Attachment B – Minimum Information Expected in a Leachate Management Plan.
Soil, Flexible Membrane Liner and Synthetic Cap System
Ongoing - Bridgeton/Republic continues to add soil and black flexible membrane liner to the cap on an as needed basis to assist in limiting odors and to ensure effective stormwater drainage.
Operation, Monitoring and Maintenance Plan
Ongoing - Bridgeton/Republic is finalizing an operation, monitoring and maintenance plan for Bridgeton to ensure all engineering controls such as gas extraction wells, leachate drains, pumps, temporary liner, flares and the landfill cap will continue to control leachate, gas and odors generated by the reaction/fire. The plan will remain in place until the reaction/fire has run its course and the entire impacted area may have a final cap put into place.
Note: The operation, monitoring and maintenance plan submitted by Bridgeton/Republic will be made available on this webpage, when it is in final form.
The Department is and will continue to require additional work, whether for maintenance or in an emergency, in order to ensure Republic's return to compliance with Missouri environmental laws as soon as possible. Department approval of plans submitted by Republic for ongoing management of the subsurface smoldering event does not excuse Republic's violations of Missouri environmental laws.
