Compendium of ordinances for groundwater protection

Abstract

(ORRLF) is a solid waste operation that receives and disposes of sanitary/industrial, construction/demolition and classified, special waste; and spoil materials types of waste generated at the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Oak Ridge facilities. ETTP is the primary generator; however, the landfill accepts waste from Y-12 National Security Complex (Y-12), Oak Ridge National Laboratory and other DOE prime contractors in the Oak Ridge area. ORRLF's mission is to receive nonhazardous, non-radioactive, and non-Resource Conservation and Recovery Act of 1976 (RCRA)-regulated solid wastes. Approved operations include receiving, compacting, and covering wastes; leachate management, site drainage; erosion control and prevention, inspections, maintenance and recording keeping. The Oak Ridge Reservation has three separate State of Tennessee-permitted active landfills (Landfill IV, Landfill V, and Landfill VII) that meet different disposal needs -- classified industrial waste, industrial waste that includes office trash and cafeteria waste, and construction and demolition debris,. As with a typical landfill, strategic waste placement and covering involves moving a lot of soil, usually resulting in large areas of exposed land. After increased sediment was noted in streams following heavy rains, a concerted erosion prevention and sediment control effort began in 2017. While not uncommon for landfills, the ORRLF staff knew they could do better in controlling sediment. In response, the ORRLF staff developed an approach of aggressive revegetation, ditch improvements and other erosion controls. Staff developed a list of all the areas that needed the most attention and requested resources. UCOR management arranged funding for needed improvements. The oldest of the three landfills is Industrial Landfill IV, which opened in 1989 and has an expected remaining 60 years of life. Therefore, how the landfills are maintained/managed today directly affects the compliance posture, the capacity, and the infrastructure in the future. A systematic, aggressive and multi-pronged approach was taken to address the major concerns first, then continue with longer-term, and/or lower priority projects. Buy-in was obtained from both craft and supervision, resulting in approaches like 'Ditch of the Month'. In addition, management support at the highest levels has provided resources and recognition that further fuels progress. After working on the site for the past year, what used to be exposed brown hills looks more like a golf course now. Now that the grass is established and other erosion controls are in place, the amount of sediment leaving the site has been reduced, and the appearance of the landfills is improved. Vegetation dissipates the kinetic energy from rain droplets while the root system helps hold the soil in place, and wire-reinforced silt fences and straw wattles have greatly improved erosion control. Improved ditches reduce the runoff velocities allowing sediments to fall out of suspension in the stormwater before they reach the receiving waters, and structures are in place to let finer sediment settle in ponds rather than going downstream. In addition, the project has added more stone to roadways to minimize tracking dirt down the road as an average of 20 to 40 trucks per day enter and leave the site. Ongoing landfill erosion and sediment control must be funded and maintained continually. The lack of attention to either resource will negatively affect the condition of the landfill fairly quickly. Constant compliance commitment is necessary to ensure protection to the environment, the operator/workers and the public. Operations must include sediment control, pond maintenance and clean out, road maintenance and construction, erosion prevention, seeps repair, leachate management, landfill expansion, mowing and grounds upkeep and much more. Knowledgeable/experience staff is also crucial. Knowing how to build lifts, create leachate drainage windows, respond to high rains events, compact waste will impact operations today and future operations into the closure / post closure periods. (author)