PA Environment Digest Blog: DEP Issued Air Quality Permit For Leachate Evaporation System At Westmoreland Landfill With Special Radiation Monitoring Due To The Disposal Of Shale Gas Drilling Waste

On January 10, the Department of Environmental Protection announced it has authorized an Air Quality Plan Approval to allow an onsite leachate treatment and evaporation system to be installed at Westmoreland Sanitary Landfill, located in Rostraver Township, Westmoreland County.

[This is one of a series of actions DEP has taken related to leachate generated in part by shale gas drilling waste deposited in the landfill and the refusal of the Belle Vernon Municipal Authority to accept the leachate for treatment because the leachate was “upsetting” the wastewater treatment process. Click Here for more.]

Leachate is moisture which is produced by waste itself and stormwater that infiltrates the landfill’s waste. Leachate from landfills must be treated onsite or transported to a separate treatment facility.

Evaporating liquid leachate at Westmoreland Sanitary Landfill would eliminate risks of spills, impacts, and traffic associated with trucking leachate offsite for disposal, according to DEP.

The air quality plan approval establishes emissions limitations and monitoring requirements.

DEP is currently reviewing a waste permit modification application, which, if approved, would authorize the use of the evaporator system for the treatment of the landfill’s leachate.

Both the plan approval and waste permit modification must be obtained prior to operation.

“DEP carefully and thoroughly reviewed the application while also considering feedback from the public,” said DEP Southwest Regional Director Jim Miller. “This authorization meets or exceeds the air quality regulations and includes a number of safeguards and conditions to be protective of public health and the environment.”

The approved leachate treatment and evaporation system includes extensive pre-treatment of the leachate.

The evaporator will include a three-stage demisting filtration system with a 99% removal efficiency of filterable particulate matter.

The air quality plan approval also includes numerous measures to monitor pollutants that may be emitted through the evaporation process and/or present in the leachate and assure compliance with emission limitations.

Monitoring Radiation Risk

Modeling and calculations using accepted scientific methods show any radionuclides emitted into the air will not pose a health risk.

Radiation monitors will be placed in six onsite locations and will measure 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and be analyzed regularly, DEP explained.

DEP explained how the radiation monitors will work in the Comment/Response Document [page 9] associated with the Air Quality Permit--

Thermoluminescent dosimeter radiation [TLDs] measurement devices will be maintained at six locations, measuring 100% of the time. “The devices measure the radiation exposure a person would receive while occupying the area.”

“They [TLDs] will be analyzed quarterly [every three months] where the results will be compared against the Pennsylvania gamma exposure limits to members of the public.”

In addition to the six TLDs locations, onsite radiation monitors will run continuously 24 hours a day, 7 days a week regardless of operation of the evaporator. [page 11]

“Perimeter monitor filters will be changed out on a weekly basis and analyzed for total alpha and total beta/gamma radiation. Alpha and beta/gamma are associated with the decay of Radium-226 and Radium-228.

“The weekly results of the filter analysis will be compared against the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) air discharge limits for Radium-226 and Radium-228.”

The plan approval also requires that a third-party conduct an audit inspection of the leachate pre-treatment and evaporation system every 12 months.

Audits would include a full system inspection, cleaning, instrument calibration, training of operating staff, operator certification, and system restoration as needed.

On November 1, 2023, DEP executed a consent order and agreement that also requires Westmoreland Sanitary Landfill to take extensive proactive measures to detect, correct, and prevent future violations.

Click Here for a copy of DEP’s cover letter. Click Here for a copy of the Air Quality Plan Approval. Click Here for a copy of the modeling and calculations related to the permit. Click Here for a copy of the Comment/Response Document.

Supporting documents as well as additional permitting and compliance information are available on the DEP’s Southwest Regional Office Westmoreland Sanitary Landfill webpage.

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