1. Inspections at MSW Landfills
Original Content is from USEPA Telecourse APTI T – “The Use of Federal Reference Methods in the Evaluation of Landfill Gas Emissions” by
William T. “Jerry” Winberry, Jr.
EnviroTech Solutions

2. Landfill

5. Landfill Gas Collection System Components
Electrical power out
Controlled emissions
Gas collection header
Final soil cap cover
Recovery system
Enclosed flare
Landfill
gas
Gas collection wells

6. Landfill Gas Collection System Components
Fill material
Surface monitoring
Ambient air
monitoring
Gas
leaks
Uncontrolled
emissions
Landfill
gas
Perimeter
vents
Groundwater
monitoring
well
Leachate
manhole

7. Reasons for Inspections of MSW Landfills
Compliance determination
Complaint investigation
Source plan approval
Review or renewal of permits
Special studies

8. Pre-Inspection Procedures
File review
Regulation review
Equipment checks

9. File Review Initial design capacity report
Annual or 5-year NMOC emission rate report
Permit to construct (P/C) and permit to operate (P/O)
Collection and control system design plan

10. File Review Annual reports Landfill closure reports
Control equipment removal reports
Previous inspection reports
Enforcement action: Complaints and notice of violation

11. File Review
Enforcement action taken, orders of abatement, variance history
Compliance test data
Equipment malfunction reports
SSM Plan and any events

12. Regulation Review Identify all rules that apply to the facility
Review any references to the specific rules which are noted in the landfill file
Be familiar with each standard and exemption

13. Equipment Check Hard hat Gloves Safety vest Respirator/dust mask
Method 21 system route map
Steel-toed safety shoes

14. Equipment Check Contd.:
Safety glasses
First aid kit
Flashlight
Field checklist
Portable monitor (gas detector system)
Digital manometer

15. Portable Monitor Obtain certified portable gas monitor
Verify operating conditions and specifications
Assemble and start-up instrument according to manufacturer’s instructions
Leak check sampling system

16. Portable Monitor Contd.:
Evaluate response factor (RF) with known concentration of certified methane gas
Evaluate calibration precision with certified methane gas standard using zero gas or background as low calibration point
Repeat two additional times

17. Portable Monitor Contd.:
Calculate calibration precision
Check response time during calibration precision evaluation
Verify sample flow rate

20. Notify the Landfill
Notify landfill of inspection so that relevant documents can be made available for review
Obtain map and/or diagram of the landfill with elevations, wellhead locations, header system placement and control devices.

21. Pre-entry Look at landfill from neighborhood
Take wide angle picture of landfill for file
Talk to neighbors about activities at landfill

23. Pre-entry
Where possible, drive around the outside perimeter of the landfill
Notice any landfill odors?
See any visible emissions?
Litter in neighborhood which looks like it originated from the landfill?

24. Entry Enter by public access route
Identify yourself, present your credentials
Ask to meet with the site representative

26. Pre-Inspection Meeting
Explain purpose of inspection and discuss any new rule changes
Answer questions that the source personnel may have
Identify equipment to be used in the inspection

27. Pre-Inspection Meeting Information
Verify facility information
Facility name, ownership
Facility address, telephone number
Facility contact name, telephone number
Discuss safety procedures

28. Pre-Inspection Meeting Information
Review Permit
Verify
that permit is current and posted
that permit is for correct equipment
that permit operating conditions are being met
date permit issued
design capacity information

29. Pre-Inspection Meeting
Review permit specification from office to on-site
List of equipment/wellheads installed or to be installed
Emission limits to be met
Changes/modifications to permit conditions
Site-specific monitoring requirements

30. Pre-Inspection Meeting
Operational Logs
Historical emission records and self monitoring data available from past 5-years
Monitoring and calibration logbooks

31. Pre-Inspection Meeting
Operational logs for active collection systems
Logbooks associated with well head monthly monitoring parameters:
Temperature
Gauge pressure
Gas concentrations of:
Oxygen
Nitrogen

32. Pre-Inspection Meeting
LFG control system operational logs for flares, co-generation facilities, gas turbines, or internal combustion engines
Calibration, operation, and maintenance records
Equipment “downtime”

33. Pre-Inspection Meeting
Heat sensor operational records
Continuous temperature recordings
Compliance testing performed since last inspection
LFG monthly gas flow rate
Well concentration readings

34. Pre-Inspection Meeting
Environmental Data
Average wind speed for today (< 10 mph)
Rain fall over last seven days
Barometric pressure over last seven days

35. Pre-Inspection Meeting
Sampling Grid Pattern
Obtain from pre-inspection or create a sampling grid pattern over a map of the landfill, with parallel lines approximately 30 meters apart
Start grid pattern at control device, then around perimeter of landfill, then into landfill with parallel lines

36. Walking route
Landfill gas flare facility A

37. Physical Inspection of Landfill
Start the on-site physical inspection of the landfill at the outer perimeter
Acquire a “background/upwind” concentration of LFG using FRM 21 certified monitor

39. Physical Inspection of Landfill
Observe visible emissions (VE)
Haul road, flares, energy recovery systems
Continue to control equipment and follow the grid pattern

41. Physical Inspection of Landfill
Collection and control equipment, note
Comparison between landfill records and visual inspection
Observation of Leaks and maintenance
Operations according to site-specific collection system design plan

42. Physical Inspection of Landfill
Monitor surface of landfill with FRM 21 gas monitoring probe
Position FRM 21 monitor with tip approximately 2-4 inches off ground
Follow the grid route around perimeter of site, noting a reading every 30 meters. Record readings on field test data sheet (FTDS)

44. Physical Inspection of Landfill
Enter the site according to the grid route map
Take readings every 30 meters, until the complete landfill surface has been evaluated, using the grid route
Any reading 500 ppm above background should be recorded on FTDS and marked with a flag

45. Physical Inspection of Landfill
Monitoring surface of landfill
Monitor any crack, hole, breach in the surface, and interface with undisturbed native soil
Monitor around rocks and objects sticking out of the surface of the landfill for possible LFG emissions

46. Landfill Surface Cover
Meter Reading - 15,000 ppm
0.1 L/min
sample intake rate
(minimum rate allowed
for Method 21)
Leak detector
probe tip
1/4 in. dia.
Landfill Surface Cover
Leak

47. Landfill Surface Cover
Meter Reading ppm
3.0 L/min
sample intake rate
(maximum rate allowed
for Method 21)
Leak detector
probe tip
1/4 in. dia.
Landfill Surface Cover
Leak

52. Monitoring LFG Collection System
As you monitor the landfill, note
Any leaks heard coming from the LFG collection system
Any broken header lines
Any well heads broken and venting LFG

53. Monitoring LFG Collection System
Elevated concentrations of LFG:
Around horizontal or vertical well casings
Venting from LFG well vaults
Around connecting tubing etc.

54. Monitoring LFG Collection System
Monitor extraction well parameters and compare to pre-inspection values
Temperature
Static pressure
Gas concentrations
Oxygen and Nitrogen

55. Monitoring Perimeter Gas Probes
Monitor perimeter gas probes and compare to historical data
Monitor perimeter water monitoring wells and compare to historical data acquired in pre-inspection meeting

56. Monitoring Selected Wellheads
Temperature
Gauge pressure
Gas composition

62. Post-Inspection Procedures
Perform single point calibration of FRM 21 gas monitoring system
Compile field data sheets and observation notes

63. Post-Inspection Meeting
Discuss deficiencies and inform owner of inspection results
Advise source representative of any additional concerns that you might have
Discuss corrective action to be taken for identified leaks

64. Example Format for Inspection Documentation/Report
Prepare
A written description of the landfill
A diagram showing the location of control equipment, emission points, and tagging of any emission exceedances

65. Example Format for Inspection Documentation/Report
A statement indicating compliance or violation for each emission point recorded
Recommendations, if any, such as a source test or an engineering evaluation
Assessment of fugitive emissions and other potential impacts