CR 88-111 Approval Landfill Closure Order
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June 2, 1988 Council Report: 88-111
APPROVAL OF LANDFILL CLOSURE ORDER
Proposed Action.
staff recommends adoption of the following motion: "Move to
~ccept the terms of the negotiated Closure Order ang
m!t;.porize the Mayor and City Manager to siqn the Order".
Adoption of this motion will result in the City accepting
responsibility to perform a number of post-closure
activities including studying the effects of decomposition
gases and water pOllution of the landfill. The Council will
also be accepting responsibility to correct any problems
. discov9red in the area of decomposition gases.
9verview.
In the fall of 1987 the City was informed that the MPCA
desired to enter into an agree~ent on the closure and
monitoring of the landfill. Council hired RiCA Johnston of
-'. Braun Engineering and Dick Nowlin of Larkin, Hoffman, Daly
and Lindgren Ltd. to negotiate on behalf of the City on this
matter.
staff and the consultants have met several times with the
MPCA staff and have negotiated the attached Closure Order.
Primary Issues of Concern.
o Does the City have to sign the Order?
o Does the negotiated order provide a limited impact
on the City?
o What is the long term financial impact on the City?
o How does the agreement effect the city.s ability to
use the landfill?
Supporting Documentation.
o Staff Analysis of Issues
o Alternatives
o Proposed Closure Order
o Memorandum by Dick Nowlin
o Memorandum by RiCA Johnston
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Steven c. Mielke .,
Community Development Director
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Council Report 88-111
Page 2
Staff Analysis of Issues.
- Does the city have to sign the Order?
The city has attempted to show good faith by working on the
landfill study.
We have negotiated what seems to be a good compromise. The
City could refuse to sign the order and not be bound by it's
contents. However, the MPCA has the ability to get a court
order to require the City to pay for the work. In so doinq,
the MPCA could impose ~Qre restrictive orders than have been
negotiated.
The City could proceed to do the work without signing the
order. It is unknown how tho MPCA would approach that
circumstance but they would probably be less cooperativee
~ Previous Council discussion has indicated a desire to
neqotiate the be~t alternative order and sign it so we are
limited to what we must do on the site.
- Does the negotiated order provide a limited impact on the
city?
The attached memorandu~ form the consultants indicate that
we have been able to avoid monitoring of activities off the
landfill site. This is less than the MPCA originally wanted
and is a limiting factor. We also ~re not agreeing to
perform water pollution clean-up; if any is found to be
necessary.
- What is the long term financial impact on the city?
The tasks which will need to be performed is estimated at
$95,960.00. This figure does not include any remedial
actions found to be necessary as a result of the study. The
study period is about 2 fiscal years in length and the cost
of this analysis will be spread across those years.
As soon as the results cf the study are completed, remedial
costs can then be determined.
Some of the long term monitoring requirements will exist for
18 years and there will be some cost for that monitoring.
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. Council R&port 88-111
P&ge 3
- How does the agreement affect the City's ability to use
the landfill?
Plans to construct a recreational use of the landfill will
be difficult until the majority of the study is completed.
MPCA is concerned about the impacts of land uses on the
lanfill. Any use of the landfill for a new or even existiny
leases should be carefully reviewed prior to action.
Alternativ~s.
1. Approve the negotiated closure order and authorize it
to be signed.
This alternative will require the city to study the
landfill and require remedial action on decomposition
qases it necessary.
2. Conduct the studies as laid out in the closure order
e but not sign the order.
This will allow the City to pisrform. the work without
the binding contract. However, MPCA may order
additional work done at our cost.
3. 00 nothing or negotiate.
This is a c~~ination approach which would require the
MPCA t/:) d~~ide whether they wish to order work clone or
to neqotiate further with the City.