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U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Landfill covers for dry environments

Conference ·
OSTI ID:469774
 [1]
  1. Sandia National Labs., Albuquerque, NM (United States)

A large-scale landfill cover field test is currently underway at Sandia National Laboratories in Albuquerque, New Mexico. It is intended to compare and document the performance of alternative landfill cover technologies of various costs and complexities for interim stabilization and/or final closure of landfills in arid and semi-arid environments. Test plots of traditional designs recommended by the US Environmental Protection Agency for both RCRA Subtitle {open_quote}C{close_quote} and {open_quote}D{close_quote} regulated facilities have been constructed side-by-side with the alternative covers and will serve as baselines for comparison to these alternative covers. The alternative covers were designed specifically for dry environments. The covers will be tested under both ambient and stressed conditions. All covers have been instrumented to measure water balance variables and soil temperature. An on-site weather station records all pertinent climatological data. A key to acceptance of an alternative environmental technology is seeking regulatory acceptance and eventual permitting. The lack of acceptance by regulatory agencies is a significant barrier to development and implementation of innovative cover technologies. Much of the effort on this demonstration has been toward gaining regulatory and public acceptance.

OSTI ID:
469774
Report Number(s):
CONF-960804--Vol.1
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English