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

Technical approach for the assessment of air emissions from municipal landfills using the US EPA flux chamber and dispersion modeling to predict off-site impact potential

Conference ·
OSTI ID:679419
Municipal solid waste landfills are described as large, heterogeneous area sources with relatively high generation rates of methane and carbon dioxide and relatively low emission levels of total non-methane hydrocarbon compounds (TNMHCs) and reduced sulfur compounds (RSCs) including hydrogen sulfide. Recent public awareness and enacted air regulations have generated concerns from fugitive emissions of landfill gases as a significant contribution to air pollution and the potential health effects off-site. As such, assessing impacts to local ambient air quality around a municipal landfill can be a challenge to quantify and evaluate. A technical approach has been developed and used at a large municipal landfill in the Northeast in order to assess potential impact to local air quality with particular emphasis on identifying hazardous air pollutants (HAPs) and RSCs as well as other air toxics and odor-causing compounds. The technical approach includes: Screening the landfill surface using direct-reading field analyzers based on a surface grid system; Assigning areas of similar emission potential based on screening data and engineering descriptions of the landfill (surface condition and operation); Direct emission testing using the US EPA recommended flux chamber, estimating area-specific emissions using measured flux and surface area; Predicting off-site impact using a dispersion model with area source input capability; and Collection of collaborating off-site ambient air samples during periods of significant odor events to identify compounds and their concentrations. This approach was found to be superior to other assessment approaches including use of emission factors or indirect ambient air monitoring technologies.
OSTI ID:
679419
Report Number(s):
CONF-980632--
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English