Maine has about 414 municipal landfills that include current licensed operating sites, closed site or inactive sites that no longer take municipal waste but never went through an approved closure process. Most were unlicensed sites that threatened ground and surface water quality because of inappropriate siting, inadequate design or improper operation. The majority of these sites dated from the 1960s', 70s' and 80s' and were often located in old gravel pits where they posed a risk to groundwater supplies. Waste was initially burned but in later years was covered on a daily basis fill material. The slow rate of closures during the late 1970's and early to mid 1980's showed the need for the state to provide assistance to municipalities for the proper planning and closure of these sites.
To address this problem, the Maine Legislature created the Landfill Closure and Remediation Program 38 MRSA §1310-C et. seq.) in 1988. The program is currently administered through the Division of Remediation. Its objectives are to promptly close landfills that pose hazards to public health and the environment; and to remediate existing hazards posed by closed municipal solid waste landfills.
What is Closure? What is Remediation?
Closure consists of measures taken to minimize or prevent contamination from landfills. Closure typically involves the placement of a soil cover or synthetic cap over the landfill to minimize the infiltration of precipitation into the waste. The municipality owning and/or operating the landfill is responsible for carrying out closure and remedial measures. Closure may be accomplished in several ways:
Closure Orders. The Department may incorporate the recommendations of a landfill evaluation in a closing order. The order identifies schedules, closure requirements, post closure maintenance and monitoring requirements. See below for current status of cost sharing requirements.
Regulation Closure Procedure. The procedure involves the development of a closure order by the Department and the submission by the municipality of a closure plan, and the implementation of the closure plan as approved by the Department. The municipality may also develop a closure plan on its own initiative and submit it to the Department for review and approval. This closing process is required of all licensed municipal solid waste landfills.
Alternative Closure Procedure. If an unlicensed landfill is not eligible for the reduced closure option provided in statute, the municipality must notify the Department. The Department may allow the municipality to use the reduced procedure option or may require additional closure measures depending on the landfill characteristics.
Reduced Closure Procedure. An unlicensed landfill may be closed with only minimal supervision by the Department if the landfill is not high risk, has not received hazardous waste and meets specified setbacks from water supply wells and buildings. Municipalities that choose this option must follow federal standards in 40 CFR, Part 258, Section 258.60(a).
Remediation. Remediation refers to steps taken to clean up or reduce contamination from landfills generally after basic closure has occurred. Remediation is assessed on a site by site basis where the landfill operation has caused off-site contamination and may include leachate collection and treatment systems, replacement water supplies, public water lines, home filtering systems, gas ventilation systems, or in rare instances property purchases.
Environmental Evaluations
The Department is responsible for overseeing the evaluation of municipal landfills. Evaluations typically involve hiring private consultants to examine site geology and ground water conditions. The purposes are: to evaluate the likelihood or extent of contamination; to identify environmental hazards; and to develop closure plans. Evaluations usually include test borings and water quality analyses to identify and monitor environmental impacts. In many cases, towns have been allowed to conduct these evaluations with the approval of the Department.
Cost Sharing
In most cases, the state paid 75% of closing costs for towns that had established written agreements with the Department (see below for current status).
For landfills that require additional remediation measures, the state may pay up to 90% of these costs.
Since 1987, Maine voters have approved $76.5 million in bond funds for landfill closure and remediation. An additional $4.25 million in state general funds have also been made available. About $80.5 million has been distributed to towns and consultants. These funds have supported the closure of 388 landfills and additional evaluations and remedial actions at several sites.
Current Status
Based on current law (38 MRSA §1310-F), DEP has discontinued the reimbursement of landfill closure costs incurred after December 31, 1999. As of September 2000, DEP has reimbursed municipalities for all outstanding state obligations related to landfill closure work. No additional closure related costs will be incurred by the state. However, under the authority vested in DEP by 38 MRSA 1310-C (1) (B) to establish a landfill remediation program, the Landfill Program will be conducting inspections and reviews of previously closed sites. It may be necessary to conduct remedial activities at selected sites if and when environmental or human health risks are discovered. Costs incurred by municipalities related to remedial activities continue to be eligible for State assistance.
Contacts
For more information regarding the Municipal Land fill Closure and Remediation Program, contact:
Note: Old abandoned landfill sites that ceased operation prior to 1976 which did not pass through the Landfill Closure Program may not be listed. Contact the program for information.
