After several years of regulatory action and more than 350 documented citizen complaints, a mixed-use waste facility that had been in operation for just eight years was closed. In an unprecedented move, the Ohio EPA utilized the site’s financial assurance and a design-build contract to speed forth on closure, the exemplary success of which may provide a template for future emergency closure response. American Environmental Group—an Approved Installation Contractor (AIC), as recognized by the International Association of Geosynthetic Installers (IAGI)—was proud to be part of this first-of-its-kind collaboration between regulators, designers and contractors.
The relatively young age of the landfill meant that waste was still quite active in its decomposition. This presented both settlement and heating concerns. AEG provided a solution that was safe and met stability requirements of the odor-controlling cover system against slope failure.
The General Contractor (R.B. Jergens) excavated benches into the subgrade. Waste that was encountered, some of which suggested asbestos content, was relocated during subgrade preparation. Geocomposite material was then installed by AEG as a gas collection layer beneath the membrane and as a synthetic drainage layer above the geomembrane. To cap the site, 40-mil, textured linear low-density polyethylene (LLDPE) geomembrane was placed.
AEG’s expert team installed more than 4,500,000 SF of geosynthetic materials in less than 8 weeks.
The sum total of all closure activities (including the design phase) took just 4.5 months—a remarkable turnaround for a 46-acre site.
Special thanks to Kevin L. Harshberger, P.E., R.B. Jergens Contractors – Project General Contractor, for providing background details on the site (and for his project management).
