Region 2000 Services Authority

Current Status and Action Items

At their April 27 meeting, the Region 2000 Services Authority Board approved a bid submitted by SCS Engineers to install and monitor a permanent gas collection system toward further reducing odor issues at the landfill site. This system is slated for completion by the end of 2016.
The engineering firm will also conduct air quality tests prior to and following installation to measure and monitor the collection system’s effectiveness.

Addressing the odor issue and the landfill’s long term effects on property values are collaborative efforts. Toward this cooperative approach, the Regional Services Authority Board is considering the Landfill Citizens’ Group request for a citizen representative to be added to the Authority Board toward informing the long term decision-making process. This is coupled with the Citizens’ Group recommendation to revise a proposed property value protection plan that would help offset the difference between the appraised value of a property and its selling price (for parcels within a specific distance from the center of the landfill.) Both of these topics will be addressed at future Services Authority Board meetings with input from the Landfill Citizens’ Group and landfill neighbors.  

On Jan. 27, 2016, the Region 2000 Services Authority Board accepted a proposal under the Public-Private Education and Facilities Act (PPEA) to install a permanent gas extraction system.  In accordance with the requirements of the PPEA, the Authority has solicited and is reviewing proposals for the gas extraction system.  A decision to award should be made in the spring.  Construction of the system would begin thereafter.

At the same meeting, the Services Authority Board voted to purchase a permanent odor neutralization system.  Installation of this system should begin in the spring and it is estimated that it will be operational by summer. The Services Authority also intends to begin design and construction drawings for the partial, permanent cap for what is known as Phase III in March.

These measures should help with odor control efforts.  The Services Authority will also be constructing a larger berm to better buffer the surrounding area from sight and sounds as well as to deflect some of the gas back toward the face of the landfill.

Reducing Sludge Intake:

The City of Lynchburg is working to reduce the amount of sludge hauled to the landfill. The sludge no doubt contributes to the facility odors, but it is not the only factor to be dealt with when mitigating landfill gases. There have been suggestions that the regional landfill should stop accepting sludge altogether. However, the loss of the sludge tonnage would correlate to a loss of revenue for the Services Authority. In turn, this would require that tipping fees go up—a cost to Campbell County, its citizens and the other members. In addition, if the sludge is not landfilled, there is greater potential that it would be made available for land application—thus creating more odor issues throughout the County.

Planning for the Future: 

Planning must begin for strategies post 2029 so that the County and the Services Authority do not find themselves in the same circumstance faced with the lateral expansion wherein there was not sufficient time to identify alternatives. Thus, Services Authority is working to develop options for waste disposal post 2029, directing staff (at their Jan.27, 2016 meeting) to proceed with a planning process to identify long term strategies. That work will be underway over the next several months.