1. What is buried at the Landfill?
The Landfill contains mostly household waste, deposited over decades by local communities, including the adjacent Cities of Monterey Park and Montebello. The Landfill also contains waste from companies involved in manufacturing, industrial and oil production activities. All waste deposited at the Landfill was placed there during its operation as a landfill, according to accepted waste management practices of that time. The waste materials undergo continual decomposition beneath a remedial cover, which is protective of the public and environment.
2. How much trash is buried at the Landfill?
Approximately 30-million cubic yards of solid waste and an estimated 300-million gallons of liquid waste were placed inside the Landfill. The standard-size refrigerator you may have in your kitchen is about one cubic yard in overall size. Imagine 30 million of them piled together! The waste volume is decreasing over time as a result of decomposition.
3. Why can't the trash be removed?
Due to the size and nature of the Landfill, it is difficult to find another place to place the waste and it would be a very lengthy and expensive undertaking. The approach at the OII Landfill is to provide for a remedial solution that is protective for the public and environment, by undertaking an onsite remediation.
4. How long will it take to clean up the Landfill?
The 190-acre Landfill was in operation for 36 years (1948 to 1984). Because of its size, remediation will continue for many years. The Landfill is settling and will reduce in height over the years, about one foot per year. This occurs as materials decompose and reduce in volume. The clean up of landfill gas may take until about 2030. The groundwater clean up is expected to take until 2050 to 2150, depending upon the rate at which in-ground natural bacteria break down the various chemicals. The EPA will monitor the clean up until it is considered complete.
5. Can the Landfill eventually be developed?
Continual settlement of the South Parcel of the Landfill makes it unsuitable for structures, like houses. However, the South Parcel could be developed with compatible land uses in the future. Near-term possibilities include installing solar panels or cell phone towers. Longer-term uses (25-plus years from now) are speculative at this time.
6. The Landfill used to have strong odors. What did you do?
This is a result of the installation and maintenance of an earthen cover and an expanded and improved landfill gas collection system. The soil cover on the Landfill-which is about six feet thick-traps the gas and odors created by decomposing waste material. These odors, as well as landfill gas, is removed using gas extraction wells. The gas, or vapor, is then destroyed in the TDF.
7. What does the Leachate Treatment Plant (next to the 60 Freeway) do?
Liquids produced by the waste material-and rainfall absorbed before the Landfill was covered-is called "leachate", or landfill liquids. The leachate is pumped out of the Landfill and carried in above-ground pipes to the Landfill Treatment Plant (LTP), adjacent to the 60 Freeway. The LTP removes organic and inorganic constituents from the leachate. Once treated, the treated waste water is conveyed to the Los Angeles County Sanitation District for additional treatment and disposal.
8. What is the function of the piping I see around the Landfill?
The piping is part of the Landfill treatment system that removes and conveys leachate and gas to the LTP and TDF.
9. What is the purpose of the stacks at the Landfill treatment facility?
The two stacks are "thermal oxidizers" that comprise the TDF, located on the North Parcel. The TDF provides an important function in landfill gas treatment, burning or destroying landfill gas at 1800° Fahrenheit, 24 hours per day.
10. How does the Landfill affect the groundwater?
There is groundwater beneath the Landfill; however, it is not utilized for municipal water wells or other purposes. Any groundwater impacted by the Landfill is monitored and treated under the provisions of a consent decree between EPA and various companies that disposed of waste at the site, and with EPA's direction and ongoing oversight.
11. What is the EPA's role at the Landfill?
The EPA is the regulatory agency in charge of the clean up, and provides ongoing oversight.
12. Who is New Cure, Inc.?
New Cure, Inc. (NCI) is a company formed by the cooperating companies involved in the Landfill's clean up. NCI provides the daily operations, maintenance and ongoing technical needs for the Landfill.
13. Is the Landfill cleanup expensive?
Yes. Large landfill sites like OII Landfill cost millions to remediate. EPA has estimated costs will exceed $600 million, being paid by the cooperating companies. Actual costs may be significantly more than that amount.
14. What is happening on the land planned for the shopping center?
The land-referred to as the North Parcel (approximately 45 acres in size) on the north side of the 60 Freeway-is in the process of being sold and readied for redevelopment as the Cascades Marketplace. The North Parcel is part of the Superfund site. Approximately 10 acres on the western end of the 45-acre parcel did receive waste and is subject to remediation. NCI proposed a cooperative clean up process with the development team and considers the North Parcel redevelopment a benefit for the community.
