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EPA ISSUES NOTICE OF VIOLATION TO RI LANDFILL FOR FAILING TO GET REQUIRED PERMITS

Release Date: 03/23/2000
Contact Information: Peyton Fleming, EPA Press Office (617-918-1008)

BOSTON - The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has issued a Notice of Violation to the owner and operator of the Central Landfill in Johnston, RI, one of the largest municipal landfills on the East Coast. The notice indicates that Rhode Island Resource Recovery Corp. (RIRRC) has failed to follow permit, record-keeping and reporting requirements of the Clean Air Act, violations that left the landfill using less efficient controls on emissions.

This week's violation notice is in addition to an administrative order the agency issued in January ordering the 150-acre landfill to complete tests, monitoring and design plans, also required under the Clean Air Act. Both actions stem from an inspection of the landfill last summer by EPA. For months, citizens as far as two miles or more away from the landfill have complained about odors coming from the landfill.

"With this notice, we have set the stage to ensure that the Central Landfill takes required actions to reduce the odors around the landfill, as well as emissions that contribute to smog and other forms of air pollution in Rhode Island," said Mindy S. Lubber, regional administrator at EPA New England. "Our agency will continue to work to make sure Central Landfill complies with all federal regulations."

In this week's notice, EPA said RIRRC failed to apply for a pre-construction New Source Review permit required for each of three expansions the facility made in the 1990s. The permitting process includes requirements to install air pollution control technology designed to limit landfill emissions. Each of the three landfill expansions resulted in increases in the amount of volatile organic compounds being emitted from the landfill.

"The action taken this week puts the landfill owners on notice that they will have to apply for New Source Review permits, which will ultimately require more efficient control technology in the newest part of the landfill, which is not yet open," Lubber said.

The Notice of Violation also said the owners failed to notify the RI Department of Environmental Management about the existence of its emergency generator or to keep required monthly records of generator use, both required by law. At the time of the July inspection, no such records were available, the notice said. Also, RIRRC failed to obtain a required minor source pre-construction permit prior to installing a new boiler in their main building in 1989. To date, the owner has not applied for this permit.

A Citizens Advisory Committee formed in November provides a forum where citizens can raise concerns. Progress updates are made available at committee meetings that are held 6:30 pm the second and fourth Tuesday of every month at the Ferri Middle School in Johnston.

RIRRC is a quasi-public corporation that operates the trash receiving activities of the landfill and owns some parts of the landfill gas collection and control system.

January's administrative order named four other owners and operators, including Central Gas Corporation, the LKD Central Limited Partnership, the Central Gas Limited Partnership and the Ridgewood / Providence Power Company.