United States
                    Environmental Protection
                    Agency
Environmental Monitoring
Systems Laboratory
Las Vegas, NV 89193-3478
                    Research and Development
EPA/600/S4-89/041 Feb. 1990
f/EPA          Project Summary
                    Proximity of  Florida Sanitary
                    Landfills  to  Wetlands  and
                    Deepwater  Habitats

                    R.C. Herndon, J.E. Moerlins ,  V.W. Lambou, and R.L. Gebhard
                        Sanitary landfills can  cause
                   considerable harm to sensitive eco-
                   systems  If they are not properly
                   located, designed, and managed. The
                   purpose  of these  reports  is to
                   summarize the proximity of sanitary
                   landfills in the  state of Florida to
                   wetlands and deepwater habitats (i.e.,
                   rivers, lakes, streams, bays, etc.); and
                   to present data on Individual landfills.
                   The source of data used to determine
                   the  locations of  the sanitary landfills
                   was the computer data file developed
                   by  Development  Planning and
                   Research Associates, Inc. (DPRA) for
                   use  by  the  U.S.  Environmental
                   Protection Agency's  Office  of Solid
                   Waste in  its  RCRA  Subtitle  O
                   program.  The sanitary landfills were
                   identified on U.S. Fish and Wildlife
                   Service's National Wetlands Inventory
                   maps. The nearness or proximity of
                   the sanitary landfills to wetlands and
                   deepwater habitats was determined
                   by drawing three concentric regions
                   around the point representing the
                   location of each landfill. The radii of
                   the concentric regions were: 1/4 mile,
                   1/2 mile,  and 1  mile.  Data on 126
                   individual  sanitary  landfills in  the
                   state of Florida  were contained in
                   the  DPRA data file.  Data  were
                   obtained for 122 of  these  landfills
                   relative to their proximity to wetlands
                   and deepwater habitats. Most san-
                   itary  landfills in  the state of Florida
                   are located In or are close to either
                   wetlands or deepwater habitats. Most
                   are  located close to wetlands while
                   approximately half  are close  to
                   deepwater habitats.  These facilities
                   have the potential to adversely affect
sensitive ecosystems,  such as wet-
lands and deepwater habitats,  either
through habitat alterations or through
the migration of contaminants  from
sanitary landfills.
     This Project Summary  was
developed by  EPA's Environmental
Monitoring Systems Laboratory,  Las
Vegas, NV, to announce key findings
of the research project that is fully
documented in two separate volumes
of the same title (see Project Report
ordering information at back).

Introduction
  Sanitary landfills, as typically defined,
are waste management  facilities regu-
lated under Subtitle D of the Resource
Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA).
These facilities are commonly referred to
as municipal waste landfills, and they are
primarily  used  to receive household
refuse and nonhazardous commercial
waste. However,  sanitary landfills also
receive other types of Subtitle  D waste,
such as sewage sludge  and  industrial
waste. Sanitary landfills typically receive
some  hazardous  waste  in the form of
household hazardous waste, and  hazar-
dous waste from small quantity genera-
tors as defined  in 40 CFR Part 261.10
(Definitions). Depending upon the defini-
tion of  a  sanitary landfill used  by the
individual states, there are between 6,500
and 9,300 of these facilities permitted in
the United States.
  Sanitary landfills  can cause  con-
siderable harm to sensitive ecosystems if
they are not properly located,  designed,
and managed. These facilities have the
potential to adversely affect sensitive
ecosystems,  such as  wetlands and

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deepwater habitats, either through habitat
alterations or  through  the  migration  of
contaminants from sanitary landfills.  In
order to evaluate the seriousness of this
problem, information is needed on the
nearness of  sanitary landfills to wetlands
and  surface water bodies.  The purpose
of this study is to document the proximity
of sanitary landfills in the state of Florida
to wetlands  and  deepwater habitats (i.e.,
rivers, lakes, streams, bays, etc.).

Methodology
  The source of  data used to  determine
the  locations of the sanitary landfills was
the  computer data  file developed by
Development  Planning and   Research
Associates,  Inc.,  (DPRA) for use by the
U.S. Environmental  Protection Agency's
Office of Solid Waste in its RCRA Subtitle
D program.  The  DPRA data file includes
information  on 7,683  sanitary landfills,
and 6,849 of these facilities have latitude
and  longitude  coordinates in degrees,
minutes,  and seconds  specified in the
data file.  Each  set of coordinates defines
a point which represents the geographic
location of a sanitary landfill. In addition,
the  data  file contains the names of the
landfills and  data on the cities or counties
in which the landfills  reside.  Individual
states are  responsible  for permitting
sanitary  landfills under Subtitle  D  of
RCRA, and, since DPRA obtained the
information  for the  data file  from  state
sources, the  site location information
varies in terms of accuracy  and the point
chosen to represent the location of each
facility.
  Wetlands  typically  form  part  of  a
continuous  transition  zone  between
uplands and open water. Therefore, the
delineation  of  the  upper and lower
boundaries  in  any wetland definition  is
somewhat arbitrary. There are  a number
of definitions of wetlands that have been
developed for  use in  classifying natural
environments or  for regulatory purposes.
While these definitions are not identical,
they are  very similar. The selection of a
specific definition for use  in  this  study
was determined by  the availability  of
national wetlands and deepwater habitats
geographic data.
  The most  extensive,  consistent source
of  wetlands and  deepwater habitats
geographic  data is the  U.S.  Fish and
Wildlife  Service's  National   Wetlands
Inventory (NWI).  The NWI has  developed
detailed,  large-scale maps for  a
significant portion  of the United States.
To  date, wetland maps have  been
developed for  approximately 40 percent
of the contiguous 48 states, 10 percent of
Alaska,  and all  of  Hawaii. Large-scale
NWI maps typically are  either 1:24,000
scale or 1:63,360 scale U.S. Geological
Survey quadrangle maps; however, most
are  1:24,000  scale. Wetlands  and
deepwater habitats are delineated on the
NWI maps.  The delineation of wetlands
and  deepwater habitats was developed
using remote sensing techniques and
field investigations.  The  NWI  maps  are
developed  in  accordance  with the
National  Map  Accuracy  Standard
(NMAS). The NWI 1:24,000 scale maps
used in  this  study are  accurate,
according to the NMAS, to within 40 feet
of ground measurements.  These  maps
were  particularly  useful for plotting  the
location  of  sanitary  landfills  and  for
determining the  proximity  of  these
facilities to  wetlands and deepwater
habitats.
  The NWI maps  use the definitions and
the classification system for wetlands and
deepwater  habitats  developed  by  the
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Wetlands
are defined as lands transitional between
terrestrial and aquatic systems where the
water table  is  usually at  or near  the
surface, or the land is covered by shallow
water. Deepwater  habitats are defined as
permanently  flooded lands  lying  below
the deepwater boundary of wetlands.
  The  U.S.  Fish  and Wildlife Service's
classification  of wetlands  and deepwater
habitats  is  hierarchial in  nature  pro-
ceeding from general to  specific.  There
are 5 systems, 10  subsystems, and 55
classes. In this study only the "system,"
i.e.,  the  complex  of wetlands  and
deepwater  habitats  that share the
influence of similar hydrologic, geomor-
phologic, chemical,  or  biological factors,
was used for classification purposes.
  In  order to link  the location of sanitary
landfills  in  the  DPRA data file  to  the
appropriate   NWI maps, we  used the
information on the  T-70  computer tape
obtained  from  the  U.S.  Geological
Survey.  The NWI  large-scale maps were
developed  using  U.S. Geological  Sur-
vey's quadrangle  maps as  base maps.
The  T-70 computer  tape  contains 67
fields of information including latitude and
longitude that can be used for identifying
the 1:24,000 scale maps, the map names,
and  the state  codes  assigned  to  the
maps.  Sanitary landfill location data on
the  DPRA  computer file tape were
matched by a computer program  against
location  data on  the U.S.  Geological
Survey's T-70 computer tape in order to
identify  the  specific maps that  contain
sanitary  landfills  and/or  that  would be
needed  to  evaluate the wetlands and
deepwater habitats that are within 1 mile
of each sanitary landfill. The map names
obtained from the  computer mate
were sorted by state and compared
inventories of available NWI maps.
  Each  sanitary  landfill  included  in
study was located  on NWI  large-s
maps  using  standard  cartograj
techniques. Nearness or  proximity
sanitary landfills to wetlands and  di
water  habitats  was  determined
drawing three concentric  regions  arc
the point  representing  the  locatioi
each  landfill. The radii of  the conce
regions  were:  1/4 mile,  1/2 mile, ar
mile. The occurrence or nonoccurre
of the  wetlands and  deepwater  hal
systems in  each concentric  region
then recorded.
  Many sanitary landfills  are  typical!
the order  of  100  acres  in size.
example, in the state of Florida abou
percent of the active sanitary  landfills
between 50 and 150 acres in size,
the average size  being  110 acre:
landfill  that is  100 acres in size
uniformly  distributed about its latiti
longitude  point designation will  hav
radius  of  approximately  1/4 mile  <
therefore,  will approximate  the boum
of the  first concentric  1/4-mile  ra
region. Undoubtedly, most of  the lan<
located  in  a 1/4-mile  radius  ret
containing  either wetlands  or deepv\
habitats should be considered  to
located in  wetlands  or  deepw
habitats. Since landfills vary consider
in size and shape,  some of  the lam
located  in the  1/2-mile radius and  1-
radius  regions containing wetland;
deepwater  habitats will probably alsc
located in  wetlands  or  deepw
habitats. The exact geographic boum
of  the  landfill  is  not   the  crit
consideration  for  determining advi
impacts associated with  these facili
since contaminants can migrate off-sil
affect wetlands and deepwater habitat

Results
  We obtained data on  the proximit
122 sanitary  landfills in  the  state
Florida to  wetlands  and  deepw
habitats. There are  126 sanitary lane
in the  DPRA  data  file for the stab
Florida  and 122  (97  percent)  of  Vr
facilities have NWI maps available for
interpretation. As a result, 4 (3 percen
the 126 sanitary landfills in the stat
Florida are not included in this study.
  Approximately  82  percent  of
sanitary landfills are located  in or w
1/4 mile of wetlands, while  92 and
percent are located  in or within 1/2 ai
mile of wetlands, respectively (Figure
Only three (3 percent) of the  landfills
located  more than a mile from  any

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of wetland. Most sanitary  landfills  are
located either in or are close to Palustrine
wetlands  (approximately  76,  87,  and 95
percent are located  in or within  1/4,  1/2,
and  1  mile, respectively, of a Palustrine
wetland).
  Approximately 15  percent   of  the
sanitary landfills are located  in or within
1/4 mile of deepwater habitats, while 30
and  49 percent are  located  in or within
1/2 and 1  mile of  deepwater habitats,
respectively  (Figure 2). Sixty-two  (51
percent) of the landfills are located more
than a mile from  any type of deepwater
habitat. Most of  the facilities that  are
located in  or that  are close to deepwater
habitats are in the vicinity of Lacustrine or
Riverine  deepwater habitats (i.e.,  25
percent are located  in or within 1 mile of
a  Lacustrine  deepwater  habitat  and 23
percent are located in or within 1 mile of
a Riverine deepwater habitat).
  Approximately 84  percent   of  the
sanitary landfills are located  in or within
1/4 mile of either wetlands or deepwater
habitats, while 93 and  98  percent  are
located in or within 1/2 and 1   mile of
either  wetlands or  deepwater habitats,
respectively (Figure  3). Only three (3 per-
cent) of the  landfills are located  more
than  a mile  from  either  wetlands or
deepwater habitats.  Most of the  sanitary
landfills are located  either in or are close
to Palustrine or Riverine habitats  (approx-
imately  76, 87,  and  95  percent  are
located in  or within  1/4,  1/2,  and 1 mile,
respectively, of a Palustrine  deepwater
habitat while approximately 9,  20, and 36
percent are located  in or within  1/4,  1/2,
and  1 mile, respectively, of  a  Riverine
habitat).
  Coding  procedures used to compile the
data on the  proximity  of waste   sites to
wetlands   and deepwater  habitats  are
given in the "Data on Individual Landfills"
report. Appendix B of that report presents
the data on the individual landfills in  the
state of Florida.

Conclusions
  Most sanitary landfills  included in  the
state  of Florida are  located either in or
close to  wetlands.  From  this,  we
conclude  that  these facilities have  the
potential  to  adversely  affect sensitive
ecosystems,  such  as  wetlands, either
through habitat alterations or  through  the
migration  of contaminants  from   sanitary
landfills. In addition,  approximately half of
the sanitary landfills  in the state of Florida
are located either in or  close to deep-
water habitats and  they also have  the
potential  for adversely   affecting these
sensitive ecosystems.
                                                                             95
 Palustrine
 Lacustrin
 Riverine
 Estuarine
  Marine
    All
 systems
                                   87
                        20
40
                                                   60
                                          Percent
                                                                 80
100
  Figure 1. Proximity of 122 Florida sanitary landfills to wetlands.
                             25
Lacustrine
 Riverine
Estuarine
  Marine
   All
 systems
     In or within 1 mile

     In or within 1/2 mile

     In or within 1/4 mile
                                              49
                        20
 40
                                           Percent
                                                   60
                             80
                                                                               100
 Figure 2. Proximity of 722 Florida sanitary landfills to deepwater habitats.

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                                                                             0   In or within 1 mile

                                                                                  in or within 1/2 mile

                                                                                  In or within 1/4 mile
                     Palustrine
                    Lacustrine
                     Riverine
Estuarine
                      Marine
                       All
                     systems
                                                             Percent

                     Figure 3. Proximity of 122 Florida sanitary landfills to either closest wetlands or deepwater habitat.
1
0
1 1 '
20
1
40
1 1
60
1 1
80
1 1
100
   The EPA  author, Victor  W.  Lambou, (also the EPA Project
        Officer,  see below)  is  with the  Environmental
        Monitoring Systems  Laboratory in Las  Vegas,  NV
        89193-3478; J.E. Moerlins and R.C. Herndon are with
        Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL  32306; and
        R.L Gebhard  is  with the  U.S.  Fish and Wildlife
        Service, St. Petersburg, FL 33702
   The complete  report,   two volumes entitled "Proximity of
        Florida Sanitary Landfills to Wetlands and Deepwater
        Habitats: Statewide Results," and "Proximity of Florida
        Sanitary  Landfills  to Wetlands  and  Deepwater
        Habitats: Data on Individual Landfills," (Orders No. PB
                                        90-150 863; Cost: $15.00, and PB  90-150 871; Cost: $15.0
                                              subject to change) will be available only from:

                                        National Technical Information Service
                                                  5285 Port Royal Road
                                                  Springfield, VA 22161
                                                  Telephone: 703-487-4650

                                        The EPA Project Officer can be contacted at:
                                                  Environmental Monitoring Systems Laboratory
                                                  U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
                                                  Las Vegas,  NV 89193-3478
United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
           Center for Environmental Research
           Information
           Cincinnati OH 45268
\
Official Business
Penalty for Private Use $300

EPA/600/S4-89/041

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