United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
Air and Energy Engineering
Research Laboratory
Research Triangle Park NC 27711
Research and Development
EPA/600/S8-90/085 Aug. 1991
vyEPA Project Summary
Landfill Air Emissions Estimation
Model User's Manual
W. R. Pelt, II, R. L. Bass, I. R. Kuo, and A. L. Blackard
This document is a user's guide for
the computer program, "Landfill Air
Emissions Estimation Model." It pro-
vides step-by-step guidance for using
the program to estimate landfill air
emissions. The purpose of the program
is to aid local and state agencies in
estimating landfill air emission rates
for nonmethane organic compounds
and individual air toxics. This program
will also be helpful to landfill owners
and operators affected by the upcom-
ing New Source Performance Standard
(NSPS) and Emission Guidelines for
Municipal Solid Waste Landfill Air
Emissions.
The model is based on the Scholl
Canyon Gas Generation Model, used in
the development of the soon-to-be pro-
posed regulation for landfill air emis-
sions. The Scholl Canyon Model is a
first-order decay equation that uses
site-specific characteristics for esti-
mating the gas generation rate. In the
absence of site-specific data, the pro-
gram provides conservative default
values taken from the soon-to-be pro-
posed NSPS for new landfills and
emission guidelines for existing land-
fills. These default values may be re-
vised based upon any future informa-
tion collected by the EPA.
This Project Summary was developed
by EPA's Air and Energy Engineering
Research Laboratory, Research Tri-
angle Park, NC, to announce key find-
ings of the research project that is fully
documented in a separate report of the
same title (see Project Report ordering
information at back).
Overview
In the past year, the EPA has received
over 100 calls from state and local regula-
tory agencies requesting assistance in es-
timating landfill air emissions. The Con-
trol Technology Center has developed
user-friendly computer software and a
user's manual to enable states and local
regulatory agencies to estimate landfill air
emissions. Guidance is provided on esti-
mating volatile organic compounds, toxics,
and methane. The guidance that is pro-
vided is based on what was developed for
the New Source Performance Standards
and Emission Guidelines for municipal
solid waste (MSW) landfills which are to
be proposed later this year.
Landfill gas is generated by the anaero-
bic decomposition of landfilled MSW. Air
emissions from MSW landfills are a con-
cern due to their contribution to tropo-
spheric ozone, air toxics, global warming,
odor nuisance, and expbsion hazards. The
gas composition is typically 50% methane,
50% carbon dioxide and trace constituents
of nonmethane organics and air toxics
including vinyl chloride, benzene, and car-
bon tetrachloride.
The method for estimating landfill air
emissions is based on a first-order de-
composition rate equation and uses site-
specific characteristics such as the year
the landfill began accepting waste, the
amount of waste in place, and the year
that the landfill closed or is expected to
close. Guidance is also provided for ob-
taining gas composition data using EPA
test methods. Defaults are suggested for
inputs when site-specific data are not
available.
Printed on Recycled Paper
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W. Pelt, II, R. Bass, I. Kuo, and A. Biackard are with Radian Corporation, Research
Triangle Park, NC 27709
Susan A. Thorneloe is the EPA Project Officer (see below)
The complete report consists of paper copy and diskettes entitled "Landfill Air
Emissions Estimation Model User's Manual:"
Paper Copy (Order No. PB 91- 167 718/AS; Cost: $15.00, subject to change)
Diskettes (Order No. PB 91-507 541/AS; Cost: $80.00, subject to change)
(Cost of diskettes includes paper copy.)
The above items will be available only from:
National Technical Information Service
5285 Port Royal Road
Springfield, VA22161
Telephone: 703-487-4650
The EPA Project Officer can be contacted at:
Air and Energy Engineering Research Laboratory
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Research Triangle Park, NC 27711
United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
Canter for Environmental
Research Information
Cincinnati, OH 45268
BULK RATE
POSTAGE & FEES PAID
EPA
PERMIT No. G-35
Official Business
Penalty for Private Use $300
EPA/600/S8-90/085
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