Success Stories - Siting Renewable Energy on Contaminated Land
Operating Industries Landfill, Monterey Park, California
Landfill Gas Powers Property Remediation
Site Description
The 190 acre Operating Industries, Inc. (Oil) Landfill Site
lies just 10 miles east of Los Angeles, California in
Monterey Park. For years, the landfill was a source
displeasing odors and of visual pollution to those living
nearby. Today, after a series of assessments and cleanups,
the landfill is now aesthetically pleasing and producing
enough clean energy to power about 80% of the site
operations.
Property History
Opened in 1948 by Monterey Park Disposal Co., the
landfill was bought by Oil in the 1950s. Today the landfill
is split into two sites by the Pomona Freeway; a 45-acre
parcel owned by A.H.A.S., Inc. known as the North Parcel
and a 145-acre site owned by Oil known as the South
Parcel.
In 1984 the South Parcel closed and stopped accepting
waste due to findings from a survey conducted by the
South Coast Air Quality Management District. The survey
detected above ambient levels of vinyl chloride in the air
around the landfill. In addition, over 20,000 people live
within three miles of the landfill. This resulted in EPA
placing the Oil Landfill Site on the National Priorities List
the same year it closed down.
In the years following the landfills' closure, EPA
completed a number of investigations into the onsite
contamination. On both parcels, they found various organic
and inorganic compounds that if left untreated, could enter
the water table and pose a health risk for the surrounding
population. To control this, a leachate treatment plant was
built onsite to treat liquids from the site and surrounding
landfills. Since much of the waste disposed of on the South
Parcel was municipal solid waste, it was a prime location to
capture landfill gas (LFG).
Renewable Energy Development
In August 1992, Bryan A Stirrat & Assoc, Inc., a civil
engineering firm, submitted design recommendations to
EPA for LFG migration and mitigation systems on the
property. The plans were adopted and construction began
soon thereafter. Before construction began, the Southern
California Edison Company awarded the landfill a $450,000 grant. Additionally, the California Energy Commission
awarded the landfill a $105,000 grant. By 2002, six 70 kW microturbines were installed on the property that convert
LFG to electricity. The microturbines save about $400,000 a year and supply the landfill's leachate treatment plant with
w-> of its yearly energy needs. Currently, New Cure, Inc. manages the landfill and leachate treatment plant.
QUICK FACTS:
Location:
Property Size:
Site Ownership:
Former Use:
Contaminants:
Project Type:
Type of RE:
Project Cost:
Key Partners:
EPA Region 9, Monterey Park, CA
145 Acres
Private - Operating Industries, Inc.
Landfill
Vinyl Chloride; other organic and
inorganic compounds
Superfund
Landfill Gas (LFG)
$1.5 million
EPA Superfund; New Cure, Inc.; US
Army Corps of Engineers; California
Energy Commission; California EPA;
Southern California Edison Company;
PROJECT HIGHLIGHTS:
Granted $450,000 by the Southern California Edison
Company and $105,000 by the California Energy
Commission to install microturbines and convert landfill
gas into electricity
Six 70 kWh microturbines were installed, generating
80% of the annual energy needs of the landfill's
leachate treatment plant.
CENTER FOR PROGRAM ANALYSIS
CONTACT: California Environmental Protection Agency, Department of Toxic Substances Control
Tedd Yargeau,: (818) 551-2864, TYargeau@dtsc.ca.gov
•"mental Protection Agency Region 9: Shiann-Jang Chern, EPA Site Manager: (415)-972-3268, Chern.Shiann-Jang@epa.gov
To learn more about siting renewable energy on contaminated land, visit: www.epa.gov/renewableenergyland
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