Modeling methane oxidation in landfill cover soils as indicator of functional stability with respect to gas management

ABSTRACT

A performance-based method for evaluating methane (CH₄) oxidation as the best available control technology (BACT) for passive management of landfill gas (LFG) was applied at a municipal solid waste (MSW) landfill in central Washington, USA, to predict when conditions for functional stability with respect to LFG management would be expected. The permitted final cover design at the subject landfill is an all-soil evapotranspirative (ET) cover system. Using a model, a correlation between CH₄ loading flux and oxidation was developed for the specific ET cover design. Under Washington’s regulations, a MSW landfill is functionally stable when it does not present a threat to human health or the environment (HHE) at the relevant point of exposure (POE), which was conservatively established as the cover surface. Approaches for modeling LFG migration and CH₄ oxidation are discussed, along with comparisons between CH₄ oxidation and biodegradation of non-CH₄ organic compounds (NMOCs). The modeled oxidation capacity of the ET cover design is 15 g/m²/day under average climatic conditions at the site, with 100% oxidation expected on an annual average basis for fluxes up to 8 g/m²/day. This translates to a sitewide CH₄ generation rate of about 260 m³/hr, which represents the functional stability target for allowing transition to cover oxidation as the BACT (subject to completion of a confirmation monitoring program). It is recognized that less than 100% oxidation might occur periodically if climate and/or cover conditions do not precisely match the model, but that residual emissions during such events would be de minimis in comparison with published limit values. Accordingly, it is also noted that nonzero net emissions may not represent a threat to HHE at a POE (i.e., a target flux between 8 and 15 g/m²/day might be appropriate for functional stability) depending on the site reuse plan and distance to potential receptors.

Implications: This study provides a scientifically defensible method for estimating when methane oxidation in landfill cover soils may represent the best available control technology for residual landfill gas (LFG) emissions. This should help operators and regulators agree on the process of safely eliminating active LFG controls in favor of passive control measures once LFG generation exhibits asymptotic trend behavior below the oxidation capacity of the soil. It also helps illustrate the potential benefits of evolving landfill designs to include all-soil vegetated evapotranspirative (ET) covers that meet sustainability objectives as well as regulatory performance objectives for infiltration control.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Jeremy W.F. Morris

Jeremy W.F. Morris is a principal with Geosyntec Consultants in Washington, DC, USA.

Michael D. Caldwell

Michael D. Caldwell is the Director of Groundwater and Technical Programs at Waste Management in Humble, TX, USA.

James M. Obereiner

James M. Obereiner is the principal and owner at JMO Consulting in Sacramento, CA, USA.

Sean T. O’Donnell

Sean T. O’Donnell is a senior staff engineer with Geosyntec Consultants in Columbia, MD, USA.

Terry R. Johnson

Terry R. Johnson is a senior director at Waste Management in Minneapolis, MN, USA.

Tarek Abichou

Tarek Abichou is a professor in the Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering, FAMU-FSU College of Engineering, at Florida State University in Tallahassee, FL, USA.