Washington State Department of Ecology

Department of Ecology News Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - Oct. 26, 1999

99-219

Contact: Joye Redfield-Wilder, public information manager, (509) 575-2610

Agreement settles air violations at Okanogan landfill

YAKIMA - Okanogan County has reached a $20,000 settlement with the Washington Department of Ecology (Ecology) for violations at the county's landfill that caused two employees to become ill from exposure to landfill gas.

The settlement suspends $20,000 of a $40,000 penalty if no air quality violations occur at the landfill over the next two years. It also calls for the county to participate in a local wood-stove exchange program that will bring cleaner burning stoves into the homes of low-income families.

Last spring, two workers were sickened when they were exposed to toxic gas coming from a vent in the landfill's leachate collection system. Both workers reported flu-like symptoms and were treated at the hospital.

The county was cited for failing to install a gas collection system and for accepting more garbage than allowed under its permit. In addition, operators failed to have a copy of the landfill's air quality permit available for employees to review.
"If a gas collection system had been in place the workers probably would not have been exposed and made sick," said Chrissie Phelps, with Ecology's air quality program. "And if a copy of the permit had been on site, employees may have been better aware of the operating requirements for the landfill."

Since opening the landfill in 1994, county officials have been notified numerous times to install a gas collection system at the landfill and to post a copy of the operating permit at the site.

"The amount of garbage collected correlates to how much leachate and landfill gas is generated," explained Phelps. "Each year since opening, they have accepted thousands of tons more waste than the air quality permit allowed."

The settlement should pay for installing and purchasing 10 to 15 certified wood-burning stoves over the next two years. The Okanogan County Community Action Council will coordinate the project in conjunction with its existing home improvement programs.

"We are pleased to be able to work with the county and the Department of Ecology in a win-win situation that will benefit the local community," said Jim Martin, executive director of the county action council.