Complete all questions from each scenario

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Complete all questions from each scenario . File is attached with all the questions and scenarios.

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Application of Geoscience to Land Development A. Landfill: A landfill is a specially engineered pit, excavavation or hole in the ground for burying solid wastes (e.g. trash, garbage, construction debris, white goods, etc). Exposed solid wastes in landfill attracts rodents/rats, birds, mosquitoes, flies, deer, and other animals. Animals such as flies, ticks, and mosquitoes transmit disease and are call vectors. The State of Virginia Regulations required each landfill operator to cover its solid wastes with soil at the end of each work day. After a long time, solid wastes in landfill decompose (i.e. chemically breakdown, decay, rot) and produce a malodorous liquid called leachate. A leachate is a thick, dark brown to black liquid containing toxic pollutants such as lead, arsenic, chromium, mercury, cyanide, vinyl chloride, methane, benzene, etc. Decomposition of organic matter (e.g. tree stumps & leaves, leftover food, animal carcasses, etc) produce flammable methane gas, and other pollutants. Landfill leachate may leak into and be transported by groundwater. Like surface water, groundwater generally flows from uphill area to downhill area. Other than landfill, alternative solid waste disposal/management methods include solid waste incinerator, composting, waste-to-energy; and recycling. In the Commonwealth of Virginia, it is illegal to dump trash/garbage anywhere without permit from the State. According to the state of Virginia Solid Waste Regulations, a new landfill must: 1. be constructed 200 feet away from a geologically active fault zones; 2. not be constructed within 10,000 feet of airport runway used by jet aircrafts; 3. not be constructed in 100-year floodplain (to be defined in class); 4. apply for and obtain permit before operation starts; 5. must be covered with low permeability soil at the end of each work day; Why? 6. not be constructed in wetlands (to be defined in class); 7. be constructed 100-feet away from regularly flowing surface water or river. Why? 8. The bottom (i.e. between the first set of garbage in a landfill and the original soil in the landfill) of a landfill must have an impervious liner (to be defined in class); 9. new landfill must have leachate collection system (to be defined in class); 10. be located at 200 feet from schools, homes, hospitals and nursing homes; 11. be located at 500 feet from groundwater wells and springs used as drinking water source. 12. Landfills do not accept liquid waste. 13. Additional explanations to clarify items #1 to 10 above will be provided in class. B. Scenario 1: You’ve just won election as the Chairman of Loudoun County (Virginia) Board of Supervisors. You won the election based on your “pro-landfill” position during the campaign. You promised to build new and modern landfills. A land developer who financially and substantially contributed to your election campaign, proposed to build a very large, modern and computerized landfill. This state-of-the-art landfill will solve the county solid waste problems once and for all. The proposal has come before the county council for a vote. Every council member must vote. 1 Your “pro-landfill” senior staff reviewed the proposal and provided you with the following summary. a. The landfill is proposed to be built at about 5 feet outside the 100-year floodplain of a major riverGoose Creek; and, 3 feet outside an active geologic fault zone. b. In order to increase the distance between the proposed landfill and a major Goose Creek floodplain, the developer proposed to buy, close down, and demolish a very popular senior citizen center. This senior citizen center is the home of well connected senior citizen such as former governors of Virginia, former United States senators and congressional representatives. An engineer for the developer also proposed to relocate and re-route a two-mile section of the major river, Goose Creek. The senior staff strongly recommends that you vote yes on this very important proposal. FYI, the land developer and three “pro-landfill” County Board members will be at you golf practice this evening. c. All other alternative landfill sites in the county are unsuitable for several reasons. B. Questions: a. As chairman of the County Board of Supervisors, how would you vote on this important land development proposal and why? b. Is it possible to properly manage the County solid wastes without building a landfill? Explain. c. Give two reasons why a landfill must not be built within 100 feet of regularly flowing rivers/stream. d. What are the reasons for leachate collection systems and liner beneath a new landfill? e. Give two reasons why new landfill should not be constructed within 50 feet from schools and homes. f. List five common contaminants found in landfill leachate. What are the sources of pollutants in landfill leachate? g. Why cover solid wastes in a landfill with soil at the end of each work day? h. What’s wrong with building an airport near (i.e. within 100 feet) a landfill? i. What is meant by vectors? C. Scenario 2: 2 You are the manager in charge of running the old county landfill. The old landfill used to be a rock quarry for greywacke (particular sandstone) as a building material. This 50-year old landfill had no liner nor leachate collection system. Two separate home owners: Mr. Rich Goodman; & Mrs. More Pain live in separate homes near the old landfill. Both homes and the landfill are underlain by the same rock, greywacke. Mr. Goodman lives 100 feet uphill from the old landfill; and Mrs. Pain lives 100 feet downhill from the old landfill. Both home owners are using separate groundwater wells as sources for drinking water. Importantly, both home owners have lived 100 feet from, and dumped their household wastes at the same old landfill for 50 years. Mr. Goodman sued the county landfill (i.e. your office) for $50 million dollars. He is also demanding the immediate closure of the old landfill. Goodman’s accusation is that leachate from the county old landfill leaked into groundwater and polluted his drinking water well. Pollutants in Mr. Goodman’s well water included mercury, lead, and benzene, a carcinogen (i.e. cancer causing agent). Mr. Goodman show results from chemical analyses of water samples from his well to substantiate his claims. You’ve learned from “a reliable source” that if you close the landfill, and pay Mr. Goodman $2 million for his property, he may be willing to drop his case and go away. Lawyers and geologic consultants for Mr. Goodman request to meet with you ASAP. D. Questions: 1. As the landfill general manager, would you ask the county to make deal and settle with Mr. Goodman for $2 million dollars, or legally fight/go to court and defend the county? Why? 2. Who should most likely be concerned, complaining or suing the county for groundwater well pollution: Mr. Goodman; or, Mrs. More Pain? Why? 3. Assume that the flow rate of groundwater in greywacke is 12 inches per year, and that leachate from the landfill is also traveling with groundwater at the same rate of 12 inches per year. If polluted groundwater from the landfill was flowing towards Mr. Goodman’s home as he had claimed, how long will it takes to reach and pollute his well? (Hint: change 12 inches to foot and use ratio and proportion). 4. To make more space in a landfill, it is a good idea for solid waste in a landfill to decompose faster. Adding water (e.g. infiltrating rain/snow melt) to solid waste in a landfill helps with faster decomposing. Is it a good idea to bury solid waste below the groundwater table (to be defined in class) beneath a landfill? Why or why not? 3 4
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Scenario 1

Questions:
a. As chairman of the County Board of Supervisors, how would you vote on this important land
development proposal and why?
As the chairman of the County Board of Supervision I would vote against building of the modern
landfill in Virginia County because it will go against the Virginia Solid Waste Regulations of
building a new landfill.
b. Is it possible to properly manage the County solid wastes without building a landfill? Explain.
It is possible for the County to manage solid waste without building a landfill which will include
alternative solid waste disposal/ management methods such as solid waste incinerator, composting,
waste-to-energy and recycling.
c. Give two reasons why a landfill must not be built within 100 feet of regularly flowing
rivers/stream.
A landfill should not be built within 100 feet of regularly flowing rivers/stream because the solid
waste in the land...


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