Landfill Gas Monitoring Bellam Blvd. Landfill aka San Rafael Landfill
31 Windward Way, San Rafael
Drilling and Well Installation: March 2024 Monitoring and Sampling: March 2024 through March 2025
On behalf of the City of San Rafael, Haley & Aldrich, Inc. is performing landfill site assessment and perimeter landfill gas monitoring and sampling at the Bellam Boulevard Landfill aka San Rafael Landfill located at 31 Windward Way in the City of San Rafael, California, as requested by the Marin County Environmental Health Services Division and the California Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery (CalRecycle). State of California regulations (Title 27, Section 20925 of the California Code of Regulations) require monitoring of landfill gas to determine if it is migrating beyond the permitted landfill facility boundary.
During a routine annual site inspection performed on March 9th 2022, methane gas was detected in a landfill gas monitoring well that is located near the center of the landfill. The methane gas was detected to be 14.5 percent (%) by volume (v/v) using a hand-held field gas detector. This detected methane gas concentration was above the allowable concentration of 5% v/v pursuant to Title 27, Section 20921(a)(2) and was a preliminary indicator that the site could still be producing methane gas.
What is the work?
- Installing six new single-level or multi-depth landfill gas monitoring wells along the perimeter of the landfill. The wells will be completed with an air-water tight well casing cap and a flush-mounted well box.
- The landfill gas monitoring well installations will involve workers using hand-held equipment (e.g., hand augers, probes) and drilling equipment such as truck- mounted drill rigs.
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- Once completed, the landfill gas monitoring wells will be monitored monthly and sampled quarterly.
- Sampling and monitoring will involve the collection of soil gas samples and field parameters using hand-held gas monitoring instruments.
- Collected samples will be sent to state-certified laboratories for analysis.
- Sampling results will be compiled into a report and reviewed by Marin County Environmental Health Services Division and the City of San Rafael.
What health and safety measures will be taken?
- Methane is a colorless, odorless gas and is easily ignited. No flames, hot work, or sparking equipment will be used or conducted near the work areas.
- During drilling work, the drilling area and worker breathing zone will be monitored using a portable multi-gas meter.
- The San Rafael Fire Department will be notified prior to the start of drilling work.
When will you see the work?
- Drilling and landfill gas well installation activities are expected to occur during the week of March 18th 2024.
- Monitoring activities will occur on a monthly basis and sampling activities will occur on a quarterly basis from March 2024 to March 2025.
- Work will take place on weekdays between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m.
Where will you see the work?
- Work will take place on public streets, sidewalks, and open space areas (with approval from the City of San Rafael), near the landfill boundaries shown on the enclosed map.
How will the work impact you?
- Portions of sidewalks, parking spaces and open space areas may be temporarily blocked off so that work can be conducted safely.
- There will be temporary noise impacts from drilling; work will be conducted according to the San Rafael Noise Ordinance.
Who will do the work?
- On behalf of the City of San Rafael, Haley & Aldrich, Inc. and their sub-contractors will be conducting the work.
IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THIS PROJECT, PLEASE CONTACT THE FOLLOWING:
BROOKE MELLIN, P.G.
Haley & Aldrich, Inc.
Project Manager (925) 949-1023
BMellin@HaleyAldrich.com
OMER UPPAL
Haley & Aldrich, Inc.
Technical Expert
(973) 658-3927
OUppal@HaleyAldrich.com
RYAN MONTES
City of San Rafael
Operations and Maintenance Manager
(415) 485-3373
Ryan.Montes@CityOfSanRafael.org
TARA ERFANI
Marin County Environmental Health Services
Solid Waste Program Supervisor
(415) 437-6917
TErfani@MarinCounty.org
DAWN LIANG
CalRecycle
(916) 341-6723
Dawn.Liang@CalRecycle.ca.gov
EMERGENCY PHONE NUMBERS: EMERGENCY: 911
SAN RAFAEL POLICE DEPARTMENT
NON-EMERGENCY: (415) 485-3000
SAN RAFAEL FIRE DEPARTMENT
NON-EMERGENCY: (415) 485-3304
Bellam Blvd. Landfill aka San Rafael Landfill
Landfill Gas Monitoring Wells and Sampling Locations
Drilling and Well Installation: March 2024 Monitoring and Sampling: March 2024 through March 2025
