Border Environment Cooperation Commission
South
Central Solid Waste Authority
Solid
Waste Landfill Expansion,
Transfer
Station Improvements and Equipment Replacement
City
of Las Cruces and Dona Ana County, NM
1.
Type
of Project.
The project consists of the expansion of the Municipal Solid Waste Landfill
(MSWL), by opening the second cell, improvements to the transfer station and
the replacement of the operation and maintenance equipment for the South
Central Solid Waste Authority (SCSWA) in Dona Ana County, NM.
2.
Project
Location.
The SCSWA, the project sponsor, is located in Dona Ana County in the State of
New Mexico, approximately 35 miles north of the U.S./Mexico border, and is
located inside the 62-mile border zone.
The current population of Dona Ana County, including the City of Las
Cruces, is approximately 176,000, and the population is
expected to reach 245,000 in the year 2020.
|
|
3. Project Description and Work Tasks
The project consists of the expansion of the SCSWA’s MSWL, by the
construction of a second cell, repairs to the transfer station and the
replacement of the operation and maintenance equipment. The MSWL will serve
most of the County’s existing population. In 1990, Dona Ana County and the City
of Las Cruces entered into an agreement to cooperate and seek solutions to
solid waste disposal problems on a regional basis. The SCSWA was created to
provide solid waste transfer and disposal services to the areas of Dona Ana
County, including the City of Las Cruces. The New Mexico Environment Department
(NMED) issued permits # SWM-071306 and SWM-071307 for the Corralitos landfill
and the transfer station, respectively. The permit for the Corralitos landfill
cover the entire 640 acre site. The city acquired some used equipment and
leased other equipment to operate and maintain the SCSWA’s facilities.
The SCSWA’s landfill facility is divided in east and west phases, the east
phase was divided into 11 cells with typical cells averaging 20 acres in area.
Cell 1 was constructed in 1995 and began operation in 1996. In 2000, Cell 1
began approaching capacity and construction of Cell 2 was started. Because
funding limitation, only half of Cell 2 was developed (Cell 2A). At this time,
cell 2A is approaching its capacity and the SCSWA needs to start the
construction of the remaining Cell 2 (Cell 2B).
When the SCSWA started operation, in 1996, the heavy equipment purchased for
the operation and maintenance of the facility, was already used but in good
condition. At this time the SCSWA intends to replace all of the operation and
maintenance equipment due to the fact the equipment has reached its useful
life, and intends to evaluate the leasing of other equipment.
4. Compliance with International Treaties and Agreements. The project will not have
any international impact, as all operations are monitored and approved by the
NMED. The MSWL will not receive or send waste from or to other sites.
1.
Human Health/Environmental
Need. The project will address
human health and environmental concerns by providing adequate solid waste
collection and disposal for the residents of Dona Ana County and City of Las
Cruces.
The existing City’s Municipal Solid Waste Landfill (MSWL)
facility east phase was designed for eleven (11) cells, Cell 2A has a remaining
life of approximately 6 months. In order for the SCSWA to continue utilizing its
MSWL, a Cell 2B must be constructed and in operation on or before the first
cell is full and closed.
The
project will allow the citizens of Dona Ana County and the surrounding areas to
continue to properly dispose of municipal solid waste. This project minimizes
potential for illegal dumping in and around the city due to the proximity of
the MSWL.
2. Environmental
Assessment. The SCSWA
was granted a permit to operate and maintain a MSWL facility in 1995 from the
NMED, and began operation in 1996. An environmental Assessment was performed
for the Corralitos landfill site during the master planning stage. In addition
an archaeological study report, a geotechnical investigation and endanger and
threatened plant and animal species was conducted for the site.
3.
Compliance with
Environmental and Cultural Resource Laws and Regulations.
The
project complies with all and Environmental and Cultural Laws and regulations
based on the application of the Federal Subtitle D rules, and the NMED
technical guidance.
1.
Appropriate
Technology. The technology utilized for the operation
and maintenance of the SCSWA facilities is the appropriate for the type and
size for these facilities. Since 1996, the facility is being operated in
accordance to NMED regulations.
As
required by the permit, following are some of technical issues addressed in
this report:
Solid
Waste Data
The
SCSWA facility is used for the disposal of municipal solid waste and for waste
consisting exclusively of brush and materials from construction-demolition
activities. These wastes are generated from commercial establishments, light
industries, institutions, offices, residences and construction site located
primarily within Dona Ana County, and consists of similar proportions of
materials, paper, glass, metals, etc., as typical municipal waste.
The
City of Las Cruces implemented a recycling program where containers for
recyclable materials (i.e. glass, paper, plastics, cardboard, etc) are
available to the public at a centralized location. The SCSWA provides an
area within the Transfer Station to conduct the recycling operation.
Landfill construction and operation is the same
for both normal municipal solid waste and construction-demolition waste except
for the frequency of soil cover.
Mixed waste (municipal and industrial) may be
accepted for disposal at the site, except that Class I, industrial
non-hazardous solid waste, may be accepted only if special provisions for such
disposal and special handling procedures are approved by the NMED. Class I
industrial non-hazardous solid waste, hazardous waste, or radioactive waste is
not proposed for this site.
Projected/Recorded
Waste Quantities in SCSWA Service Area.
|
Fiscal Year |
Population |
Recorded Waste Received at Transfer Station (ton) |
Estimated Waste Received at Transfer Station (ton) |
Compacted Volume at Landfill (cy) |
Cumulative Volume Received at Landfill (cy) |
|
96 - 97 |
157,368 |
115,247 |
--- |
288,117 |
288,117 |
|
97 - 98 |
161,522 |
120,022 |
--- |
300,055 |
588,172 |
|
98 - 99 |
165,786 |
124,020 |
--- |
310,049 |
898,221 |
|
99 - 00 |
170,163 |
126,332 |
--- |
315,830 |
1,214,051 |
|
00 - 01 |
174,682 |
116,748 |
--- |
291,871 |
1,505,922 |
|
01 - 02 |
179,922 |
117,714 |
--- |
294,285 |
1,800,207 |
|
02 - 03 |
185,320 |
--- |
122,275 |
305,688 |
2,105,895 |
|
03 - 04 |
190,880 |
--- |
125,943 |
314,858 |
2,420,752 |
|
04 - 05 |
196,606 |
--- |
129,722 |
324,305 |
2,745,057 |
|
05 - 06 |
202,504 |
--- |
133,613 |
334,033 |
3,079,090 |
|
06 - 07 |
208,579 |
--- |
137,622 |
344,055 |
3,423,145 |
|
07 - 08 |
214,836 |
--- |
141,750 |
354,375 |
3,777,520 |
|
08 - 09 |
221,282 |
--- |
146,003 |
365,008 |
4,142,527 |
|
09 - 10 |
227,920 |
--- |
150,383 |
375,958 |
4,518,485 |
|
10 - 11 |
234,757 |
--- |
154,894 |
387,235 |
4,905,720 |
|
11 - 12 |
239,452 |
--- |
159,541 |
398,853 |
5,304,572 |
|
12 - 13 |
244,241 |
--- |
164,327 |
410,818 |
5,715,390 |
|
13 - 14 |
249,126 |
--- |
169,257 |
423,143 |
6,138,532 |
|
14 - 15 |
254,109 |
--- |
174,335 |
435,838 |
6,574,370 |
|
15 - 16 |
259,191 |
--- |
179,565 |
448,913 |
7,023,282 |
|
16 - 17 |
264,375 |
--- |
184,952 |
462,380 |
7,485,662 |
|
17 - 18 |
269,662 |
--- |
190,500 |
476,250 |
7,961,912 |
|
18 - 19 |
275,055 |
--- |
196,215 |
490,538 |
8,452,450 |
|
19 - 20 |
280,556 |
--- |
202,102 |
505,255 |
8,957,705 |
|
20 - 21 |
286,167 |
--- |
208,165 |
520,413 |
9,478,117 |
|
21 - 22 |
291,890 |
--- |
212,328 |
530,820 |
10,008,937 |
Deposition
Rate and Operating Life
The operating life of the
site depends upon the volume of waste material ultimately requiring disposal
and the rate at which the waste material is brought to the site for disposal.
The design solid waste disposal rate utilized in this site application was
approximately 335 tons per day. The compaction operation accomplished at this
landfill is anticipated to obtain a waste material density of approximately 2.5
cubic yard/ton in place.
The volume available
for solid waste disposal is termed air space, and the approximately air space
in the landfill is:
Cell “1”
1,425,000 C.Y.
Cell “2A” 2,413,167 C.Y.
Cell “2B” 3,401,333 C.Y.
Projected Expansion of the Corralitos Regional Landfill East
Phase
|
Fiscal Year |
Cumulative Volume Received at Landfill (cy) |
Cell No. |
Length (ft) |
Width (ft) |
Cover Height (ft) |
Available Volume (cy) |
Adjusted Available Volume (cy) |
Cumulative. Available Volume (cy) |
|
96
- 97 |
288,117 |
Cell
1 |
850 |
1,200 |
60 |
2,266,667 |
1,425,000 |
1,425,000 |
|
97
- 98 |
588,172 |
|
||||||
|
98
- 99 |
898,221 |
|||||||
|
99
- 00 |
1,214,051 |
|||||||
|
00
- 01 |
1,505,922 |
Started Construction of Cell 2A |
||||||
|
01
- 02 |
1,800,207 |
Cell
2A |
385 |
1,200 |
70 |
1,197,778 |
988,167 |
2,413,167 |
|
02
- 03 |
2,105,895 |
|
||||||
|
03
- 04 |
||||||||