G. Fred Lee

A Groundwater Protection Strategy for Lined Landfills

EPAs groundwater monitoring program, ostensibly designed to detect failure of landfill liners for Subtitle C (hazardous waste) and Subtitle D (municipal solid waste) waste management facilities, does not support reliable early detection of groundwater pollution. A significantly different approach is needed to address the fundamental flaws in the design of the EPA program, which is being adopted by states to detect leakage from lined landfills. This strategy would utilize a leak detection system within the landfill liner and would require a reliable source of funds for the inevitable need for exhumation of landfill wastes once a leak is detected.