Environmental Impact Assessment For Domestic Solid Waste Landfill Project

N. Atiyat, M. Mosa Environmental Research Center Royal Scientific Society Amman - Jordan

ABSTRACT Domestic solid waste landfill causes major negative environmental impacts if not managed in proper manner. In Jordan the number of domestic solid waste landfills has increased to twenty four distributed in different cities and municipalities, some of them have a direct negative impact on environment and public. This paper presents an Environmental Impact assessment (EIA) study for the domestic solid waste landfill project. EIA is a process that should be carried out as early as possible in order to prevent or minimize the potential negative impacts on the environment and enhance the positive ones by proposing proper mitigation measures. According to EIA Jordanian draft guidelines a comprehensive EIA should be carried out for domestic solid waste landfill project. The significant relevant environmental issues and concerns have been identified for the project phases with respect to the valued environmental components that are public health, occupational health and safety, fauna and flora, socioeconomic conditions, water resources and archeology. The key environmental issues were evaluated to predict the impacts on environment. In addition, mitigation measures and monitoring plan were proposed to prevent or minimize the negative impacts and to enhance positive effects. INTRODUCTION Domestic solid waste landfills became a major environmental problem worldwide. Jordan is no exception, there are existing landfills with many pollution problems and have generated a large controversy among the concerned public. There is a public demand to avoid these environmental problems for future landfill sites. Environmental impact assessment became as a requirement by the international and national authorities to address for the new established projects. EIA is an environmental management tool aiming at identifying environmental problems and providing solutions to prevent or minimize these problems to the accepted levels. It also provides an environmental management plan, which includes a monitoring program.
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ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT TYPES EIA Jordanian draft guidelines identify the types of EIA required for the new projects and categorize projects into three classes as follows: Class A projects: which require full or comprehensive environmental impact assessment where domestic solid waste landfill projects are within this class. Class B projects: these projects are not clear if an environmental impact assessment study is needed or not. So, limited EIA study is required to understand the interactions between projects and the environment to be able to decide if comprehensive EIA study is needed or the limited EIA study is enough. Class C projects: EIA is not required for projects within this category.

COMPREHENSIVE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT STAGES Comprehensive EIA study normally consists of the following stages: Screening: it is the responsibility of the regulatory authority to identify the need and the type of EIA required for the proposed project. Scoping: this stage is one of the most important stages of the EIA study, since different stakeholders (public, NGOs, local communities and relevant regulatory authorities) participate in this stage to obtain the following output: Project interactions with key environmental issues to be included in the EIA study. The boundaries of these issues. The legal requirements Finalized term of references Assessing: selected key environmental issues should be evaluated according to specified assessing methods such as; mathematical modeling, metrics and professional judgment. Significancy criteria should be established at this stage for impact evaluations (direct/ indirect, extent, duration, frequency, reversibility and level of impact significant). Also the roots of impact should be understood in this stage to be able to intercept and mitigate them in the next stage. Mitigation Measures: all significant key environmental issues resulting from the above stage should be mitigated to prevent or minimize their impacts on the environment. An environmental management plan should be produced from this stage to handle environmental affairs throughout the project life. Monitoring: there are two types of monitoring; compliance monitoring conducted by the regulatory authorities to insure project environmental activities compliance with local regulations, and internal monitoring carried out by the project proponent to monitor the effectiveness of the mitigation measures proposed by the EIA studies and its capabilities to meet local requirements.

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Reporting: the findings of the study should be prepared in a report according to the term of references and submitted to the regulatory authority for reviewing and approval purposes. Reviewing: the submitted reports shall be reviewed against the finalized term of references by the regulatory authority before approval.

ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT PHASES FOR LANDFILL PROJECTS Comprehensive EIA study should cover the following project phases Planning phase Design phase Construction phase Operation phase Closuring phase Accidental and malfunctional phase LEGAL REQUIREMENTS FOR LANDFILL PROJECT The major regulatory and concerned authorities, which should be consulted during conducting EIA study for landfill projects are as follows: General Corporation for Environment Protection (GCEP). Ministry of Health - Directorate of Environmental Health. - Directorate of Disease Prevention and General Safety, Occupational Health Division. General Civil Defense Directorate. Department of Archeology. Ministry of Labor. Water Authority. A summary of the responsibilities of these authorities is outlined in Table (1). Table (1): Summary of responsibilities of some relevant regulatory authorities Authority Responsibility GCEP Permitting prior to construction (EIA report is required). Inspection during operation. Permitting prior to operation: this is done through an inspection visit, and then permits are obtained from Directorates of Health. Inspection during operation. Sets requirements prior to construction (construction plans including fire fighting and emergency systems + procedures) Permitting before operation (after checking that all requirements are in place). Inspection during operation.
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Ministry of Health

General Civil Defense Directorate

Department of Archeology Ministry of Labor Water Authority

Permitting in case of existence of Archaeological remains. Inspection during construction if needed. Inspection during operation. Supplying water needs during different phases and drilling wells permitting.

POTENTIAL IMPACTS OF PROJECT ACTIVITIES ON VALUED ENVIRONMENTAL COMPONENTS The major valued environmental components related to such projects are as follows: Public health Occupation health and safety Socio-economic conditions Fauna and flora Water resources Archeology Following are the significant environmental aspects and concerns with their potential impacts during the project phases. Public Health It may be affected by the project activities as follows: Construction phase - Noise - Dust The local people may be exposed to high noise and dust levels during landscaping, access road and site preparation. Operation phase - Gas emissions: exposure of local people to biogas emission generated at the landfill site may affect on health - Noise: The local people may be exposed to high noise levels during unloading and compacting the solid waste. - Dust: The local people may be exposed to high dust levels during constructing new cells. - Traffic accidents: local people may be affected by the traffic accidents during transportation of the solid waste. - Waste dispersion: local people may be annoyed due to the waste dispersion during transportation or resulting from the scavengers. - Odor: local people may be annoyed due to odor resulting from improper covering of the cells. - Infectious diseases: impact of animals and insects existing in the site may resulting in diseases and annoyance to the local people. Closuring phase - Gaseous emissions: the emission of biogas generated may affect on public health. - Noise resulting from biogas electricity generator may annoy the locals
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Occupational Health and Safety It may affected by the project activities as follows: Construction phase - Noise - Dust The workers may be exposed to high noise and dust levels during landscaping, access road and site preparation. Operation phase - Noise: The workers may be exposed to high noise levels during unloading and compacting the solid waste. - Dust: the workers may be exposed to high levels of dust during new cell construction, unloading and covering the cell. - Gaseous emissions: the biogas emissions generated may affect on the workers due to improper compacting cell cover. - Hazardous waste: probable existence of hazardous waste entering the site may affect on the workers if not managed in proper manner. - Odor: workers may annoy due to odor resulting from improper covering and dumping in the site. Socio-Economic Conditions The project will influence the socio-economic conditions within the local area as follows: Construction phase - Employment: the share of local employment should be considered carefully during all construction activities. - Visual impacts: this issue will result from disposal of debris and dispersion of solid waste generated from the workers. Operation phase - Employment: locals are concerned about sharing in jobs opportunities. This issue should be gained more attention with regard to training. - Business prosperity: the supply of spare parts and consumable from local market is expected to enhance local life quality. Closuring phase - Rehabilitation of landfill: a program for designing a final landscape and site restoration should be provided. - Electricity generation: the electricity generated from the biogas will be supplied to the locals. - Treated leachate: the treated leachate may be reused for irrigation purpose. Fauna and Flora Construction phase - Dust: fauna and flora species may be exposed to high levels of dust during excavation of the landscaping, site preparation and access road. - Direct damage: removal of the soil cover will in turn destruct the vegetation and destroy the inhabitants
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Operation phase - Dust: fauna and flora species may be exposed to high levels of dust during constructing new cells and unloading the wastes. - Solid waste: dispersed the solid waste during the transportation and unloading will affect directly on the sheep. Water Resources Water resources will be affected by the project activities: Construction phase - Water demand for soil compaction. - Ground water pollution: groundwater may be contaminated due Machines maintenance (oil spills). Domestic wastewater resulting from workers. Operation phase - Hazardous waste: concern of groundwater contamination resulting from illegal dumping of hazardous wastes. - Leachate treatment unit: a concern of the treatment unit should be installed on a paved area and be lined to prevent leachate leakage to the groundwater. - Reuse option: reuse of the treated leachate for irrigation uses and/or recycling to the top of the landfill is considered as major issue Archeology Unseen archeological remains (if any) might be affected during landscaping and site preparation. ASSESSMENT After collecting the relevant available data, the data gap should be identified and fulfilled by conducting the required studies. For landfill project the major studies that should be carried out are: water resources, public health (air quality and noise) and archeology. The major issues of concern regarding archeology are destroying archaeological sites and discovering any archaeological remains while landscaping, site preparation and constructing new cells. So a team of archaeologists should carry out an archaeological survey for the proposed site. In order to assess the potential groundwater pollution, a study should be conducted to identify the geological and climatology information for the proposed site followed by a modeling to investigate the groundwater pollution risk (time to reach water table and pollution extend). For public health assessment a monitoring program of noise levels and ambient air quality (gaseous emission and dust) should be conducted to establish baseline data, then a mathematical modeling should be implemented to determine these parameters at the nearest residential area for comparing the result with national standards and regulations.

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MITIGATION MEASURES AND MONITORING PROGRAM Following are the main mitigation measures and monitoring program that should be implemented in order to reduce the potential negative impacts: Public Health Control of dust during construction activities and transportation of materials. Proper handling of dispersed solid waste during transportation and storage Proper handling and taking safety requirements of collection and storage of the solid waste to prevent odor generated. Taking restrict control on animals and insects (vector diseases) like dogs, cats, ratsetc. Applying of continuous cover over the cell during the operation to prevent odor impact. Controlling the existence of the scavengers at the storage of the solid waste to prevent firing and dispersion of the wastes. Noise levels should be controlled during the construction and operation activities. Also, the biogas electricity generator should be design according to the Jordanian Noise Regulations. A monitoring program should be implemented covering monitoring of noise levels and ambient air quality. Occupational Health and Safety Control of dust during construction activities and transportation of materials. Implementation of safety procedures and availability of safety equipment for workers. Training and awareness of drivers and workers on proper handling of waste and personal protective equipments. Applying routine medical exams for workers. Training of employees to identify hazardous waste and proper safety procedure on handling and reporting such items. The domestic wastewater resulting during construction and operation phases should be collected and managed in safe manner. Socio-Economic Conditions The project would have major positive impacts on the locals. The following recommendations are to enhance the positive effects of the project: The project will increase the economic activities of the locals in different sectors such as transportation, commerce, repair maintenanceetc. Supply the electricity power that generated from biogas utilization. Fauna and Flora The endogenous trees or plants should be used when rehabilitant the site. Restrict activities as much as possible to the project site and allocate track roads for construction. Hunting and collection of wildlife, especially residents and migratory raptures should be strictly forbidden
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The rehabilitation of the landfill upon the closure should be established.

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Water Resources During construction phase, the solid waste generated from human activities and consumable parts should be collected in closed bins and disposed at nearest dumping site. The waste oil produced from vehicles and machines during the construction and operation phases should be collected in containers and sent to the petroleum refinery company Domestic wastewater generated from workers at the site during the construction and operation phases should handled and disposed in an environmentally safe manner. It can be collected in closed tanks and handled to the nearest domestic wastewater treatment plant. Treatment of the leachate: the treatment unit of leachate should be provided with proper lining system such as high density polyethylene (HDPE) supported by a homogenous sub-base material. The treatment unit of leachate should be designed in a way that allows routine inspection responding to cases of emergency leakage due to cracks. The reuse option of the leachate by recycling to the landfill or for irrigation use should be identified and implemented. Leachate collection system bottom of the landfill should be installed in a way can be inspected periodically responding to leakage cases due to cracks or settlements. Periodical inspections of leachate system should be implemented. Groundwater should be monitored periodically by taking samples from monitored well. Archeology If the archeological study come out with the possibility of discovering any antiquities or archeological items in the proposed site, it is essential during the construction phase to provide strict instructions to contractors and construction crew to pause construction work and excavations. Such discoveries should be reported to the Department of Antiquities. The department of Antiquities may in such cases recommend certain measures to protect the found items at the site depending on their importance and significance. CONCLUSIONS Environmental impact assessment is a process of identifying, predicting evaluating and mitigating the biophysical, social and other relevant effort of development proposal prior to major decision being taken and commitments made. EIA shall be made as early as possible in the project, so that the results of EIA can influence the design of the project and decision to provide support. For domestic solid waste landfill a comprehensive EIA should be carried out taking into account all relevant valued environmental components that resulting from the consultation with stakeholders and community. The domestic solid waste landfill is harmful because it affected to human health and / or the environment (water resources, biodiversity, archeology and socioeconomic conditions) if not managed properly. So a proper management plan including mitigation measures and monitoring program should be implemented
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for such project to prevent or minimize the potential impacts on the environment. REFERENCES Environmental Researches Foundation. (1995), The Basic of Landfills, website: the basic of lanfills.htm. World Bank Technical Paper, Environmental Assessment Sourcebook, The World Bank, Washington, D.C. Lee F., Jones L. (1996), Superfund Site Remediation By on Site RCRA Landfills: Inadequacies in Providing Groundwater Quality Protection, website: landfills and water quality management.htm. Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency. (1998), Guidelines for Environmental Impact Assessment in International Development Cooperation, Pages 34 42, Sida. Tchobanoglous G., Theisen H., Elissen R. (1977), Solid Waste: Engineering Principles and Management Issues,McGraw-Hill LTD.

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