Page County, Virginia
Luray, VA (PRWEB) June 23, 2016
SCS Engineers, an environmental consulting and contracting firm, teamed up with Page County, Virginia, beginning in 2002 to maintain and improve the pristine environment of this beautiful region of the Commonwealth. Page County’s Director of Solid Waste and Recycling, Lynda Minke, along with Amity N. Moler, Page County’s Administrator, proactively plan for the health and welfare of the County’s environment to protect its citizens and many visitors. Over the years the partnership between the County and SCS has grown and successfully continues to protect the environment with beneficial planning, construction, environmental monitoring and operations services. The primary focus is on proper landfill and solid waste management which protects the environment while also controlling costs.
SCS’s ecofriendly services include studies, models, and analyses to meet the landfill and recycling needs of the local communities, including addressing the impact of the many visitors who vacation in the area each year. SCS Engineers developed a proforma financial model of Page County’s municipal solid waste landfill operations to assist the County in evaluating the feasibility of operating the Battle Creek Landfill. As part of more recent fiscal planning, the County commissioned SCS to update the model to provide the County with a tool for forecasting capital and operational expenses and establishing sufficient tipping fees to fund the County’s solid waste operations. SCS’s proforma model enables the County to track current expenses and project future expenses and to establish appropriate tipping fees to fund its waste programs well into the future.
SCS also redesigned, prepared construction plans, and managed Construction Quality Assurance (CQA) for the Battle Creek Landfill to increase capacity. The installation of modern technology and systems helps to protect water, soil, and air quality.
The Stanley Landfill, which is officially closed and can no longer receive waste, nevertheless has ongoing landfill gas operations, monitoring and maintenance responsibilities that are overseen by the County. The County and SCS work together to complete and submit the required monitoring plans and reports to the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (VDEQ). Semi-annual groundwater monitoring continues; should results indicate remedial action may be necessary the County can quickly assess the situation and correct it. Testing results are shared at public meetings and reported to the VDEQ.
SCS provides operation and maintenance services for the landfill gas (LFG) extraction and flaring system on a monthly schedule along with the monitoring of the landfill perimeter using LFG probes. The County asked SCS to evaluate the active LFG extraction and control system, including the flare. Based on the evaluations, the County decided to make modifications to the flare to support its long-term operation. SCS then assisted the County with a LFG Remediation Plan to maximize safety and modernize leachate treatment, saving the County money while improving operational excellence.
Page County residents enjoy free disposal of household/residential bagged waste at Battle Creek Landfill. Two drop-off facilities are designed to handle tires, construction debris, and sludge materials, and the County has a robust recycling program that includes plastics, electronics, cardboard/paper, metal, appliances, any color of glass/ceramics, and aluminum cans. “Financially and logistically, solid waste management is a challenge,” stated Amity Moler. “Even with good management most municipalities and counties do not provide free waste disposal for their residents.”
When asked why the County is so proactive about protecting its environment, Lynda Minke replied, “Page County is heaven for outdoor enthusiasts, and we intend to keep it that way for our citizens and for the many people who come to this part of Virginia – we’re a retreat from concrete and noise; beautiful, clean, and friendly. “
About SCS Engineers
SCS Engineers environmental solutions are a direct result of our experience and dedication to solid waste management and other industries responsible for safeguarding the environment. For more information about SCS, please visit our website at http://www.scsengineers.com.
