Supervisors adopt EIR for landfill project
The Yolo County Division of Integrated Waste Management is working to revise the solid waste facility permit for the Yolo County Central Landfill in an effort to operate more efficiently and economically.
The landfill — located in unincorporated Yolo County near the intersection of County Roads 28H and 104 between the cities of Woodland and Davis — covers 725 acres. The site includes several discrete areas that are currently permitted for disposal.
“The purpose of the proposed changes would be to decrease environmental impacts while increasing environmental benefits through the implementation of certain project elements,” Stephanie Cormier, principal planner for the Department of Community Services, told the Board of Supervisors on Tuesday.
The revisions would work to reduce waste from the landfill, reduce environmental impacts of landfill operations, decrease greenhouse gas emissions, increase the recovery of materials and energy from waste, diversity operations and extend the facility’s lifespan without increasing the facility’s footprint.
The proposed Environmental Impact Report (EIR) analyzed 15 project elements, Cormier explained.
“Not all project elements would be developed, nor would they be developed simultaneously but could be developed within the next 15 to 20 years,” Cormier said.
Cormier noted that one of the key project elements highlighted in the report was the increased daily tonnage and the increased daily vehicles, which would likely be implemented almost immediately after the permit is authorized for revision.
The current solid waste facility permit limits incoming waste to 1,800 tons per day and does not account for seasonal peaks.
The revision would expand overall permitted tonnage to a monthly average of 2,500 tons per day with a daily peak of 3,000 tons per day. The increase in the revised permit would also allow for these peak conditions such as leaf season, receiving liquid waste, wet weather construction dewatering and hauls from the future off-site borrow pit. It would also account for population increases.
“The increase could also allow the county to receive out-of-county waste, such as liquid waste, and increase the economic benefits,” Cormier emphasized.
Combined with other project elements, the increased tonnage would also increase permitted waste hauling vehicles by 258 vehicles.
Other projects identified in the EIR included a nonspecific future off-site borrow area, a wood pellet facility, additional groundwater pumping, a transfer station and a large-scale floating solar photovoltaic system.
“The draft EIR identified project impacts by considering all project elements and proposes mitigation to reduce adverse environmental impacts to less than significant levels,” Cormier stated.
Cormier did note, however, that the project could result in the conversion of farmland to a non-agricultural use if the off-site borrow area is developed. The borrow site would require additional or future environmental land use, zoning considerations and a mining permit to allow for soil borrow operations and soil extraction. Cormier said the project would require county approval through a Statement of Override Consideration.
Supervisors voted to certify the final EIR, as well as adopt a Statement of Override Consideration and approve the revision project.