Q: Who uses the Tontitown Landfill?

A: Waste Management services the waste needs of more than 60,000 residential, industrial and commercial customers in Northwest Arkansas. More than 95 percent of the municipal solid waste disposed at Tontitown Landfill originates from Washington, Benton and Madison Counties.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency estimates that each person generates approximately 4.4 pounds of trash a day. In 2005, the Tri-County Solid Waste District projects that nearly 476,000 tons of waste will be generated from Benton, Madison and Washington Counties.

Q: Do you accept out-of-state waste?

A: More than 95 percent of the municipal solid waste disposed at Tontitown Landfill originates from Washington, Benton and Madison Counties. There is an insignificant amount of out-of-state waste disposed of at the Tontitown Landfill.

Q: Who inspects and monitors the Tontitown Landfill?

A: Oversight is important at the landfill to ensure environmental protection, and it involves many people and redundant checks and balances. The Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) is the primary regulatory agency. ADEQ reviews and issues operating permits for waste disposal and conducts unannounced inspections of the landfill.

Upon an inspector's arrival, the Tontitown Landfill is required to provide any environmental information requested. The ADEQ inspector reviews and inspects landfill operations, including the waste disposal area, weigh station, leachate collection tanks, and record-keeping.

In addition, Waste Management conducts self-inspections. Our company-wide Environmental Compliance program mandates routine inspection of each function of the landfill operations. Where applicable, independent monitoring and laboratory testing is performed by approved third-party companies and is submitted to the ADEQ.

Waste Management has a full-time environmental engineer (registered in Arkansas) who oversees the Tontitown Landfill. There is also a full-time compliance manager who oversees the environmental protection systems at the landfill and fulfills state record-keeping and reporting requirements. At the landfill itself, there is a management team, licensed by ADEQ, with responsibility for daily operations.

Q: What safeguards are in place at the Tontitown Landfill to protect the groundwater and surface water?

A: Protecting groundwater and nearby streams is a very important part of our business. It is included in all phases of development, from the initial planning, through the permitting process, during operations and even after closure.

The Tontitown Landfill is the only landfill in Arkansas to have a double composite liner system consisting of a primary composite liner system and a secondary composite liner system on the bottom, both designed to provide impermeable layers that protect groundwater. The primary liner system and the secondary liner system are constructed with two feet of compacted clay (or engineered equivalent approved by the ADEQ) and a very durable high-density polyethylene (HDPE) plastic liner that is chemical resistant to corrosion and damage.

We also operate a gas collection and recovery system to remove landfill gases that might impact groundwater. We maintain a series of groundwater monitoring wells around the border of the landfill. Each well is monitored regularly to make sure the groundwater remains unaffected. They are sampled and tested by a certified independent laboratory and reviewed by qualified personnel and submitted directly to ADEQ.

To manage storm water runoff, the Tontitown Landfill uses silt fences, rock dams, erosion control mats, and other best management practices.

Q: Please summarize your groundwater testing program and results.

A: Waste Management strives to ensure groundwater protection by analyzing samples from 10 permanent groundwater monitoring wells on the active portion of the landfill. Over the past two years, up to 17 additional wells have been tested for groundwater quality around the perimeter of the landfill.

Groundwater wells are installed in order to monitor groundwater conditions. Waste Management monitors for 60 organic and inorganic compounds and metals. Groundwater monitoring wells are sampled and inspected on a regular basis and analyzed by an independent laboratory. The reports are submitted to the ADEQ for review.

Since Waste Management acquired the Tontitown Landfill, there have been limited groundwater detections of very low levels of cadmium and vinyl chloride. As a result, Waste Management implemented a "Nature and Extent Study" to determine what was causing the presence of cadmium and vinyl chloride in some of the wells. The study, completed in late 2003, determined that the cadmium was naturally occurring and that the vinyl chloride was derived from the presence of landfill gas. However, the study found both compounds were limited to landfill property. There has been no reportable detection of these compounds in wells monitored outside of the landfill boundaries.

Waste Management has taken aggressive corrective measures to reduce the levels of these compounds, including the final capping in some areas and the installation of an extensive landfill gas collection system. The gas collection system has significantly reduced the presence of cadmium and vinyl chloride. We continue to expand the gas collection system as needed to minimize the presence of these compounds.

Q: Why does the Tontitown Landfill burn landfill gas?

A: Much of the waste that is created is disposed of in a landfill, where it decomposes in a biological process, similar to a compost pile. As waste decomposes naturally, it produces landfill gas. This gas is then collected through a system that includes wells, collection pipes and a compressor to create a vacuum. The landfill gas is then removed and safely destroyed by a centrally located flare. The silent flare is permitted by the ADEQ Air Quality Division and has no adverse impact on public health or safety.

Q: Why is it necessary to expand the Tontitown Landfill?

A: Northwest Arkansas has seen its population grow by more than 45 percent over the past decade. It is now the sixth fastest-growing region in America, with a 60 percent employment growth in the last decade. The Milken Institute recently ranked the Fayetteville, Springdale and Rogers Metropolitan Statistical Area as the nation's top performer in 2003 for job growth.

Even with an increased effort to improve recycling, there is still a significant need for sufficient landfill space. In 2005, the Tri-County Solid Waste District projects that nearly 476,000 tons of waste will be generated from Benton, Madison and Washington Counties.

This continued growth requires the appropriate infrastructure, including the ability to handle the increased volume of waste for the region.

In July 2004, the company filed with the ADEQ two permit modification applications that include detailed design and operation plans for an expansion of the Tontitown Landfill. The proposed expansion includes a lateral expansion consisting of newly constructed landfill cells covering 55 acres already owned by Waste Management, which will add more than 5 million tons of capacity. A separate filing also includes a vertical expansion to provide for 1.5 million tons of capacity over currently permitted areas. With the lateral and vertical expansion, the Tontitown Landfill will still retain approximately 400 acres as buffer area around the landfill.

Based on the projected volume of waste to be generated in the Tri-County Solid Waste District, Waste Management's proposed expansion will provide for 13 additional years of capacity.

The expansion and continued operation of the Tontitown Landfill provide the following benefits:

Q: What is the process for obtaining approval for the expansion?

A: The ADEQ process for reviewing a permit modification application for an expansion is extensive and involves several opportunities for public participation. Here is a summary of the permitting process:

Step I: Pre-Application

Waste Management is required to inform ADEQ and the public that it is planning an expansion. The company provides information related to location, maps and preliminary soil conditions report. The ADEQ conducts a preliminary site investigation to determine general suitability of the site.

Step II: Application

Waste Management submits an application that includes a hydrogeologic report, groundwater monitoring plan, design plans and specifications, operating plans, and closure plan. ADEQ reviews the application and if all required application documents are submitted, the agency will declare the application "administratively complete."

Once declared "administratively complete," Waste Management is required to publish a legal notice in the local newspaper and the public has 10 business days to request a public meeting.

ADEQ staff next undertakes a comprehensive review of the application documents for technical merit. Waste Management is required to respond to any technical deficiencies noted by staff.

Step III: Draft Permit

If ADEQ staff determines the expansion can be safely built and managed according to environmental regulations, the agency prepares a draft permit. A draft permit contains specific conditions for building and operating the expansion.

Step IV: Public Comment

At this time, ADEQ publishes a legal notice in the local newspaper that begins a 30-day public comment period. A public hearing may be called, depending on comments received.

Step V: Final Permit

After considering the public comments, ADEQ determines whether to issue a final permit to construct and operate the expansion.

Q: What is the environmental record for the Tontitown Landfill?

A: Since 1998, waste received for disposal at the Tontitown Landfill has been placed in a double composite liner system consisting of a primary composite liner and a secondary composite liner on the bottom. This double composite liner system exceeds landfill design requirements (Subtitle D) of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The Tontitown Landfill has been designed in accordance with the established design standards of the Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) as set forth by Regulation 22. Complete information on ADEQ solid waste regulations can be found at http://www.adeq.state.ar.us.

The ADEQ inspects the Tontitown Landfill on a regular basis. These unannounced inspections include a thorough review of facility operations and records. The Tontitown Landfill consistently meets or exceeds state and federal environmental standards. · In 2003, the Tontitown Landfill was ranked in the top third of Arkansas landfills for environmental compliance. · The ADEQ regularly inspects the Tontitown Landfill, which has consistently received the state's best ranking. · As of June 2004, the Tontitown Landfill received perfect scores for six out of its last eight inspections.

In April 2002, the ADEQ temporarily closed the Tontitown Landfill to investigate certain allegations made by a former Waste Management employee.

During the investigation, Waste Management contracted with GeoSyntec, an independent environmental engineering firm. GeoSyntec conducted a technical review of the foundation and other conditions at the Class 1 landfill to ensure the safety and integrity of the landfill and its liner system. During this time, the ADEQ also conducted on-site inspections and additional field investigations.

Geosyntec concluded in its July 2002 report that there was "no information to suggest there has been any failure of the bottom liner system. Moreover, based on the extensive material we reviewed and the geological and engineering analyses we performed, we would not expect such a failure in the future. We would deem that the Tontitown Landfill is operationally and structurally sound."

In August 2002, the ADEQ re-opened the Tontitown Landfill and noted there was "no evidence of a liner breach at the Tontitown Landfill." Waste Management acknowledged there was some localized waste settlement at the landfill due to loose, uncompacted trash placed in the landfill. Settlement of the waste mass is a recognized and regular occurrence at landfills and does not, in and of itself, pose environmental concerns.

The only problem ADEQ found was Waste Management's failure to keep adequate daily records for its leachate collection system and liquid detection system. The record-keeping was immediately improved and corrected by Waste Management.

Waste Management resolved the alleged non-compliance by entering into a Consent Administrative Order, paying $175,000 in fines and $125,000 in supplemental environmental projects.

Q: How Does Waste Management help the community?

A: We help by collecting and disposing of the waste generated in the community in a safe and affordable manner. By safely managing waste from homes, businesses and institutions, we improve the quality of life in the neighborhoods we serve.

We hire locally - Waste Management employees work, live and raise their families in this area. When we invest in local employees, they reinvest in the local economy as homeowners, shoppers and taxpayers. We also contribute directly to the local tax base through corporate, real estate and payroll taxes.

Waste Management supports other local businesses as well by investing millions of dollars each year in the purchase of their goods and services. Our financial support of these businesses helps them remain a viable part of the community.

As a company and as individual employees, we donate time, effort, money and resources to many community organizations. Annually, we support community groups, including the Arkansas Razorback Foundation, University of Arkansas Century Foundation, Juvenile Diabetes Foundation, Mercy Health Center Foundation, Adult Development Center Foundation, Rebuilding Northwest Arkansas, and Habitat for Humanity. We also provide cardboard event boxes, liners and solid waste services to numerous community events such as the City of Rogers Frisco Festival, the City of Springdale Featherfest, the City of Tontitown Grape Festival. We provide scholarships to area students and are active in numerous business and civic organizations.