Landfill options discussed

The Thermopolis Town Council met in a work session July 19 to discuss the Thermopolis Landfill. In addition to Mayor Mike Mortimore and the Council, those present included Assistant to the Mayor/Codes Administrative Assistant Fred Crosby, Clerk/Treasurer Tracy Van Heule, Public Work Director Ernie Slagle, Landfill Lead Man Buck Clouse, Police Chief Steve Shay, Town Engineers Heath Overfield and Anthony Barnett, and Department of Environmental Quality Representatives Carol Stark, Dale Anderson and Craig McOmie.

It was noted the current landfill permit will expire June 12, 2020. A lifetime permit of 25 years would require lining the southern half of the landfill, and the Town would have to prove it would never leak. There is no assistance from the State for lifetime permits or lining. It was further noted there is a sand layer on the southern half and there is groundwater closer to the surface. Questions were asked about the landfill being in an old bentonite pit, though Anderson noted only fine grain bentonite remains.

Area landfills that might take waste from the area include Worland, Cody, Sand Draw and Casper. A packer truck might work if the waste were hauled a short distance — such as to Worland — and a transfer station and different trucks would be necessary if the waste was hauled longer distances. It was noted Worland is working on a performance-based design lifetime landfill. Should lining become necessary, those using the landfill would be responsible for the cost.

Saratoga is building a transfer station with an anticipated cost of $1.5 million. It takes about 18 months to build a station. It was suggested to build on a slope to avoid concrete costs, and further suggested to compost yard waste and hire a chipper to take care of trees and limbs.

Overfield said one of the biggest drives in determining what to do with the landfill is grant funding. Around 2006 or 2007, he said, solid waste studies were funded. Between 2008 and 2010, the Legislature started setting aside money for transfer stations, and decided on 30 locations for them based on the studies and landfill permits. Locations were further prioritized, and $40 million was set aside; of the 30 locations, there was enough for 22 of the stations. Thermopolis was 24.

However, Thermopolis is now poised to get a landfill transfer station funded. Crosby said there has been some research at possible locations for transfer stations. However, the cost of a transfer station is also being compared against hauling trash to another landfill, and Crosby said there is also an option of using a for-profit independent company to dispose of the trash. There’s quite a few options, he said, with the most expensive being to line the landfill, which is not feasible. Factors also coming into play when looking at remote locations include tipping fees, which are set based on how much trash comes in.

A final decision could be coming in December, and Mortimore noted he would like to have a timeline by the end of the year, as well as identified places for the transfer station and locations where Thermopolis would take their garbage. Overfield noted it’s important to reach a decision, to provide a chance to get in the application for a transfer station — if that is the final decision — and get some funding so the town doesn’t wind up paying for it.