Process

A continuing problem of local governments is the disposal of municipal waste. Americans generate tons of refuse, mostly paper, food scraps, plastics, metals, and yard wastes. Some municipalities dispose of these wastes by loading them on barges and dumping them at sea. But most municipal wastes are disposed of in landfills.

Landfills are much more sophisticated than the old “city dump,” a wasteland of smoldering fires, blowing trash, and obnoxious odors, Landfills must be built according to federal regulations. They cannot conflict with the preservation of wetlands. There must not be leaching of hazardous substances into rivers or aquifers. Local ordinances often restrict visual pollution as well. Even when compliance standards are met, there is still the “Not in My Back Yard” (NIMBY) syndrome. We may generate trash, but we don’t want landfills near our homes.

These considerations limit the sites available for landfills. In this simulation, you must choose one site from the three possibilities. Each site has drawbacks. There is no easy solution.

  1. First you will analyze the map of Valentine County and the Site-Selection guidelines.
  2. Second prepare some suggestions as to good locations for landfill sites.
  3. Remember you along with the class represent the Valentine County Commissioners Court and it will be your job to choose a new landfill site.
  4. Consider the following three Site Appraisals and the newspaper article that appeared in a Central City Telegram to help you make a decision.

 

Site Appraisals

Site 1   Site 1, located 32 miles northeast of Central City along Highway 37, consists of 1,800 acres on the bluffs overlooking the Central River Flood plain. It is owned by the Central City Railroad Company, which once used it as a gravel quarry. Although no gravel has been mined for 45 years, the roads, which were built to support the weight of gravel trucks, are still in good shape. Many of the gravel pits have filled with water and become lakes, which are used for swimming and fishing despite company efforts to keep the public out. The site is completely fenced, but people have broken the fence in several places. Since the company has no more need for gravel, it finds the maintenance, security expense, and taxes to be a burden. It is willing to sell the site for the relatively low price of $400 per acre. The bluffs overlooking the flood plain had been a favorite camping [place for Native Americans who once lieved there. While the site was being used as a quarry numerous Native American artifacts were discovered in the gravel.

Site 2   Site 2, about 6 miles east of Central City and a mile west of Central River ; consist of 1550 acres of which 700 are planted with corn and soybeans, which grow well in the fertile alluvial soil. The site is jointly owned by 31 descendants of a pioneer farm family. Most of them live outside Central City. None of them owns more than a one-sixth interest in the property. They rent the land to farmers. The total rental income is not much more than the property taxes. The owners want to sell the property because their individual shares are so small. Since the farmland is productive, they are asking $1,400 per acre. The site has good deep soil, but about 80 percent of it is subject to occasional flooding. The farm is served by dirt roads. Some small part of the land has been contaminated by spilled pesticides, and by fuels and oils that have leaked from tractor storage areas.

 

Site 3   Site 3, Located 8 miles northwest of Central City, consists of 800 acres of woodland accessible by Highway 33 and the Valentine Falls Road. Valentine Falls is a residential development on the west shore of Valentine Falls Reservoir , a new area made by damming Valentine Creek to produce a water supply for Central City. The houses in Valentine Falls , ranging from $75,000 to $125,000 in price, are used as both weekend houses and full-time residences. The site is owned by Central City National Bank, which had lent money to a developer to build the houses. The plans fell through. The bank had to foreclose on the mortgage and is now anxious to dispose of the property for $800 per acre. The site slopes mainly to the east and has several small creeks that flow into Valentine Falls Reservoir and Valentine Creek. The property is covered by mixed hardwood forest except where a previous owner once cleared pastures for cattle. The soil tends to be sandy and well drained.

 

           

Citizens Testify at Public Hearing   

At a public hearing held before Valentine County Commissioners Court last Wednesday night, citizens voice concerns about the location of the proposed landfill. The meeting was marked by sharp disagreement. About 15 people testified before an estimated audience of 75. Possible landfill sites are the Old Central City Railroad gravel pit, a farm in the Rocky River bottom, and along Valentine Falls Road.

Possible landfill sites are the Old Central City Railroad gravel pit, a farm in the Rocky River bottom, and along Valentine Falls Road.

G.T. Baker, manager of public works for Valentine County , presented an over view of the three sites and estimated operating costs for each one. Mr. Baker said that the main costs in landfill operations are equipment, transportation, and wages, which all depend upon how close the landfill is to the city. Longer trips cause more wear and tear on the trucks. Workers get paid to ride instead of to collect refuse, and county fuel costs go up.

Mr. Baker estimated that the Rocky River site, which is located closer to Central City than either of the other two sites under consideration , would save the county approximately $1.2 million over a 10-year period, even with a higher initial purchase price for the land. If the price of diesel fuel went up, the savings would be even greater.

Gary and Sabrina Webb, who won a farm adjacent to the Rocky River site, were vehement in their objection to it.  They rent out their farm, which is used to produce corn and soybeans. When they said that occasional flooding occurs at the site, Mr. Baker replied that the landfill would have protective levees to keep flood waters out.

The Webbs still questioned turning the good agricultural land into a landfill. The county economy would lose the value of the crops. And with the property removed from the tax rolls, county revenue would be lost.

John W. Hewitt, representing the Valentine Falls Homeowners Association brought a petition signed by all 88 homeowners, strongly protesting the selection of the Valentine Falls Road site. Homeowners in the area fear that a landfill would have terrible effect on their quality of life.

Dr. A. W. Spaight of the State University testified as a member of “Save Our State,” an informal coalition of environmentalists and others wishing to preserve our natural and historical heritage. Dr. Spaight called for a full natural and historical survey of all three sites, but especially of the Central City Railroad site because of the Native American artifacts found there. She also mentioned the unique flora at the base of the bluffs. These ferns and mosses, found nowhere else in the region, are fed by springs created by percolation water. The commissioners have agreed to announce their decision at the next regularly scheduled meeting.

 

 

 

 

                                                   

 

Use the following grid to help you compare the three potential landfill sites in Valentine County . Rank the sites 1, 2, or 3 according to the site-selection guidelines and the information you have been given about the three sites. Include brief notes in the chart to indicate how you assigned each ranking.

Decision Grid

Guidelines

 

Site 1

 

Site 2

 

Site 3

 

Proximity to the Source of the Refuse

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Inexpensive Land

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Permeable Soil

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Low Population Density

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

No Preservation Issues

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Large Size

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Good Roads

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

       

Based on your completed Decision Grid and any other factors, tell why you chose or did not choose:

Site 1    _____________________________________________

             _____________________________________________

             _____________________________________________

             _____________________________________________

Site 2    _____________________________________________

             _____________________________________________

             _____________________________________________

             _____________________________________________

Site 3   _____________________________________________

             _____________________________________________

             _____________________________________________

             _____________________________________________

 

Be prepared to share your findings in Class! As a class you will vote on a site for the landfill.