Two landfill cell vents found blocked by dirt

Whitman County Public Works department plans to fix two broken gas vents on a closed cell of the Waste Transfer Station.

The air vents were installed to allow methane gas to escape from the settling cell which was covered in 1993.

The vents were found to be bent over during a routine check last week.

“Could've been wind, snow, settlement,” said Mark Storey, Public Works director. “The settling might have been a major factor.”

The vents were found to be plugged with dirt six to 10 feet down.

Public Works subsequently inspected the eight other vents on the cell by running a probe down 50 to 100 feet to check that the airways were intact. Aside from allowing gas to escape, the vents also keep rainwater out.

No further damage was found.

“Things are actually in better shape than we thought,” said Storey.

The county will now prepare to fix the two damaged vents, to be paid for out of the Waste Transfer Station's closure and post-closure account.

Storey estimates it may cost between $50,000 and $100,000.