Landfill in compliance

BENTON, Mo. -- Scott County's closed landfill is back in compliance with DNR standards.

County commissioners met with representatives of the Missouri Department of Natural Resources' Jefferson City office during their regular meeting Tuesday to discuss the old county landfill.

The 52-acre landfill is on hilly ground on the north side of U.S. 61 -- just east of the U.S. 61-Highway 77 intersection north of Morley.

The closure process, which began in 1998, included installation of 15 monitoring wells to track methane gas levels. The wells are read quarterly at a cost to the county of $1,300 per quarter.

Things appeared to be going well for the closure process until 2011, when levels above the permitted limits were recorded.

Commissioner Dennis Ziegenhorn said he understands DNR officials are looking out for the public.

"The whole concern was about the migration of gas into surrounding areas," Ziegenhorn said.

Commissioners believe the readings were linked to rainfall that led to widespread flooding in spring 2011.

"We are totally convinced the high readings came from the high water table," Ziegenhorn said.

With receding floodwaters, levels also dropped to normal readings.

DNR officials "were here to discuss moving forward because we haven't had any high readings for some time. We didn't have any [high readings] in 2012," said Jamie Burger, presiding county commissioner.

A request to reduce monitoring frequency to annual readings was denied.

Another request was to reduce the number of wells monitored, as some wells always have readings so low as to not be worth the time.

"We would not take them out of service but we would not have to test them," Burger said.

Also requested was a reduction in the county's fine for the high reading.

"The initial fine assessed was $30,000," Burger said.

Pertinent address:

Benton, MO

Morley, MO