Community Health and Safety Notice:

Landfill Gas Monitoring  

Bellam Blvd. Landfill aka San Rafael Landfill
31 Windward Way, San Rafael 

Drilling and Well Installation: July 2024

Monitoring and Sampling: August 2024 through August 2025 

 

On behalf of the City of San Rafael, Haley & Aldrich, Inc. is performing landfill gas monitoring and sampling at the Bellam Boulevard Landfill aka San Rafael Landfill located at 31 Windward Way in the City of San Rafael, California, as requested by the Marin County Environmental Health Services Division and the California Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery (CalRecycle). State of California regulations (Title 27, Section 20925 of the California Code of Regulations) require monitoring of landfill gas to determine if it is migrating beyond the permitted landfill facility boundary.

During a routine annual site inspection performed in March of 2022, methane gas was detected in a landfill gas monitoring well that is located near the center of the landfill. The methane gas was detected to be above the allowable concentration of 5% by volume (v/v) pursuant to Title 27, Section 20921(a)(2) and was a preliminary indicator that the site could still be producing methane gas. After initial well installations were completed in July 2024, field tests were conducted, resulting in readings that exceeded the allowable limit. Subsequent lab tests, which control for a number of variables that often impact field tests, found readings that are under the allowable concentration of 5%.

Two subsequent wells were installed on October 15, 2024, to replace two wells that were deemed no longer usable per the County’s guidance. During the monitoring performed on October 24, 2024, field readings indicated methane readings above the allowable concentration of 5%. Lab samples were taken from these locations for further analysis. During the monitoring event, additional readings from the ambient air surrounding these locations were taken to ensure that there were no emissions from the sample locations that could pose a risk to the local community.

There will be further ongoing testing conducted to confirm that these results are consistently under the noted allowable concentrations, and we will update this notification to reflect any additional relevant information. The City of San Rafael will continue to work closely with County of Marin Environmental Health Services and CalRecycle to ensure the City complies with all regulations, and that conditions near the site remain safe for the public.

 

What is the work? 

• Installing six new single-level or multi-depth landfill gas monitoring wells along the perimeter of the landfill. The wells will be completed with an air-water tight well casing cap and a flush-mounted well box. 
• The landfill gas monitoring well installations will involve workers using hand-held equipment (e.g., hand augers, probes) and drilling equipment such as truck- mounted drill rigs. 
• Once completed, the landfill gas monitoring wells will be monitored monthly and sampled quarterly. 
• Sampling and monitoring will involve the collection of soil gas samples and field parameters using hand-held gas monitoring instruments. 
• Collected samples will be sent to state-certified laboratories for analysis. 
• Sampling results will be compiled into a report and reviewed by Marin County Environmental Health Services Division and the City of San Rafael. 

 

What health and safety measures will be taken?

• Methane is a colorless, odorless gas and is easily ignited. No work involving electric or gas welding, cutting, or similar flame or spark-producing operations will be conducted near the work areas.
• During drilling work, the drilling area and worker breathing zone will be monitored using a portable multi-gas meter.
• Per Marin County Health Officer Dr. Lisa Santora: Methane itself isn’t toxic, but in very rare cases, high concentrations can affect oxygen levels, especially in enclosed spaces with limited ventilation. From a risk perspective, a resident is more likely to experience mild symptoms (i.e., headache, nausea) from methane gas exposure from their own gas household appliances, than they are based on ambient air exposure.

 

When will you see the work?

• Drilling and landfill gas well installation activities occurred in July and October. Updated notices will be provided if additional installations take place.
• Monitoring activities will occur monthly, and sampling activities will occur on a quarterly basis from August 2024 to August 2025.
• Work will take place on weekdays between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 4:00 m.

 

Where will you see the work?

• Work will take place on public streets, sidewalks, and open space areas (with approval from the City of San Rafael), near the landfill boundaries shown on the below map.

 

How will the work impact you?

• Portions of sidewalks, parking spaces and open space areas may be temporarily blocked off so that work can be conducted safely.
• There will be temporary noise impacts from drilling; work will be conducted according to the San Rafael Noise Ordinance.

 

Who will do the work?

• On behalf of the City of San Rafael, Haley & Aldrich, Inc. and their sub-contractors will be conducting the work.

IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THIS PROJECT, PLEASE CONTACT THE FOLLOWING: 

JASON GRANT, P.E.
Haley & Aldrich, Inc.
Program Manager
(973) 909-4412 [T] or (925) 250-1156[C]
JGrant@HaleyAldrich.com 

MICHAEL FLANAGAN
Haley & Aldrich, Inc.
Project Manager/Environmental Scientist
(925) 949-1018 [T] or (510) 363-7796 [C]
MFlanagan@HaleyAldrich.com 

RYAN MONTES
City of San Rafael
Operations and Maintenance Manager
(415) 485-3373
Ryan.Montes@CityOfSanRafael.org 

TARA ERFANI
Marin County Environmental Health Services
Solid Waste Program Supervisor
(415) 437-6917
Tara.erfani@marincounty.gov

 

Non-Emergency Phone Numbers:

San Rafael Police Department: Non-Emergency: (415) 485-3000

San Rafael Fire Department: Non-Emergency: (415) 485-3304

San Rafael Public Works Department: Non-Emergency: (415) 485-3355

 

 

Bellam Blvd. Landfill aka San Rafael Landfill

Landfill Gas Monitoring Wells and Sampling Locations

Drilling and Well Installation:  July & October 2024

Monitoring and Sampling: August 2024 through August 2025