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AGENDA ITEM NO. 6
1
REPORT TO:
Executive Board
REPORT NO:
CHPPO/36/08
DATE:
1 April 2008
LEAD MEMBER:
Councillor Mark Pritchard
(Waste and Environment)
REPORTING OFFICER:
Chief Housing and Public Protection Officer
CONTACT OFFICER:
Toni Slater (Tel 813710)
SUBJECT:
Replacement of Gas Extraction Plant at two
Council owned Former Landfill Sites
WARD:
N/A
PURPOSE OF THE REPORT
To seek approval to transfer capital provision from the Capital Preparation Pool to the
2008/09 Capital Programme for the management of contamination issues from former
landfill sites by upgrading existing plant at two sites during 2008.
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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
2.1
Executive Board have approved the allocation of £100k in 2008/09 to the Capital
Preparation Pool for the investigation and remediation of contaminated land. In
accordance with the Project Management Code of Practice, this report is presented to
request that the provision is included in the capital programme to enable tenders to be
sought and the works commissioned.
2.2
A presentation was made to Scrutiny Committee in October 2007 following the Scrutiny
Committee Report in February 2007. The presentation summarised the site investigation
works that had been undertaken in order to determine the status of twelve former Council
owned landfill sites with respect to the Contaminated Land (Wales) Regulations 2001. It
also presented an overview of future management issues that had been identified at certain
sites. The recommendations including the replacement of old landfill gas extraction plant
at Gwersyllt and Llanypwll were supported by Scrutiny Committee.
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RECOMMENDATION
3.1
That Members approve the transfer of £100k from the Capital Preparation Pool to
the Capital Programme for the management of contaminated land sites as detailed
in the report.
REASONS FOR RECOMMENDATIONS
To mitigate the risk of landfill gas migration from the two sites and to ensure the plant complies
with the ATEX regulations
Andy Lewis
Chief Housing and Public Protection Officer
4.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
4.1
UK land contamination guidance recognises landfill sites as potentially contaminative
land uses and as a result such sites should be considered by Councils when
implementing their duties under Part IIA of the Environmental Protection Act, 1990
(Contaminated Land (Wales) Regulations, 2001).
Contaminated Land is defined as:
"any land which appears to a local authority in whose area it is situated to be in such a
condition by reason of substances in, on or under the land that:
(a) significant harm is being caused or there is a significant possibility of such harm
being caused
(b) pollution of controlled waters is being or is likely to be caused.
4.2
The former Council landfill sites are within the portfolio of the Environment Department
and the Public Protection Service currently manages the landfill budget on their behalf.
4.3
A presentation was made to Environment and Regeneration Scrutiny Committee in
October 2007 following a Scrutiny Committee Report in February 2007. The
recommendations including the replacement of old landfill gas extraction plant at
Gwersyllt and Llanypwll were supported by Scrutiny Committee.
4.4
Llanypwll - Uniflare Ltd of Kenilworth were engaged to carry out monthly monitoring
and mechanical checks of the gas flare/ extraction system because the system has not
been working efficiently. The flare and the extraction system have been in place for
approximately 15 years and are now in a relatively poor condition.
Gwersyllt - The venting system in place at the site is approximately fifteen years old
and has become unreliable. The telemetry system installed to alert Council personnel to
intermittent plant failure also needs upgrading.
4.5
4.6
The EU “ATEX” Directives were introduced to protect workers from operating in
potentially dangerous environments where there might be a risk of fire and explosion
arising from the use of and/or generation of explosive, oxidising or flammable
substances. They also aim to ensure that plant and equipment must be intrinsically safe
and not be a potential ignition source.
4.7
The Directives also apply to landfills and particularly where there is active/passive gas
venting systems and leachate removal. Thus, the regulations affect the former landfills at
Llanypwyll and Gwersylt where active gas protection systems have been installed.
4.8
The two gas extraction systems at Llanypwll and Gwersyllt were installed many years
before the regulations under the ‘ATEX’ Directives came into force (2006). Uniflare
have assessed both plants at Llanypwll and Gwersyllt and confirm that neither has
equipment that complies with the ATEX Regulations.
4.9
Landfill site management requirements with estimated capital costs are as follows:
Llanypwll – Install a new flare and improving the extraction system at an estimated
capital cost of £50,000.
Gwersyllt –Replacement of the existing system at an estimated capital cost of £50,000.
4.10 Presently the existing equipment is being “nursed” along. Uniflare are visiting on a
frequent basis to ensure that the equipment is working effectively at a cost of £2,000 a
month, met from the existing revenue budget. Installation of a new system would reduce
these costs to £6000-£8,000 per annum and the saving of up to £18,000k per annum
could be used to fund further investigation and remediation works at other former
landfill sites.
5.
CONSULTATION
5.1
Consulted with Scrutiny Committee February 2007 and October 2007.
6.
SCRUTINY COMMITTEE COMMENTS
6.1
3 Oct 2007 (Presentation)
"It was AGREED that:The Environment and Regeneration Scrutiny Committee support a request for additional
funding to manage contamination from former landfill sites as follows:Llanypwll - purchase and installation of new flare and extraction system.
Gwersyllt - purchase and installation of new flare and extraction system.
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IMPLICATIONS
7.1
Policy Framework The proposal falls within the remit of safeguarding the environment
and protecting human health.
7.2
Budget Capital costs are for the replacement of existing plant. Any additional materials
will be met from existing resources
7.3
Legal As outlined in the report
7.4
Staffing Will be met within existing resources
7.5
Other - The proposal follows an independent risk based appraisal of the two sites. There
are no equality issues.
BACKGROUND PAPERS
21 Feb 2007 (Report No. CHPPO/21/07S)
Project Management Code of Practice
LOCATION
WEBSITE INFO.
http://www.internal.wrexham.gov.
uk/intranet/assets/pdf/key_docs/ot
her/proj_mgmt/pmcop_130307.pdf