Alternative Covers for Landfills: Theory, Design, and Practice

This 3 day combined workshop and conference is intended to teach consultants and engineers how to design and submit quality proposals for ET covers, and to teach regulators how to evaluate those proposals.

Overview

This 3 day workshop is intended to teach consultants and engineers how to design and submit quality proposals for ET covers, and to teach regulators how to evaluate those proposals.

Participants will learn the hydraulic properties of these covers, how to optimize designs with models, and how to ensure that the final product is environmentally protective.

Topics will include alternative cover design, construction, operation, and monitoring, including discussions of regulatory issues, soil physics, plant-soil-water relations, hydraulic balance, saturated/unsaturated water movement, and computer modeling. Regional case studies will be emphasized. Results and lessons learned from the USEPA Alternative Covers Assessment Program (ACAP) will be highlighted.

Instructors

Craig Benson, Ph.D., P.E. - University of Wisconsin, Madison
Bill Albright, Ph.D. - Desert Research Institute
Steve Rock - U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Richard Carmichael - Texas Department of Environmental Quality

Who Should Attend?

Site owners, consulting engineers, regulators, and scientists involved in design, permitting, operation, and monitoring of landfill and waste containment systems.

Continuing education credits will be offered.

Fees

The course fee is $350. The course fee includes a workbook with the complete set of course notes and a flash drive with course slides, modeling software, and case study data.

Local, state, federal government and University employees: $100

Student scholarships are available.

Pre-registration is encouraged- registration during the week prior and at the door will be available for an additional $50.

There will be limited space available for participants to bring posters of academic interest, case studies, and equipment. Commercial booth space is also available.

Workshop and Conference Outline

The general workshop itinerary follows. The workshop format will include slideshows, discussions, and local case studies. Lunch is served to participants in the meeting room, and a lunchtime speaker each day will present a case study of local interest.

Day 1 Introduction to ET Covers

8:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m.

Design concepts
Overview of regulations
Design selection and validation
Soil physics basics
Water balance components
Soil water retention
Soil sampling and measurement
Soil hydraulic properties
Designing for micro climates

Select the right plants

Modeling landfill covers for design and regulation.

Day 2 Advanced ET Cover

Regional case studies

8:30 a.m.-5:00 p.m.

Using what we covered on day one, we will examine case studies in detail. Using data and specifications from actual sites and covers applications to determine if they are suitable from an engineering perspective for an ET cover, legally and environmentally acceptable, and what more information might be needed to make a regulatory determination.

This day will include whole and small group discussions, calculations and modeling, further explanations of the topics by the course instructors.

Laptops welcome for small groups. Software and case study data provided on flashdrive.

Poster sessions and refreshments after workshop on both Day 1 and 2.

Day 3 Conference Topics

8:30 a.m.-4:00 p.m.

Bioreactors, gas, and energy issues
Hybrid covers
Site reuse uses
Regulatory approval process

International Phytotechnology Society