Fresh Kills Landfill
Gas Collection/Management System
Staten Island, New York
As part of the closure of the 2,200 acre Fresh Kills Landfill in Staten Island, New York, Interstate Industrial Corporation (IIC), on behalf of the New York City Department of Sanitation (DOS) retained Paulus, Sokolowski and Sartor (PS&S) to design a landfill gas collection (LFG) system. This work required an extensive technical scope, involving nearly all of PS&S' disciplines on an aggressive, fast-track schedule. PS&S worked with the DOS and IIC to prepare construction level plans and specifications for the landfill gas collection system, including complete design of pile-supported reinforced concrete flare station pads and a gas condensate management system.
Design elements and tasks included over 25 miles of interconnected piping, more than 700 active LFG extraction wells and four self-contained flare stations. Each of the flare stations was specifically designed so that the twin flares and all other equipment was mounted on a 10,000-square foot reinforced concrete pad. The flare station pads were supported on concrete-filled steel pipe piles to protect the equipment from detrimental movements as the adjacent landfill materials settled. Flexible connections maintained the integrity of the piping. PS&S also designed a project-dedicated electrical distribution system, an LFG condensate force main system and an LFG transmission main. Engineered penetrations through the geomembrane and the development of project specific permit modifications were needed to maintain compliance with existing solid waste permit conditions.
The work also required compliance with stringent regulatory requirements. In addition to a New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Air Permit obtained by PS&S for the project, all design/construction work was required to follow United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) Prevention of Significant Deterioration, Non-Attainment Areas and New Source Performance Standards for Municipal Solid Waste Landfills.
PS&S earned an Honors Award for Engineering Excellence from the Consulting Engineers Council of New Jersey as well as a national engineering award for its efforts on this project.