METHANE ISSUES DISCUSSED IN TODAY'S WOOLWICH OBSERVER

The article is written by Steve Kannon and is titled "Where being gassy can come in handy". Apparently the federal government wants municipalities to reduce methane emissions from their landfill sites. The idea is that landfill methane emissions are responsible for almost a quarter of Canada's methane emisssions and reducing them will assist in overall reduction of greenhouse gas emissions which exacerbate climate change worldwide. The Observer article focuses on the Erb St. Landfill and the closed Cambridge Landfill both under Regional government responsibility. Also parts of the story advise that our local Bio-En facility here in Elmira is part of the solution as they are accepting organic materials (foodstuffs) diverted from regional landfills. .............................................................................................................. What is not mentioned is whether local (Elmira) closed landfills are also still producing and emitting methane into the atmosphere. I have read studies done on the former Bolender Landfill and was amazed at the volumes and concentrations well in excess of explosive levels that were present. Similarly the First St. Landfill was/is? a likely high producer of methane based upon methane gas readings taken at the former Varnicolor Chemical Lot 91 site located fifteen feet south of the former landfill. Lot 91 was put on a no development/excavation order due to those high methane readings in the subsurface. .......................................................................................................................... Overall Woolwich has demonstrated an ostrich like capability regarding explosive methane concerns in Elmira. Perhaps their plan or hope is for the methane to migrate upwards and discharge into the air rather than travel horizontally towards the former Paleshi (later U-Pull-It) buildings and wrecking yard. Also I'm sure they would rather that methane found on the east side of the site nearest homes discharge upwards into the air rather than into homes basements and contact pilot lights from fireplaces, furnaces and water heaters. If only hoping worked, Woolwich could solve all their problems inexpensively.