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::; M ~IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII ~% <br />MEMO TO FILE ~EG~\v~~ <br />~~ ~QU <br />~, Z <br />From: Julie Cotter - 1/19/00 ~• a~ ~1 <br />- v: ~ ah& <br />Inspection San Acacio Landfill ~ol~`d~ <br />.~~:,.. <br />The Solid Waste Unit (SWU) received a verbal complaint on 12!23/99. The complainant expressed <br />concern that the San Acacio landfill, which was closed in 1994, had been disturbed, and that Costilla <br />County workers were transporting and spreading landfill debris, mixed with gravel, onto county roads. The <br />complainant also voiced concerns regarding potential groundwater contamination as a result of alleged <br />toxic waste dumping that occurred during the time the landfill was active. <br />An inspection of the closed San Acacio Landfill was c;unducted January i 2, 2000, in response to the <br />complaint received 12/23/99. Prior to the inspection, permission was requested to enter the County <br />property and permission was granted by Elizabeth Pacheco, Costilla County Administrator. County, State, <br />and Federal officials present for the inspection were: <br />Charles Atencio, Costilla County Commissioner <br />Virginia Cordova, Costilla County Commissioner <br />Elizabeth Pacheco, Costilla County Administrator <br />Santos Martinez, Costilla County Land Use Administrator <br />Matthew Valdez, Costilla County Emergency Mgmt Coordinator <br />Joe Ortiz, Costilla County Code Enforcement Officer <br />Irving Jacquez, Costilla County Road Supervisor <br />Jesse Maestos, Costilla County Shop Foreman <br />John Santos, Costilla County Equipment Operator <br />Erin Smith, Reporter, Pueblo Chieftain <br />James Stevens, Dept. Natural Resources, Div. Minerals and Geology <br />Julie Cotter. CDPHE, Solid Waste Unit <br />Janice Pearson, EPA Coordinator <br />The inspection party arrived at the landfill at approximately 11:20 a.m.. The landfill is located in a slight <br />depression from the level of the road. The inspector, Julie Cotter, traversed the landfill in a crisscross <br />pattern to determine if the landfill had been disturbed. There was no evidence of the cap being disturbed. <br />Conditions at the site were sunny with a slight wind and no snow. There were no odors or stained soil. <br />There was a washing machine"?" and a pile of manure that had been discarded at the site. There was no <br />blowing debris or litter. A site map and photographs of the inspection are available at CDPHE Records <br />Center. <br />The County operates a gravel mining activity located south and east of the closed landfill. A map submitted <br />to Solid Waste Unit (SWU) at the time of landfill closure and the map provided to the Division of Minerals <br />and Geology (DMG) delineated the division between the mining activity and the landfill area. The landfill is <br />segregated from the mining activity by dirt roads to the north and west of the mined area. The area being <br />mined for gravel is a slope approximately 20 feet high and roughly 60 to 100 feet to the southeast of the <br />landfill. An area which corresponded to one of the closed landfill cells on the map has been used as an <br />equipment turnaround area. Even though there was no vegetation in that area, there was no indication that <br />the cell had been disturbed. Mr. Stevens (DMG) stated that as part of the permit requirement all the <br />denuded areas would be reclaimed. <br />Mr. Ken Hershey's western property boundary is adjacent to the closed landfill. Mr. Hershey observed the <br />inspection from his property. Julie Cotter, Jim Stevens, Janice Pearson, and Erin Smith then proceeded up <br />the slope to discuss the inspection findings. Julie Cotter (SWU) informed the County personnel, Mr. <br />Hershey, and the Pueblo Chieftain reporter that there was no evidence that the landfill had been disturbed <br />