WATER QUALITY

The landfill is located on highly permeable rocks and soil, therefore increasing the risk of ground water contamination. Leachate appears to be migrating eastward where it may contaminate the aquifer that feeds Kagel Canyon wells. Kagel Canyon is an area with low density housing.

Monitors should be installed to the east to detect any potential contamination and should be operated after the closure of the landfill.

Ground water to the west has not been characterized.


NOISE

Current studies show that noise is well within the 67 dB design level. Monitors show that levels in all areas are less than or equal to 67 dB. Some noise is occasionally heard, but most noise is primarily from natural and man made sources. A reading of 67 dB corresponds to urban row housing on a major avenue (45 dB = agricultural land; 36 dB = wilderness; 84 dB = apartment next to the freeway).

A different rating system that uses a weighted average over a 24 hour time period, shows sound levels ranging from 52 - 62 LDN. Outdoor residential areas average about 55 LDN. EPA studies show that levels less than 55 LDN have little annoyance to people. Sleep interference occurs in the range of 45 - 70 LDN. Damage occurs at about 80 LDN.

AIR QUALITY

Ambient Air - the contaminants cancer risk is 2 cases per 10,000 people. By California law, 1 case in 1 million people is considered safe. According to research, this is not a result of landfill operations, but from other Los Angeles sources. Air quality at the landfill is equal to or better that L.A. County.

Ground monitoring probes to detect methane leaks are inadequate to detect subsurface leaks but may be sufficient for the needs of Lopez Canyon. Probes were installed prior to current regulations and therefore do not meet the current criteria. Probes are installed 500 - 800 feet apart and 100 feet from the property border. Probes should be installed in 100 feet increments, 100 feet from the landfill border. The probe depth is currently between 6 and 10 feet when they should be up to 30 feet deep with additional probes at different depths.

By examining wind patterns and testing air quality, sites downwind from the landfill show a decrease in xylene but a increase in hydrocarbons (non-methane organics). As a result of the studies, the urban area is a more significant source of toxic air contaminants than the landfill. Because the landfill is so minor, its relative contribution to air degradation cannot be measured.