Performance Measures for Comparison of Determining Post Closure Care (PCC) Period in Landfills

According to solid waste facility regulations codified in 40 CFR Section 258.61(b), the 30-year PCC period specified by Subtitle D can be extended or shortened by the governing regulatory agency on a site-specific basis. Post closure care (PCC) activities under Subtitle D include leachate collection and treatment, ground water monitoring, inspection and maintenance of the final cover, and monitoring to insure that landfill gas does not migrate off site or into on-site buildings. However, quantification of post closure performance of a landfill is difficult since it involves considerations of parameters that include technical factors, environmental considerations, and economic assessment. This paper presents a simple approach for assessing and projecting the performance of landfill components to predict their performance after the landfill is closed. The component performance analysis for landfills (CPALF) is a flexible, knowledge-based approach which can be used to develop strategies to minimize future risks due to component failures and for developing maintenance strategies during the PCC period of landfills.