Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, May 8, 1990 TAG: 9005080465
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: B1 EDITION: BEDFORD/FRANKLIN
SOURCE: MONICA DAVEY STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: BEDFORD LENGTH: Medium
Jeff Crate of Draper Aden Associates told the supervisors that the land, near the intersection of Virginia 807 and Virginia 24, would likely prove the least expensive and most geologically suitable of three final sites Draper Aden had focused on in recent months.
Supervisors will take public comments about the site, which is owned by Gross Farm and Land Corp., and the two other possible sites in a hearing at the Bedford Educational Center at 7:30 p.m. today.
In its first 25 years, the top site would cost the county $22.5 million to build - less than either of the other two sites, according to a Draper Aden report presented to the supervisors Monday. Draper Aden considered issues like land size and cost, road improvements and the amount of needed landfill cover material to estimate the potential landfills' costs.
With 148 usable acres for dumping, the site on Virginia 807 would probably last the county between 40 and 50 years - longer than the other two.
Draper Aden's geological study of the sites also pointed to the land on Virginia 807 as the most useful, Crate said.
The site could be filled with garbage to a greater depth than the other sites. Boring studies revealed a great deal of soil before bedrock was struck. The average of six borings found that bedrock was 60 feet below the land's surface.
The site does have its disadvantages, though, the report said.
Turning the land into a landfill would require costly work to pave and widen Virginia 807. Nearly 7,000 feet of roadway would have to be built or improved.
In addition, the land is close to Goose Creek and might require extensive drainage control measures. Collecting leachate on the site could also be a costly process, the reports said.
Crate described pros and cons of the other two sites as follows:
A 363-acre site along Virginia 43 seven miles south of the city of Bedford would cost $24.4 million. It could last the county between 30 and 35 years. Its disadvantages include its closeness to Machine Creek. The consultant's report states that this site would be "suitable" for a landfill.
A 615-acre site just north of U.S. 460 near the eastern edge of the county would cost $39.5 million. With shallow soils, this site "could barely" last the county 25 years. Bedrock was struck about 22 feet below the surface.
The county began its search for a new landfill last year. Its current landfill, which opened two miles south of the city of Bedford on Virginia 714 in 1973, is expected to fill up soon.
After breaking down the 760-square mile county into grids and eliminating areas where a landfill would prove impossible to construct, Draper Aden split up the remaining grids into sites.
The consultant considered the availability of land, location, topography and soils to come up with 10 top sites. Issues like accessibility, topography and drainage were used to bring those down to just three plots earlier this year.
When the supervisors select a site, they will apply to the state Department of Waste Management for approval.
In the first step of that application, the department would determine if the site was feasible for development of a landfill. In a second step, the county would submit its design and construction plans for approval.
by CNB