EPA: Underground fires continuing at NE Ohio dump

BOLIVAR, Ohio (AP) -- Underground fires that have burned for several years at one of Ohio's largest landfills are continuing to spread, a federal environmental official said.

Officials have been working to install a plastic cap as part of an effort to stop the fires.

Newly installed probes at the Countywide Recycling & Disposal Facility show that underground temperatures in some areas of the dump exceed 250 degrees, more than expected, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency engineer Paul Ruesch said.

Readings indicate fires aren't slowing and are moving toward the landfill's northwest section, Ruesch told commissioners who oversee the Stark County dump on Friday.

The state last year said the 258-acre landfill was not in compliance with Ohio's environmental laws and recommended that it be denied a license to operate.

The landfill has handled about 6,000 tons of garbage a day from northern Ohio. Nearby residents have complained since 1999 about smells, underground fires and structural problems at the landfill.

Complaints about odors believed to be caused by the fire increased from nine in July to 40 last month, Ohio EPA Environmental Manager Kurt Princic said. Inspectors believe the smells are due to digging and the installation of gas extraction wells, which has released more gases.

The wells are being added as part of the strategy to stop the fires, said Jim Augustyn, the federal EPA's on-scene coordinator. The thinking is that they'll divert hot gases generated from the fire.

That ought to take place in the next few weeks and will likely bring down temperatures, Ruesch said.

Officials haven't determined what compounds are in the gases that cause the odor. Ruesch urged residents to close windows and stay indoors when they smell the odor to minimize possible health effects.

Air monitoring devices are being installed to help officials figure out if the dump is giving off unhealthy levels of benzene.

The cancer-causing chemical has been detected in air monitoring canisters at a nearby elementary school, but results have been mixed and officials haven't determined whether there's a health threat.

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Information from: The Repository, http://www.cantonrep.com