Location: Pottstown, PA
Brickhouse Environmental has managed all phases of environmental compliance at the closed Flagg Brass Residual Waste Landfill since 2011. At that time, the Site had been purchased by Pottstown Industrial Investments, LLC (PII) from the bankrupt former owners, who had owned and operated the facility since 1984. The approximately 6.5 acre facility was permitted to accept on-site select residual and demolition waste, and the last cell was capped in 2004.
Brickhouse submitted a permit re-issuance application to transfer the landfill permit to PII and to address pre-existing issues, such as incomplete closure permitting, lack of facility maintenance, site drainage, and bonding. In addition, we continue to work with regulatory agencies, insurance companies, and the owner to comply with a Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (PADEP) Consent Order and Agreement relating to past facility maintenance and inadequate closure documentation. Brickhouse is also responsible for monitoring and reporting related to the site’s groundwater monitoring network and leachate collection system.
To reduce ongoing operator costs associated with leachate management, Brickhouse evaluated the facility’s leachate parameters and collection system. Through this analysis, it was determined that leachate could be safely and more effectively discharged to local surface waters through a surface water discharge point in accordance with the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES), rather than discharge to the local Municipal wastewater treatment plant. Finally, Brickhouse also recently obtained a permit revision to reduce groundwater monitoring from a quarterly basis to a semi-annual basis, further reducing operator costs while still maintaining environmental health and safety.
Under new Site ownership and Brickhouse’s management, the facility has been brought into compliance with all regulations and reduced operating costs for the new owners. The post-closure plans for the facility are under consideration to remain as open green space or for the installation of a solar panel farm to produce a sustainable source of energy.