EPA/600/R-09/046

Landfill gas emissions, if left uncontrolled, contribute to air toxics, climate change, trospospheric ozone, and urban smog. Measuring emissions from landfills presents unique challenges due to the large and variable source area, spatial and temporal variability of emissions, and the wide variety of targets pollutants. Recent advancements have been made for improved quantification of uncontrolled emissions from area sources. This technology is referred to as Radial Plume Mapping (RPM) using optical remote sensing (ORS) instrumentation to quantify uncontrolled emissions. This technology can be used at landfills to quantify uncontrolled emissions for:

1. input to obtaining Title V permits for landfill expansion;
2. establishing emission estimates for greenhouse gas inventories;
3. evaluating the suitability of a site for recreational use or development; and
4. evaluating the performance of technology changes such as use of alternative landfill cover materials or operation of wet/bioreactor landfills.

Contact

Susan Thorneloe

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