The Prowers County Commission in Lamar Colorado was given insight by the Environmental Protection Agency this week about ongoing challenges that rural communities face in complying with landfill regulations, as well plans to address some of those issues.
As The Prowers County Journal reports, the regulations are mandated by the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) but Patrick Davis of the EPA said his agency will be assisting the department in meeting current goals for rural Colorado landfills.
Davis said the CDPHE is currently testing groundwater contamination and if contamination is found, a plan will be put in place to remediate the water problem or, if necessary, close the landfill.
$1.6 million has been allocated by the state legislature to pay for landfill closures and monitoring wells.
Davis explained that some other states such as Kansas, are developing transfer stations to serve several small communities in a five- or six-county region.