Palomar Closed Landfill Work
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The County of San Diego manages a closed landfill that is located beneath portions of the McClellan-Palomar Airport. This municipal solid waste landfill operated from 1962-1975. This includes three landfill units and a system that extracts gases, including methane, that occurs naturally as organic materials decompose.
The health and safety of our staff, community, and airport visitors are our first priority. To support this, monthly maintenance and monitoring is conducted for the closed landfill to ensure safety and protect public and environmental health.
DPW is currently in the engineering and design phase for ongoing improvements to the landfill gas capture and control system, with construction tentatively scheduled for the latter half of 2024. This project will improve environmental controls in Unit 3, east of the runway. Phase 1 of this work was completed in the northwest corner of landfill Unit 3 in 2021. Other improvements to the landfill gas capture and control system were made in 2023, including installing new gas extraction wells and monitoring probes.
Additional work planned for 2024 includes drainage improvements in Unit 2, south of the runway. The project will improve the flow and discharge of storm water.
A recent project, completed in October and November 2023, improved the landfill’s soil cover in Unit 3, east of the runway. Phase 1 of this work was completed in the northwest corner of landfill Unit 3 earlier in 2023.
A High Heat Event that was identified as part of our regular inspections on October 17, 2022, has been resolved, with temperatures within normal landfill ranges. The elevated temperatures were limited to a small, localized underground area of Unit 3. The event did not pose a risk to the public as there were not any emissions from Unit 3 above regulatory thresholds during the event. DPW continued monitoring temperatures, oxygen levels, and surface emissions through December 2023 to ensure that the event did not reoccur.
Related Agencies and Contacts ·
County Staff: Melissa Porter, REHS at Melissa.Porter@SDCounty.ca.gov
Air Pollution Control District (APCD): APCD Hearing Board ·
Solid Waste Local Enforcement Agency (LEA)/ CalRecycle: Solid Waste Information System
Regional Water Quality Control Board (RWQCB): GeoTracker (ca.gov)
Palomar Airport Advisory Committee (PAAC): Palomar Airport Advisory Committee (sandiegocounty.gov)
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