Letter to Council Members from Wayne KlostermannApril 1, 2009
To the members of the Dubuque City Council,
We have received and discussed the report by the Cornerstone Environmental Group
prepared for the Dubuque Metropolitan Area Solid Waste Agency on Landfill Gas
Utilization.
Methane is a major source of pollution affecting global warming, it is estimated to have
70 times the global warming effect as compared to CO2. At present there is no control
of methane emissions from the Dubuque landfill since it is not required under the
Federal Clean Air Act regulations. However, after the planned expansion of the landfill,
it is likely to exceed the present limits and require some level of control. In addition, The
Environmental Defense Fund has filed a notice of intent to sue the EPA to expand
enforcement of restriction of landfill methane emissions. If successful this action would
require control of present emissions from the Dubuque Landfill.
The Cornerstone study found sufficient methane emissions to justify development of
methane control programs. It would appear to be a "win -win" program since it would
anticipate enforcement of new limits by the EPA, reduce the release of a major
pollutant from the landfill and have positive economic cost-benefit ratios from any of the
three proposals discussed in the report.
The Midwestern Greenhouse Gas Reduction Accord, of which Iowa is a member, calls
for the establishment of "targets for GHG emission reductions", including methane
emissions from landfills. Implementing one or more of these programs would fit with the
Midwestern Greenhouse Gas Reduction Accords and enhance the city's green image.
Since landfills are the nation's second largest source of man-made methane pollution,
the actions proposed by the Cornerstone Group would reduce a major pollutant in
Dubuque while providing a positive economic benefit, and it would seem to fit with
funding support under the Economic Stimulus Programs. At a minimum, the DMSWA
should be pursuing selling carbon credits on the open market.
We support and recommend moving forward with the implementation of a methane
reduction program at the Metropolitan Landfill.
Sincerely,
~~ ~~ ~~
Wayne Klostermann, Chair
Environmental Stewardship Commission.