On Might thirteenth, the Washington State Division of Ecology introduced a brand new methane emission rule (Chapter 173-408 WAC) for lively and closed strong waste (MSW) landfills of their state. All affected landfills should meet the necessities beginning January 1, 2025.
Whereas the necessities of the brand new rule are prolonged, and can influence many points of landfill operations, this announcement is narrowly targeted on new necessities particular to floor emissions monitoring (SEM). Washington’s new necessities mirror these of California, Oregon and Maryland, requiring:
- SEM inspection carried out by a subject technician traversing in a serpentine path with not more than 25-ft spacing between the inspection paths.
- Instantaneous and built-in floor emissions reporting.
- SEM operations restricted to a most common and instantaneous wind pace and can’t be carried out sooner than 72 hours after precipitation.
Whereas the brand new rule will drive higher accountability for methane emissions, it can additionally result in elevated labor prices and technicians’ publicity to hazards by rising their inspection time threefold. Washington has alleviated these considerations by permitting the usage of a drone to carry out work that may in any other case be carried out manually. The drone (an unmanned aerial system known as the SnifferDRONE™) performs the inspection 50% quicker, thus lowering technician’s publicity to hazards, whereas bettering the effectiveness of detecting methane emissions and their leak sources.
The US EPA was the primary to approve the usage of an unmanned aerial system (UAS) for this objective as outlined in Different Take a look at Technique 51 (OTM-51). Washington has built-in OTM-51, with modifications, of their new rule. The strategy, using the UAS, gives confidence in inspection through higher course of management, information administration, {and professional} reporting.
Trade leaders in Washington started utilizing the SnifferDRONE for landfill emission monitoring in 2023. These early adopters acknowledged the chance to enhance the atmosphere and their operations. We congratulate these leaders for his or her imaginative and prescient and thank them for making a distinction.
We look ahead to persevering with our work within the state and past to enhance the strategies for detecting and accounting for landfill methane emissions.
About Sniffer Robotics
Sniffer Robotics is a number one environmental expertise enabled companies agency serving the waste, pure fuel, and agriculture industries all through the USA. Sniffer’s strategies, automation instruments, and software program options assist enhance their clients’ compliance standing and operational efficiency whereas benefiting the atmosphere. Sniffer was acknowledged as one of many high 250 Greentech Corporations in America by TIME and Statista. Be taught extra at https://www.snifferrobotics.com/