Moody Landfill Update: ADEM Called Property Fire Hazard Prior to Blaze

The Moody Landfill fire in Alabama continues to smolder underground more than two months after it began, much to the concern of nearby residents who have filed complaints with county and state agencies.

Residents told local media outlets they have been suffering smoke inhalation symptoms including headache, fatigue and chest pains. 

The Alabama Department of Environmental Management (ADEM) cited owners Environmental Landfill Inc. at least seven times in the past nine years for "fire hazard potential." Agency documents revealed that unauthorized materials such as tires, construction debris and hazardous materials had been illegally dumped at Moody Landfill.

A class-action lawsuit was filed in mid-January against Environmental alleging that the property was operated as an illegal dump site because of the company's negligence.

Residents such as Kristan Hodges, who lives four miles from the landfill, said they have had to evacuate as a result of the ongoing public health concerns brought on by the degradation of air quality.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is conducting daily air monitoring of the Moody Landfill and posting the sampling results on its website. 

In early January 2023, the agency sent its Superfund Technical Assessment and Response Team (START) to gather samples from "two locations near burning material and two locations offsite at residential properties near the site." The samples collected were taken to identify potential differences in airborne contaminants found in areas of varying colors of smoke. They were tested for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and volatile organic compounds (VOCs).

"Some chemicals were identified in air samples collected on or near the site that exceed Removal Management Levels (RML) which are chemical-specific concentrations that help define areas, contaminants, or conditions where a cleanup or mitigation measures known as a removal action may be appropriate," the agency stated.

Following the assessment results, the EPA gathered additional resources to establish more in-depth air monitoring and sampling and to identify measures to fully eliminate the blaze. 

"Currently, the EPA is focused on determining the best strategy for eliminating the fire, collecting additional samples to confirm and expand upon previous data results, providing information to the public, as it is available, and determining next steps," the agency commented.

Early estimates show it might cost at least $2.8 million to properly extinguish the blaze. The EPA recently revised a budget after identifying a contractor that could perform the work.