Petaluma Landfill Fined $159,000 For More Than A Dozen Violations

PETALUMA, CA — The Bay Area's air quality watchdog agency fined a Sonoma County landfill operator for more than a dozen violations involving methane and other emission leaks at its Petaluma site.

The Bay Area Air District fined Republic Services $159,000 for 14 air quality violations at the Sonoma Central Landfill on Mecham Road in Petaluma, a disposal site for residents and businesses within Sonoma County.

In June 2023, air district investigators found several methane leaks at the landfill, including nine near the surface, four in landfill gas collection systems, and one well leaking landfill gas due to excessive pressure.

Republic Services failed to meet the Air District's standards for landfill gas emissions and began repairs after violations were issued, but some repairs took up to 14 days to complete.

Republic Services committed at least 179 days of excess landfill gas emissions violations, according to a Bay Area Air District statement released today.

All cited violations have been corrected, according to the statement.

Republic Services contracts with the city to provide collection services for residents and businesses in Petaluma, but operates its own landfills elsewhere.

A portion of the funds from penalties will support local projects in the affected community aimed at reducing pollution and improving public health.

Landfill gas is mostly methane but also contains volatile organic compounds and hazardous air pollutants that can contribute to smog formation and pose health risks, according to the agency. The impact of these emissions can range from mild to severe, as small leaks can cause odors and minor irritation. In contrast, larger leaks can harm air quality, increase health risks for nearby communities, and contribute to climate change.

The Bay Area Air District is the regional agency responsible for protecting air quality in the nine-county Bay Area.

The agency cites facilities that violate air quality regulations. Violators are generally required to respond to the notice within 10 days and submit a description of the actions they will take to correct the problem. These actions can include shutting down certain operations immediately or changing operations or equipment to come into compliance.

"Strong enforcement is critical to protecting public health and holding facilities accountable," the agency's air pollution control executive officer Philip Fine said in the statement. "This penalty is an example of our commitment to reducing harmful emissions for Bay Area communities living near landfills or other industrial sites."