EPA Takes Action Against Two Northern California Landfills for Clean Air Act Violations, Minimizing Harmful Emissions

EPA Takes Action Against Two Northern California Landfills for Clean Air Act Violations, Minimizing Harmful Emissions

April 29, 2026

SAN FRANCISCO (April 29, 2026) - Today, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is announcing two settlements in the counties of Alameda and Sacramento, California to resolve claims of Clean Air Act (CAA) violations at the Altamont Landfill and Kiefer Landfill. Under the settlement with Waste Management of Alameda County, a wholly owned subsidiary of Waste Management, Inc., the company's Altamont Landfill agreed to pay a penalty of $215,000 for illegally venting and mismanaging treated landfill gas. Under the second settlement, Sacramento County agreed to pay a penalty of $196,936 for failing to properly collect landfill gas during construction activities at the county-owned-and-operated Kiefer Landfill. As a result of EPA's actions, both landfills have come into compliance with federal landfill requirements.

"EPA is committed to ensuring landfills comply with the Clean Air Act," said EPA Pacific Southwest Enforcement and Compliance Assurance Division Director Amy Miller. "We will continue to monitor compliance and take appropriate action against facilities that violate air quality standards and harm human health."

Altamont Landfill, Alameda County, California

During a joint inspection at the Altamont Landfill with the Bay Area Air District, EPA observed the illegal venting of treated landfill gas from storage tanks at the landfill gas treatment plant. EPA found that between 2019 and 2023, the landfill allowed the annual release of more than 340,000 pounds of treated landfill gas, which contains ozone-forming pollutants. By venting the treated landfill gas, originally generated by household waste, Altamont Landfill contributed to smog formation, impacting air quality and the nonattainment status for ozone in the Bay Area and San Joaquin Valley. The previously treated landfill gas is now being directed to the on-site flare station for proper air pollution control.

CAA regulations require all treated landfill gas to be sold for beneficial use or routed to an on-site air pollution control device for destruction.

Kiefer Landfill, Sacramento County, California

During joint inspections at the Kiefer Landfill with the Sacramento Metropolitan Air Quality Management District, EPA found that Kiefer Landfill violated requirements to maintain waste decomposition gas collection systems during construction on the landfill cover. The municipal solid waste facility allowed excess emissions of hazardous air pollutants including benzene, toluene, ethyl benzene, and vinyl chloride to be released. These uncollected emissions also contribute to ground-level ozone formation, which impacts air quality in the Sacramento metropolitan area.

CAA regulations require landfill operators to capture gases in order to minimize harmful emissions, prevent landfill fires, reduce odors, and protect human health by controlling hazardous pollutants and chemicals.

The landfill has since restored proper gas collection operations and committed to minimizing the gas collection system downtime during future construction activities. This will prevent an estimated 330 pounds of hazardous air pollutants per year and 1,800 pounds of annual emissions that contribute to smog formation.

Additional information:

For more information on reporting possible violations of environmental laws and regulations visit EPA's enforcement reporting website.

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