ANN
ARBOR, Mich., May 17, 2024
/PRNewswire/ -- On May 13th,
the Washington State
Department of Ecology announced a new methane emission rule
(Chapter 173-408 WAC) for active and closed solid waste (MSW)
landfills in their state. All affected landfills must meet the
requirements starting January 1,
2025.
The SnifferDRONE is the most
effective solution to precisely, accurately and safely detect
land-based methane emissions.
While the requirements of the new rule are lengthy, and will
impact many aspects of landfill operations, this announcement is
narrowly focused on new requirements specific to surface emissions
monitoring (SEM). Washington's new requirements mirror those of
California, Oregon and Maryland, requiring:
- SEM inspection performed by a field technician traversing in a
serpentine path with no more than 25-ft spacing between the
inspection paths.
- Instantaneous and integrated surface emissions
reporting.
- SEM operations restricted to a maximum average and
instantaneous wind speed and cannot be performed earlier than 72
hours after precipitation.
While the new rule will drive greater accountability for methane
emissions, it will also lead to increased labor costs and
technicians' exposure to hazards by increasing their inspection
time threefold. Washington
has alleviated these concerns by allowing the use of a drone to
perform work that would otherwise be performed manually. The
drone (an unmanned aerial system referred to as the SnifferDRONE™)
performs the inspection 50% faster, thus reducing technician's
exposure to hazards, while improving the effectiveness of detecting
methane emissions and their leak sources.
The US EPA was the first to approve the use of an unmanned
aerial system (UAS) for this purpose as outlined in Other Test
Method 51 (OTM-51). Washington has integrated OTM-51, with
modifications, in their new rule. The method, utilizing the
UAS, provides confidence in inspection via greater process control,
data management, and professional reporting.
Industry leaders in Washington
began using the SnifferDRONE for landfill emission monitoring
in 2023. These early adopters recognized the opportunity to improve
the environment and their operations. We congratulate these leaders
for their vision and thank them for making a difference.
We look forward to continuing our work in the state and beyond
to improve the methods for detecting and accounting for landfill
methane emissions.
About Sniffer Robotics
Sniffer Robotics is a leading environmental technology
enabled services firm serving the waste, natural gas, and
agriculture industries throughout the
United States. Sniffer's methods, automation tools, and
software solutions help improve their customers' compliance
standing and operational performance while benefiting the
environment. Sniffer was recognized as one of the top 250 Greentech
Companies in America by TIME and Statista. Learn more
at https://www.snifferrobotics.com/
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SOURCE Sniffer Robotics, LLC