WM – Long-Term Groundwater Compliance & Expansion Support

17 Landfills | 2000s-Present

The Challenge: Navigating Groundwater Regulations at Scale

For Waste Management, operating a network of 17 active municipal solid waste landfills across Georgia and South Carolina means navigating complex groundwater compliance requirements—at both the site and regional levels. Over the past two decades, they’ve relied on ACC to manage routine monitoring, troubleshoot exceedances, and provide support for major permitting efforts. With state-level scrutiny and evolving site conditions, WM needed a partner who could manage both the fine details and big-picture strategy.

Our Role: A Single, Trusted Partner Across All Sites

Since the early 2000s, ACC has served as the sole environmental consultant for groundwater programs at all 17 landfills. This long-standing relationship has allowed us to deliver consistency in sampling methods, reporting formats, and regulatory communication. We’ve developed site-specific knowledge while maintaining a regional view, helping anticipate issues, minimize redundancies, and ensure Waste Management remains in full compliance with state and federal requirements.

Our services have included:

• Routine groundwater monitoring and reporting

• Alternate Source Demonstrations (ASDs)

• Assessment of Corrective Measures (ACM) studies

• Expansion feasibility analyses

• Regulatory coordination with Georgia EPD and South Carolina DHEC

What We Delivered: Groundwater Clarity and Expansion Success

One of the most complex projects within this portfolio came at a facility seeking vertical and lateral expansion. Historic and current groundwater data revealed exceedances—typically a barrier to permitting expansion. ACC responded with a full field investigation, including new drilling, hydrogeologic evaluation, and a review of site records going back to the 1990s.

Using this data, we developed a compelling Alternate Source Demonstration, showing that the exceedances were not landfill-related. The result was a green light from the Georgia EPD:

• Site acceptability was granted

• A revised Design & Operations Plan was approved

• A new permit was issued, allowing the client to move forward with the planned expansion

The Result: Reliable Oversight, Regulatory Trust, and Permitting Wins

For over 20 years, ACC has supported WM with the accuracy, responsiveness, and regulatory insight required to manage compliance across a large and varied landfill network. Our consistent, high-quality work has not only maintained full regulatory compliance but has also cleared the path for major expansion projects—even in challenging groundwater conditions. With ACC, WM has a partner that delivers technical rigor and strategic foresight—site by site, year after year.