DUMFRIES, Va. — Few, if any person Monday night spoke in favor of a plan to allow a landfill to rise 115 feet higher than currently permitted by the state.
A handful of residents spoke out on a plan from Potomac Landfill owners which would allow them to pile construction waste in piles of 310 feet tall on thier 39 acres of land. Emails submitted by residents opposing the plan were also read aloud by Mayor Gerald Foreman.
Additionally, no one seemed to care about a provision in the proposal that would mean the landfill would close at least 15 years earlier if allowed to go vertical. According to landfill owners, the debris field would maintain it s current footprint and not expand outward to and allotted 58 acres as permitted by a 1987 court order.
“When we, the residents of the Town of Dumfries allowed the landfill to come in the 1980s, we thought the owners would make it look pretty when it closed and we would have a piece of land to build a baseball stadium on,” said Dumfries land developer Pete Singh.
Other business owners said they didn’t want their town to become known for the landfill.
“I’m not happy about this,” said Wali Hashimi, who manages the Dumfries Nursery across from Town Hall. “I’m afraid our town will become known for the landfill and not for its unique history.”
Potomac Landfill has been a point of contention with many town residents. One year ago, unusually heavy rains from Tropical Storm Lee became too much for the landfill to handle, and a new state report shows leachate from the debris pile seeped out into an unlined pool and then into the public sewer system.
High levels of hydrogen sulfide were also found at the site following the rains, and the rotten egg smell it produced caused many in the town to become ill.
The landfill now faces a $50,000 fine because of these findings, and because the landfill has already piled debris higher than the state mandated-limit of195 feet above sea level, according to Virginia Department of Environmental Quality inspectors.
That has drawn the ire of Town Councilwoman Helen Reynolds.
“They are already in violation of the order, so why should we allow or entertain a request like this until they come back into compliance?” asked Reynolds.
It’s now up to the Town Council to decide whether the landfill will be allowed to go vertical. If they vote yes, the landfill’s higher than allowed piles will no longer be an issue, and landfill will be allowed to continue piling debris up to 310 feet.
A decision on the issue could come early next month.
Once the landfill closes, officials have considered reclaiming the land and using it as a business park.
Recent Stories
ARTfactory and Birmingham Green made headlines in Manassas this week. ARTfactory’s Rooftop Productions, now Actors Theatre, won seven awards at the 2024 DC Broadway World Awards, including Best Musical for Kinky Boots and Best Choreography for The Rocky Horror Show. ARTfactory’s Pied Piper Theatre also earned recognition, winning Best Theatre for Young Audiences for its production of The Wizard of Oz.
Meanwhile, Birmingham Green, ranked as Northern Virginia’s top nursing home by Newsweek Magazine, announced Duane Smith as its new Nursing Home Administrator, effective December 30, 2024. Smith brings extensive experience from senior living leadership roles across multiple states and holds several professional qualifications. Birmingham Green continues its 90-year mission of providing quality long-term care to Northern Virginians in need.
Looking for a new best friend? Meet Echo, a 3-4-month-old pup full of love, energy, and curiosity. This little guy, possibly a Boxer mix, is still finding his voice, but…
Should Virginia ditch the longstanding practice of electing the General Assembly and the governor in odd year elections?
The first odd year election in Virginia was in 1851, after a new state Constitution was approved and members of the House were elected to a two-year term. Before that, members of the House had one-year terms, and voters selected members every single year.
Now, Senate Majority Leader Scott Surovell says modern day voters are sick and tired of voting every year.
A Manassas man was sentenced today to 18 years in prison for providing drugs and alcohol to a child in exchange for sex acts and possession of child sexual abuse material (CSAM) depicting the same victim as well as other children.
According to court documents, Olajide Benjamin Ayilaran, 24, met a 14-year-old girl during the summer of 2023 and began communicating with the victim via iMessage. In the messages, Ayilaran offered to provide the victim drugs, alcohol, and nicotine products in exchange for sex acts. Between at least Nov. 21, 2023, and Feb. 29, 2024, Ayilaran met the victim nine times, usually in the morning before the victim went to school, to exchange the products for sexual acts. Ayilaran would wait for the victim in his car in a nearby park. When the victim arrived, he gave her the drugs and alcohol and then had the victim perform sex acts on him in the car.
Travel to French soil and join us for a night filled with two of the most beloved French traditions—no plane ticket required! ?
On January 25th, we invite you to experience the magic of Galette des Rois, a 700-year-old tradition celebrated across France throughout the entire month of January (and even beyond!). This sweet, almond-filled puff pastry topped with a golden crown isn’t just a treat—it’s a celebration! The lucky person who finds the fève (a porcelain charm hidden in one of the slices) becomes the King or Queen for the Day, and don’t worry—there will be plenty of royalty to go around! ??
But that’s not all! In France, Les Voeux (New Year’s wishes) continue throughout January, often accompanied by Champagne and good cheer. We’re bringing that festive spirit to you, with a lively evening packed with French food, wine, and music.
What’s in store:
Experience the passion and drama of Puccini’s “The Girl from the Golden West”.
Featuring special guest musicians from The Chesapeake Youth Orchestra,
this performance brings Puccini’s masterpiece to life with an extraordinary cast.
