Test shows methane spreading further into Batavia

The latest testing for methane seepage out of the Midway landfill this week revealed the gas' spread to an area closer to residential homes than previously discovered.

A new probe on the north side of Orion Street, between Surrey and Nagel, roughly behind the Batavia Rehabilitation & Health Care building, detected methane late Tuesday and again Wednesday. The probe was installed Dec. 22, but it didn't detect any methane gas at the time, meaning the gas has now spread.

Waste Management officials said the methane does not pose any immediate danger to nearby residents as it is not under pressure or at a concentration conducive to possible combustion.

That now makes two probes that continue to measure elevated methane readings off the Midway landfill campus. The other probe is along Raddant Road, just south of Fabyan Parkway.

In response to the spread, Waste Management is teaming up with the Batavia Fire Department to conduct testing in nearby homes. Several homes have already been tested and found to have no methane, Waste Management spokesman Bill Plunkett said.

“We're finding residents cooperative,” Plunkett said. “The testing only takes about half an hour. We're doing it in a way that's as quick and easy as possible.”

County officials are encouraging local residents near the landfill to allow the in-home tests. Some of the homes will be given in-home monitors to allow for continuous testing. The devices and testing are similar to those used to detect radon gas.

If methane is discovered in a residence, Waste Management officials said they will work with the property owner to remediate the gas.

Waste Management is updating residents at cityofbatavia.net/midway.