Castle Air Force Base (6 Areas) Landfill, Merced, California | Solid Waste Management

Castle Air Force Base (6 Areas) is a landfill located in Merced, California, United States. It operates as a solid waste management facility for the former Castle Air Force Base, handling municipal and industrial waste generated on-site. The facility is classified under NAICS code 562212 for solid waste landfills and is currently operational. As a landfill in California, this facility operates under the regulatory framework of the US Environmental Protection Agency's RCRA Subtitle D, which governs municipal solid waste landfills, and the Clean Air Act's landfill gas emission standards. California also enforces stringent state-level regulations for landfill operations, including groundwater monitoring and methane gas collection systems. The facility's scale is typical for a former military base, managing waste from ongoing base activities and remediation efforts. The environmental significance of Castle Air Force Base (6 Areas) lies in its role in containing and managing waste from a former military installation. Proper landfill management is critical to prevent groundwater contamination in the Merced region, which relies on aquifers for agricultural and drinking water. The facility's compliance with landfill gas collection requirements helps mitigate methane emissions, a potent greenhouse gas, contributing to local air quality and climate goals.

The landfill is located in California's Central Valley, an agriculturally intensive region with high groundwater dependency. Key environmental concerns include methane leakage from landfill gas, leachate management to protect nearby aquifers, and community proximity to the former base. The facility must comply with California's stringent landfill gas collection and monitoring requirements to minimize air and water impacts.