Dive Brief:

• A settlement agreement will end a six-year civil suit dealing with the inactive Hightower Road Municipal Landfill in Forsyth, Georgia.

• The lawsuit brought against the county-owned landfill was fueled by claims from Robin and Terry Solomon that the site was leaking contaminants into wells on their property, which is adjacent to the landfill.

• The Solomons have agreed to dismiss the suit in exchange for $320,000 and for accepting that the county is in compliance with the Environmental Protection Division (EPD) post-closure monitoring plan. The settlement terms also denies any liability to the Solomons. The agreement was reached to "avoid the expense, trouble and uncertainty associated with litigation." 

Dive Insight:

The county will perform continued monitoring of the site, which closed in 1999, until the EPD agrees that it is no longer necessary. Forsyth will also monitor two wells and two springs on the Solomon's property. 

The county must put in a public water line within six months and the Solomons must discontinue use of the wells for human consumption. A restrictive covenant was placed on the property, preventing wells from being within 700 feet of the site until monitoring is finished.

An additional $20,000 from the county to be used to constructing a replacement well. The Solomons will deed a parcel measuring 2.5 acres to the county to cap the well on the site, according to Georgia EDP regulators.