Doolittle Landfill Flare and Piping Replacement

The Doolittle Landfill is an inactive, closed, and permitted Class III solid waste disposal site located in the City of Alameda at the northeastern edge of Bay Farm Island, adjacent to San Leandro Bay. The approximately 40-acre site is bounded by San Leandro Bay to the north, Doolittle Drive to the south and west, and Doolittle Pond to the east. The landfill began operations in 1953 and accepted primarily household waste, yard waste, demolition materials, and solid industrial debris before ceasing waste acceptance in 1981 and closing in accordance with an approved closure plan in 1987. Although the landfill is no longer active, it continues to generate landfill gas and remains under the City’s long-term management and regulatory oversight.

A permitted landfill gas recovery and flaring system is in place to collect and safely destroy methane generated by the closed landfill. This system is fully operational and regulated by multiple local and state authorities to ensure environmental protection and public safety. The purpose of this project is to repair and replace aging infrastructure associated with the collection and destruction of landfill gas. Much of the existing methane control equipment dates back to the original installation and is nearly 40 years old.

December 3, 2025: Flare Source Test results finalized, submitted to Bay Area Air Quality Management District for ATC closeout.

October 7, 2025: Flare Source Test begins for regulatory compliance.

August 4, 2025: Contractor installs new flare, performs new system testing and start-up.

June 11, 2025: Contractor mobilizes for control panel and electrical systems work.

October 31, 2024: Contractor orders control panel and electrical system components.

July 8, 2024: Contractor mobilizes for well-field work.

June 1, 2024: Contractor orders well-field components.

May 16, 2024: Contractor orders flare and blower components.

May 15, 2024: Authority to Construct (ATC) permit submitted to the Bay Area Air Quality Management District.

May 1, 2024: Design work begins - Controls, Electrical Panel, Flare and Blower, Well-field piping.

April 29, 2024: City staff issue Notice to Proceed (NTP).

April 16, 2024: City Council awards and Agreement to Blue Flame Crew West, LLC.

October 19, 2023: City staff issue an Request for Proposal (RFP)

June 15, 2021: City Council appropriates funds for this project in the FY21/22-22/23 Capital Budget.

Construction work spans from April 2024 through December 2025 and focuses on completing design, permitting, procurement, construction, and system start-up. The phase begins with final design of the flare, blower, controls, and electrical systems, along with procurement of long-lead equipment and completion of regulatory and air quality permitting. Final design is completed in May 2024, with the Flare Authority to Construct (ATC) application submitted the same month. Equipment fabrication for the flare, blower, and control panels occurs between May and October 2024.

Construction and installation activities run from June 2024 through August 2025 and include well field upgrades, control panel and electrical installation, removal of existing equipment, and installation of the new flare and blower system. Well field work is scheduled to be complete by October 2024, followed by completion of control and electrical installation and flare and blower installation in August 2025. Testing, start-up, and regulatory closeout take place from August through December 2025, including system commissioning, flare source testing, and final regulatory approvals.

The system is anticipated to become fully operational in August 2025, with less-than-continuous operation approval around October 2025, and the final source test report submitted in December 2025. Project completion and formal closeout is scheduled to occur between December 2025 and March 2026, with all construction, testing, permitting, and documentation finalized and accepted.

1. When will construction take place?

Construction is scheduled from Summer 2024 through Fall 2025.

2. What are the construction work hours?

All work will occur during normal business hours on weekdays. 

3. Could the construction schedule change?

Yes. Weather conditions and material availability may cause schedule adjustments. Any updates will be communicated as needed.

4. When is the project expected to be completed?

The project is planned to be fully complete with finalized permits by March, 2026.

5. I have general project questions. Who can I contact?

For any questions about the project, please contact:

Ricardo De La Torre
Project Manager, Public Works Department
Phone: (510) 747-7923
Email: rdelatorre@alamedaca.gov

The Doolittle Landfill began operations in 1953 and primarily accepted household waste, yard waste, demolition materials, and solid industrial debris. The landfill stopped receiving waste in 1981 and was formally closed in 1985. Closure activities were completed in accordance with an approved closure plan, and the site was officially closed in 1987. Since that time, the landfill has remained under regulatory oversight and continues to be managed as a closed disposal facility.

Site Description

The Doolittle Landfill is an inactive, closed, and fully permitted Class III solid waste disposal site located in the City of Alameda at the northeastern edge of Bay Farm Island, adjacent to San Leandro Bay. The landfill encompasses approximately 40 acres and is bounded by San Leandro Bay to the north, Doolittle Drive to the south and west, and Doolittle Pond to the east.

Although the landfill no longer accepts waste, it continues to be carefully managed. A landfill gas recovery and flaring system is in place to safely collect and control landfill gas generated within the site. This system is fully operational, permitted, and subject to ongoing oversight by multiple regulatory agencies to ensure continued protection of public health and the environment. 

Current Operations and Maintenance

The landfill is currently operated and maintained by Blue Flame Crew West, LLC under a five-year contract term spanning fiscal years 2023 through 2028, which began on October 19, 2023. Ongoing operations focus on maintaining landfill gas control systems, monitoring site conditions, and ensuring compliance with all applicable local, state, and regional regulations.

Landfill Gas Collection and Control System

The Doolittle Landfill is equipped with a comprehensive landfill gas collection and control system designed to safely capture and manage landfill gas. The system includes:

• 19 vertical landfill gas extraction wells, consisting of 6 single-casing wells and 13 dual-casing wells
• Approximately 5,000 feet of PVC header piping ranging from 4 to 10 inches in diameter
• 12 condensate J-traps to manage moisture within the system
• One enclosed flare, rated at 450 standard cubic feet per minute (SCFM), originally installed in 1993
• Two blowers, each rated at 900 SCFM, used to maintain proper system vacuum and gas flow

This system operates continuously and is monitored to ensure safe, efficient performance.

Regulatory Oversight

The Doolittle Landfill operates under strict regulatory oversight and remains in full compliance with applicable permits and requirements. Regulatory agencies overseeing the site include CalRecycle, the Regional Water Quality Control Board, and the Bay Area Air Quality Management District.

• CalRecycle SWIS Number: 01-AA-0012
• Site Status: Closed and Permitted
• Water Board Region: San Francisco Bay (Region 2)
• Regional Water Quality Control Board Case Number: 019122001
• Bay Area Air Quality Management District Plant Number: 3194
• Air Quality Status: Permitted

Through ongoing monitoring, maintenance, and regulatory coordination, the City of Alameda remains committed to the long-term stewardship and environmental protection of the Doolittle Landfill site.