A public hearing will be held Dec. 17 to hear concerns about increased levels of methane in a Southeastern Public Service Authority monitoring well.

The localized problem does not necessarily mean any private wells are affected or that the authority is out of compliance with any regulations, said Scott Whitehurst, the landfill manager.

“What the public hearing is for is to answer any questions or concerns regarding that matter,” he said during Wednesday’s board meeting.

The authority does not yet know why the methane showed up in its monitoring well, of which it has about 55 spread throughout the landfill site.

“It’s not something you can plan for,” Whitehurst said.

The authority will have a study done to try to determine where the methane originated. Because the groundwater table in the area moves slowly horizontally, it could have come from an event years ago, he added.

The time of the public hearing is not yet set, but interested parties can call 420-4700 to find out when it will be. It will be held at the transfer station adjacent to the landfill, 1 Bob Foeller Drive.

Also at Wednesday’s board meeting, executive director Rowland Taylor said one odor complaint has been received in the area of the landfill since the October meeting. That complaint came on Nov. 2, and the landfill has stepped up its application of winter odor neutralizer, he said.