The Potomac Landfill could cease to exist in about eight years.

Burwin Reed, operator of the construction debris landfill, said owner Jack Crippen of Great Falls is exploring a new concept for the future of his property.

The idea is to pull down the three large mountains of buried debris in the landfill in phases and over time. As the mountains are dismantled and brought to ground level, a new business complex would be built on the 80 acres of property that is largely bordered by Interstate 95 and Va. 234.

"We're not talking about closing [the landfill] or capping it," Reed said. "[Under the concept,] it goes away."

Criticism and complaints about the landfill have been growing in recent years and have gained momentum in recent months. Local and state elected officials have been calling for answers to residents' complaints about odor, noise and dust coming from the landfill that also borders the neighborhood of Tripoli Heights.

The Virginia Department of Environmental Quality has notified the landfill that it may be in violation of its permit and state odor laws.

DEQ and landfill officials are working to correct those issues. Reed says since he became associated with the landfill in December, he has made several operational changes to address the problems and believes they are working.

"I was brought in to fix the problems," he said.

Reed also said he has plans in place -- and a chemist, who is an expert on odor control, on retainer -- to tackle any odor issues should they occur.

The warm summer months have been notoriously bad as far as odor is concerned, neighboring residents have complained. The smell of decomposing dry wall or sheet rock is described by many as that of a sewer or rotting eggs.

The mounting negative attention to the landfill did not weigh into the owner's decision to explore changing the use of the land, Reed said.

"The landfill is a profitable business. We could continue to operate this landfill for many, many years to come," Reed said.

With new and more efficient landfill operational techniques, Reed said the lifespan of Potomac Landfill could be as long as 15 to 20 years.

Part of the reason for the extended lifespan is the landfill's ability to dig up its existing mountains and mine for recyclable items such as steel, wood and even plastic. The remaining debris is then processed and often ground into smaller pieces before being reburied.

"This concept came about as purely a business decision," Reed said.

Crippen feels he could make a greater return on his investment by changing its use. It has not been determined yet if the land and buildings of the business park would be sold or leased, Reed said.

"We haven't gotten that far yet," he said.

The plan also calls for a construction debris recycling center to be built at the far end of the property near the interstate. Trucks would bring debris to the center, which would be an enclosed facility. Recyclable material would be removed and the remainder would be shipped off to a landfill.

This would be separate from the business park and there would be different roads leading to each.

Reed recently met with Dumfries Mayor Melvin "Mel" Bray and Town Manager John Barkley to explain the concept.

"I am pleased with what they are trying to do," Bray said. "It's a tremendous idea."

Reed said Potomac Landfill is willing to donate or give a chunk of land behind Tripoli Heights to the town of Dumfries so it can be used as a recreational area with ball fields. Access to the ball fields would be from Graham Street and would be separate from the business complex.

A hill would also be built near Tripoli Heights. "We want to bring it back to what was there years ago, a pretty grassy slope with trees," Reed said.

Potomac Landfill's plan involves bringing down the mountains piece by piece. It would stop accepting new debris and instead concentrate its efforts on mining what is already there, recycling when possible and carting off the rest to another landfill.

Under such a plan, residents would still see, hear and smell a landfill operation but they would also see the progress towards its demise.

"They will see a transition as the mountains come down," Reed said. "It will be something that they can say, 'We can see this happening.' "

But, in order for this to happen, the town of Dumfries must rezone the property to a business/light industry designation.

"I still have to sell it to the [Dumfries Town] Council," Bray said. "They will have to buy into it, but I see it as a win-win situation."

Town Attorney Bob Bendall is putting together a presentation about the landfill's plan and his recommendation. It will be given to the council in the near future, Bray said.

Town Councilman Cliff Brewer lives in Tripoli Heights and has already been briefed on the plan by the mayor and town manager.

He remains skeptical.

"I've heard a lot of talk like this for 23 years. Show me. I want to see something on paper, something legal," Brewer said.