HOPE for Bristol

02/17/2026

Thank you to Abby Hassler at Appalachian Voices for covering the recent Public Health report and community meeting with the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry concerning the Bristol VA Landfill.

The Beast of Bristol is back. Or rather, the landfill's impact and its intense odors, which have grown less frequent but never fully dissipated for some residents, have been recognized in a new federal public health agency report.

01/20/2026

Have you heard that a Public Health report was released concerning air monitoring around the Bristol VA Landfill? We hope you'll come out to the public meeting with the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) on Wednesday, January 21, 2026, at 6PM in the Virginia High School Auditorium! Here are Key Findings from the report, for context.

01/20/2026

Have you heard that a Public Health report was released concerning air monitoring around the Bristol VA Landfill? We hope you'll come out to the public meeting with the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) on Wednesday, January 21, 2026, at 6PM in the Virginia High School Auditorium! Here are Key Findings from the report, for context.

Find the event details here: https://www.facebook.com/events/1132961425417130/

09/05/2024

TN residents: We've been alerted that a hearing on the continued use of biosolids application to farmland in Tennessee will occur on Thursday September 5th in Nashville. If you would like to submit a public comment on this matter, you can send an email to John.Newberry@tn.gov and reference permit .

Our apologies for this being so last-minute, but we did want to get it out to our followers!

For more info, please see local news coverage:

There is growing concern nationwide about the impact of PFAS. The so-called forever chemicals are found in everything from non-stick cookware to firefighting...

03/30/2024

The geomembrane cover, a final step recommended by the Expert Panel and much advocated for by the community, is reportedly delayed until Dec 1, 2026! This membrane was supposed to be in place by March 28, 2024, and is a key engineering solution for minimizing landfill gas emissions into the community.

Thanks to WJHL for including HOPE's Joel Kellogg in their coverage.

BRISTOL, Va. (WJHL) — The City of Bristol, Virginia’s woes tied to its closed landfill do not appear to be at an end. On Thursday, a lawyer representing the City of Bristol, Tenn. sent a lett…

03/01/2024

Bristol Landfill Health Study:

An additional update.
We are sampling again this evening.
Tomorrow, the teams will collect the sorbent tubes AND the sampling devices.

They will be returned to you!

This device has a micro SD card and the researchers need to download the collected data.

It is possible that some tweaks will be made to correct any issues in the device's functionality.

We have also asked that the device be configured to start at a preset time. This way the host homes could set the device outside on the day of sampling, turn it on and go about their day.
If the firmware allows this, it would eliminate having to be physically present to start the sampler.

We are truly grateful for those who have volunteered to host these devices and for those who have signed up to take the short survey during sampling events.

If you are interested in hosting or are willing to take the survey, please follow the link below to sign up.

Thank you!

Joel

https://cph.uky.edu/research/projects/bristol-landfill?fbclid=IwAR2mIYkDkn2Nbt58W9ws7AN2gb-bWOtuCt2z8ZUzjtcGhvC0ZexGbJsdodY

Dr. Erin N. Haynes and her team are working with the residents of Bristol, Tennessee and Virginia to track health symptoms and evaluate their relationship to foul smells and air quality. In partnership with the Dr. John Volckens at Colorado State University, the team is also measuring air quality ov...

02/29/2024

Below is an update from the team at the University of Kentucky. Some clarification is included.
We will continue to fine tune the process as we move forward with testing.

Heads up for those who have sampling units: Did you recharge your unit after last time?
You are going to need it soon :)

************************************************

"Thank you for participating in the Bristol Landfill Health Study!

The purpose of this unique study is to investigate the connection between landfill emissions and the health symptoms and odors you experience. Over the next year, we will sample overnight for variety of chemicals at 20 homes throughout Bristol TN and VA approximately twice per month. We plan to sample on nights that are without rain and will choose both "bad" and "good" nights so we can compare the difference. When we sample, we will also ask all participants in the health study to complete a short survey, even if you do not have an air sampling device at your home. Your responses to the short survey are very important as we also compare your experiences with odors and health effects during these sampling times.

The short survey is less than 2 minutes. If possible, please share your experiences about odors and health within a day of receiving the survey. Your next opportunity to participate will arrive by text or email Thursday February 29 at noon. As always, your responses will be confidential.

Thank you so much for participating. If you do not wish to continue participating, please let us know.

As you know, the more data we have - the better! We could use your help sharing this research opportunity with others in your community. Please forward/share this survey link https://bit.ly/Bristol-Health-Study.

Sincerely,

Erin N. Haynes, DrPH, MS

Kurt W. Deuschle Professor of Preventive Medicine and Environmental Health

Chair, Department of Epidemiology

University of Kentucky

bristolairstudy@uky.edu

Office: 859-562-2119"

01/17/2024

A public health & air quality study is happening around the Bristol VA Landfill. Volunteers are needed ASAP!

To be considered to host a very small outdoor air monitor, please click the link below and click on the Survey Link button.
https://cph.uky.edu/research/projects/bristol-landfill

After completing the brief survey, you will be considered for hosting a monitor and will be contacted by the UK team. Right now, the study especially needs participants in Forest Hills, Redstone, Booher, & King College Rd areas -- but all areas are welcome to apply.

This NIEHS-funded research study is the fruit of 2 years of focused discussions between HOPE for Bristol, University of Kentucky, and the other universities involved. 🙌

Thanks all!

Dr. Erin N. Haynes and her team are working with the residents of Bristol, Tennessee and Virginia to track health symptoms and evaluate their relationship to foul smells and air quality. In partnership with the Dr. John Volckens at Colorado State University, the team is also measuring air quality ov...

12/16/2023

Here with the Uber talented John Paul Linke :)
Good progress today!

12/15/2023

Some excellent news for all.of Bristol today!

BRISTOL, Va. (WJHL) — The city of Bristol, Va. landfill got some good news dumped in its lap Friday with Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s announcement of $35 million in Commonwealth funds “for key…