Dive summary:

• New Hanover County Landfill in North Carolina is looking at an expansion that would increase the lifespan of the landfill by 45 years, it will be difficult to get permits though, due to a protected grass found where the expansion is planned.
• The protected grass, sometimes called "wiregrass," "speargrass" or "needlegrass," clusters in areas with disturbed soil and can be found all around the planned expansion area.
• To appease everyone, landfill officials are hoping to relocate the endangered grass to a adjacent location where it can flourish so the landfill can take over its previous home.

From the article:

A rare grass that looks like a weed is creating obstacles for New Hanover County's plan to expand its landfill.

With space in the landfill at a premium, expanding the landfill into a 90-acre space just off of U.S. 421 will give the county an estimated 45 years of life. But that expansion depends on getting permits from the state, which is not guaranteed in part because of the discovery of three-awn grass, a significantly rare plant that is protected by the state, county officials said last week. ...