Mich. Comp. Laws § 324.11511b — MI Code / Chapter 324 / Act Act-451-of-1994 / Section 324.11511b
RDDP; research, development, and demonstration project.
Status: in_force

Sec. 11511b.

(1) A person may submit to the department a project abstract for an RDDP. If, based on the project abstract, the department determines that the RDDP will provide beneficial data on alternative landfill design, construction, or operating methods, the person may apply for a construction permit under section 11509, including the renewal or modification of a construction permit, authorizing the person to establish the RDDP.

(2) An RDDP is subject to the same requirements, including, but not limited to, permitting, construction, licensing, operation, closure, postclosure, financial assurance, fees, and sanctions as apply to other type II landfills or landfill units under part 115, except as provided in this section.

(3) An extension of the processing period for an RDDP construction permit is not subject to the limitations under section 1307.

(4) An application for an RDDP construction permit shall include, in addition to the applicable information required in other type II landfill construction permit applications, all of the following:

(a) A description of the RDDP goals.

(b) Details of the design, construction, and operation of the RDDP as necessary to ensure protection of the environment, natural resources, and the public health, safety, and welfare. The design shall be at least as protective of the environment, natural resources, and the public health, safety, and welfare as other designs that are required under part 115.

(c) A list and discussion of the types of waste that will be disposed of, excluded, or added, including the types and amount of liquids that will be added under subsection (5) and how the addition will benefit the RDDP.

(d) A list and discussion of the types of compliance monitoring and operational monitoring that will be performed.

(e) Specific means to address potential nuisance conditions, including, but not limited to, odors and health concerns as a result of human contact.

(5) The department may authorize the addition of liquids, including, but not limited to, septage waste or other liquid waste, to solid waste in an RDDP if the applicant has demonstrated that the addition is necessary to accelerate or enhance the biostabilization of the solid waste and is not merely a means of disposal of the liquids. If an RDDP is intended to accelerate or enhance biostabilization of solid waste, the construction permit application shall include, in addition to the information required under subsection (4), all of the following:

(a) An evaluation of the potential for a decreased slope stability of the waste caused by any of the following:

( i ) Increased presence of liquids.

( ii ) Accelerated degradation of the waste.

( iii ) Increased gas pressure buildup.

( iv ) Other relevant factors.

(b) An operations management plan that incorporates all of the following:

( i ) A description of and the proportion and expected quantity of all components that are needed to accelerate or enhance biostabilization of the solid waste.

( ii ) A description of any solid or liquid waste that may be detrimental to the biostabilization of the solid waste intended to be disposed of or to the RDDP goals.

( iii ) An explanation of how the detrimental waste described in subparagraph ( ii ) will be prevented from being disposed of in cells approved for the RDDP.

(c) Parameters, such as moisture content, stability, gas production, and settlement, that will be used by the department to determine the beginning of the postclosure period for the RDDP under subsection (10).

(d) Information to ensure that the requirements of subsection (6) will be met.

(6) An RDDP shall meet all of the following requirements:

(a) Ensure that added liquids are evenly distributed and that side slope breakout of liquids is prevented.

(b) Ensure that daily cover practices or disposal of low permeability solid wastes does not adversely affect the free movement of liquids and gases within the waste mass.

(c) Include all of the following:

( i ) A means to monitor the moisture content and temperature of the waste.

( ii ) A leachate collection system of adequate size for the anticipated increased liquid production rates. The design's factor of safety shall take into account the anticipated increased operational temperatures and other factors as appropriate.

( iii ) A means to monitor the depth of leachate on the liner.

( iv ) An active gas collection and control system. The system shall be of adequate size for the anticipated methane production rates and to control odors. The system must be operational before the addition of any material to accelerate or enhance biostabilization of the solid waste.

(7) The owner or operator of an RDDP for which a construction permit has been issued shall submit a report to the department at least once every 12 months on the progress of the RDDP in achieving its goals. The report shall include a summary of all monitoring and testing results, as well as any other operating information specified by the permit or in a subsequent permit modification or operating condition.

(8) A permit for an RDDP shall specify the term of the permit, which shall not exceed 3 years. However, the owner or operator of an RDDP may apply for and the department may grant an extension of the term of the permit, subject to all of the following requirements:

(a) The application to extend the term of the permit must be received by the department at least 90 days before the expiration of the permit.

(b) The application shall include a detailed assessment of the RDDP showing the progress of the RDDP in achieving its goals, a list of problems with the RDDP and progress toward resolving those problems, and other information that the department determines is necessary to accomplish the purposes of part 115.

(c) If the department fails to make a final decision within 90 days after receipt of an administratively complete application for an extension of the term of a permit, the term of the permit is extended for 3 years.

(d) An individual extension shall not exceed 3 years, and the total term of the permit with all extensions shall not exceed 21 years.

(9) If the department determines that the overall goals of an RDDP, including, but not limited to, protection of the environment, natural resources, and the public health, safety, and welfare, are not being achieved, the department may order immediate termination of all or part of the operations of the RDDP or may order other corrective measures.

(10) The postclosure period for a facility authorized as an RDDP begins when the department determines that the unit or portion of the unit where the RDDP was authorized has reached a condition similar to the condition that non-RDDP landfills would reach before postclosure. The parameters, such as moisture content, stability, gas production, and settlement, to attain this condition shall be specified in the permit. The landfill care fund shall be maintained for the period after final closure of the landfill as specified under section 11523(1)(a).

(11) The department may authorize the conversion of an RDDP to a full-scale operation if the owner or operator of the RDDP demonstrates to the satisfaction of the department that the goals of the RDDP have been met and the authorization does not constitute a less stringent permitting requirement than is required under subtitle D of the solid waste disposal act, 42 USC 6941 to 6949a, and regulations promulgated thereunder.

History: Add. 2005, Act 236, Imd. Eff. Nov. 22, 2005; Am. 2011, Act 215, Imd. Eff. Nov. 10, 2011; Am. 2016, Act 437, Eff. Apr. 4, 2017; Am. 2022, Act 245, Eff. Mar. 29, 2023