Alabama Administrative Code › Title 335 - ALABAMA DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT › LAND DIVISION - SOLID WASTE PROGRAM › Chapter 335-13-15 - STANDARDS FOR THE DISPOSAL OF COAL COMBUSTION RESIDUALS IN LANDFILLS AND SURFACE IMPOUNDMENTS › Section 335-13-15-.06 - Groundwater Monitoring And Corrective Action

Current through Register Vol. 42, No. 9, June 28, 2024
(1) Applicability.
(a) All CCR landfills, CCR surface
				impoundments, and lateral expansions of CCR units are subject to the
				groundwater monitoring and corrective action requirements under
				335-13-15-.06(1)
				through 335-13-15-.06(9).
(b) Initial timeframes.
1. Existing CCR landfills and existing CCR
				surface impoundments. No later than October 17, 2017, the owner or operator of
				the CCR unit must be in compliance with the following groundwater monitoring
				requirements:
(i) Install the groundwater
				monitoring system as required by
				335-13-15-.06(2);
(ii) Develop the groundwater sampling and
				analysis program to include selection of the statistical procedures to be used
				for evaluating groundwater monitoring data as required by
				335-13-15-.06(4);
(iii) Initiate the detection monitoring
				program to include obtaining a minimum of eight independent samples for each
				background and downgradient well as required by
				335-13-15-.06(5)(b);
				and
(iv) Begin evaluating the
				groundwater monitoring data for statistically significant increases over
				background levels for the constituents listed in Appendix III as required by
				335-13-15-.06(5).
2. New CCR landfills, new CCR
				surface impoundments, and all lateral expansions of CCR units. Prior to initial
				receipt of CCR by the CCR unit, the owner or operator must be in compliance
				with the groundwater monitoring requirements specified in
				335-13-15-.06(1)(b)1.(i)and
				(ii). In addition, the owner or operator of
				the CCR unit must initiate the detection monitoring program to include
				obtaining a minimum of eight independent samples for each background well as
				required by
				335-13-15-.06(5)(b).
(c) Once a groundwater monitoring
				system and groundwater monitoring program has been established at the CCR unit
				as required by this chapter, the owner or operator must conduct groundwater
				monitoring and, if necessary, corrective action throughout the active life and
				post-closure care period of the CCR unit.
(d) In the event of a release from a CCR
				unit, the owner or operator must immediately take all necessary measures to
				control the source(s) of releases so as to reduce or eliminate, to the maximum
				extent feasible, further releases of contaminants into the environment. The
				owner or operator of the CCR unit must comply with all applicable requirements
				in 335-13-15-.06(7),
				335-13-15-.06(8),
				and 335-13-15-.06(9).
(e) Annual groundwater monitoring and
				corrective action report. For existing CCR landfills and existing CCR surface
				impoundments, no later than January 31, 2018, and annually thereafter, the
				owner or operator must prepare an annual groundwater monitoring and corrective
				action report. For new CCR landfills, new CCR surface impoundments, and all
				lateral expansions of CCR units, the owner or operator must prepare the initial
				annual groundwater monitoring and corrective action report no later than
				January 31 of the year following the calendar year a groundwater monitoring
				system has been established for such CCR unit as required by this chapter, and
				annually thereafter. For the preceding calendar year, the annual report must
				document the status of the groundwater monitoring and corrective action program
				for the CCR unit, summarize key actions completed, describe any problems
				encountered, discuss actions to resolve the problems, and project key
				activities for the upcoming year. The owner or operator has prepared the annual
				report when the report is submitted to the Department and placed in the
				facility's operating record as required by
				335-13-15-.08(1)(h)1.
				At a minimum, the annual groundwater monitoring and corrective action report
				must contain the following information, to the extent available:
1. A map, aerial image, or diagram showing
				the CCR unit and all background (or upgradient) and downgradient monitoring
				wells, to include the well identification numbers, that are part of the
				groundwater monitoring program for the CCR unit;
2. Identification of any monitoring wells
				that were installed or decommissioned during the preceding year, along with a
				narrative description of why those actions were taken;
3. In addition to all the monitoring data
				obtained under
				335-13-15-.06(1)
				through 335-13-15-.06(9),
				a summary including the number of groundwater samples that were collected for
				analysis for each background and downgradient well, the dates the samples were
				collected, and whether the sample was required by the detection monitoring or
				assessment monitoring programs;
4.
				A narrative discussion of any transition between monitoring programs (e.g., the
				date and circumstances for transitioning from detection monitoring to
				assessment monitoring in addition to identifying the constituent(s) detected as
				a statistically significant increase over background levels); and
5. Other information required to be included
				in the annual report as specified in
				335-13-15-.06(1)
				through 335-13-15-.06(9).
6. A section at the beginning of the annual
				report that provides an overview of the current status of groundwater
				monitoring and corrective action programs for the CCR unit. At a minimum, the
				summary must specify all of the following:
(i) At the start of the current annual
				reporting period, whether the CCR unit was operating under the detection
				monitoring program in
				335-13-15-.06(5)
				or the assessment monitoring program in
				335-13-15-.06(6);
(ii) At the end of the current annual
				reporting period, whether the CCR unit was operating under the detection
				monitoring program in
				335-13-15-.06(5)
				or the assessment monitoring program in
				335-13-15-.06(6);
(iii) If it was determined that there was a
				statistically significant increase over background for one or more constituents
				listed in Appendix III pursuant to
				335-13-15-.06(5)(e):
I. Identify those constituents listed in
				Appendix III and the names of the monitoring wells associated with such an
				increase; and
II. Provide the date
				when the assessment monitoring program was initiated for the CCR
				unit.
(iv) If it was
				determined that there was a statistically significant level above the
				groundwater protection standard for one or more constituents listed in Appendix
				IV pursuant to
				335-13-15-.06(6)(g)
				include all of the following:
I. Identify
				those constituents listed in Appendix IV and the names of the monitoring wells
				associated with such an increase;
II. Provide the date when the assessment of
				corrective measures was initiated for the CCR unit;
III. Provide the date when the public meeting
				was held for the assessment of corrective measures for the CCR unit;
				and
IV. Provide the date when the
				assessment of corrective measures was completed for the CCR unit.
(v) Whether a remedy was selected
				pursuant to
				335-13-15-.06(8)
				during the current annual reporting period, and if so, the date of remedy
				selection; and
(vi) Whether
				remedial activities were initiated or are ongoing pursuant to
				335-13-15-.06(9)
				during the current annual reporting period.
(f) Semi-annual groundwater monitoring
				report. The owner or operator of a CCR unit must submit a semi-annual
				groundwater monitoring report to the Department to coincide with the
				semi-annual sampling event. The report shall be certified by a qualified
				professional engineer. The semi-annual report must document the status of the
				groundwater monitoring program for the CCR unit. The owner or operator has
				prepared the semi-annual report when the report is submitted to the Department
				and placed in the facility's operating record as required by
				335-13-15-.08(1)(h)14.
				At a minimum, the semi-annual groundwater monitoring report must contain the
				following information, to the extent available:
1. A map, aerial image, or diagram showing
				the CCR unit and all background (or upgradient) and downgradient monitoring
				wells, to include the well identification numbers, that are part of the
				groundwater monitoring program for the CCR unit;
2. Identification of any monitoring wells
				that were installed or decommissioned during the preceding semi-annual
				period;
3. In addition to all the
				monitoring data obtained under
				335-13-15-.06(1)
				through 335-13-15-.06(9),
				a summary including the number of groundwater samples that were collected for
				analysis for each background and downgradient well, the dates the samples were
				collected, and whether the sample was required by the detection monitoring or
				assessment monitoring programs; and
4. A narrative discussion of any transition
				between monitoring programs (e.g., the date and circumstances for transitioning
				from detection monitoring to assessment monitoring in addition to identifying
				the constituent(s) detected as a statistically significant increase over
				background levels).
(g)
				The owner or operator of the CCR unit must comply with the recordkeeping
				requirements specified in
				335-13-15-.08(1)(h),
				the notification requirements specified in
				335-13-15-.08(2)(h),
				and the internet requirements specified in
				335-13-15-.08(3)(h).