Florida Administrative Code › 62 - DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION › 62 - Departmental › Chapter 62-672 - MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS FOR EARTHEN DAMS USED IN PHOSPHATE MINING AND BENEFICIATION OPERATIONS AND FOR DIKES USED IN PHOSPHOGYPSUM STACK SYSTEM IMPOUNDMENTS › Section 62-672.770 - Phosphogypsum Stack Inspection and Maintenance

Current through Reg. 50, No. 138; July 16, 2024
(1) Personnel
				or agents of the department may accompany inspectors on any inspection required
				by this rule, or inspect starter dikes or gypsum dikes at any other time which
				is reasonable under the circumstances involved. They may also examine any
				inspection reports and shall be furnished copies thereof upon
				request.
(2) A completed new
				phosphogypsum stack system, including the starter dike, shall be thoroughly
				inspected prior to the deposition of process water in it. The liner, spillways
				and water level control structures shall be certified by the design third-party
				engineer as meeting all specifications of the design, and the degree of
				compaction of the fill shall also be certified. Legible photographs, either
				aerial or ground, may be used to document this initial inspection, but shall
				not in themselves constitute certification. A complete file describing the
				items inspected and their condition shall be maintained by the owner, and a
				copy shall be furnished to the department.
(3) All stack compartments, including any
				noted areas containing critical conditions as listed in subsection
				 62-672.770(6),
				F.A.C., until corrected, shall be inspected daily. Stack slopes, collection
				ditches, and drain outlets shall be inspected weekly. Flow from drain outlets
				shall be checked quarterly. The total areal coverage of water on the stack
				shall be estimated each month and the total water inventory on top of the stack
				shall be estimated annually. The required inspections and estimates shall be
				carried out by a qualified company employee or contractor employed or retained
				by the owner of the phosphogypsum stack which employee or contractor has been
				trained in accordance with Rule
				 62-672.800, F.A.C. The results
				of the required inspections and estimates shall be recorded in a log which
				shall be maintained by the owner of the phosphogypsum stack and made available
				to representatives of the department upon request.
(4) When a critical condition listed in
				subsection  62-672.770(6),
				F.A.C., is suspected during an inspection, the inspector shall ensure that a
				competent technical representative of the phosphogypsum stack system owner is
				made aware of the condition immediately. If the existence of the critical
				condition is confirmed, the department shall be notified immediately. A written
				report of the condition and the actions proposed for its correction shall be
				made to the department within seven (7) days from the time existence of the
				critical condition is confirmed.
(5) Each phosphogypsum stack shall be
				inspected annually by a third-party engineer with experience in the field of
				construction and operation of phosphogypsum stacks at the same time that the
				annual inspection of the associated perimeter earthen dike occurs as required
				by Rule  62-672.670, F.A.C. One copy of
				the report pertaining to such an inspection shall be furnished to the
				department, and the original report shall be retained by the owner. The report
				shall include an updated aerial photograph and shall state the area of the top
				of the stack and the current height and elevation of the stack. The annual
				inspection report shall include recommendations and corrective measures taken.
				If corrective measures are not completed by the time of annual submittal, then
				follow up inspections shall be conducted by the third-party engineer on a
				quarterly basis with quarterly project reports submitted until completion of
				all corrective measures.
(6) Any of
				the following items shall be considered as indicating a critical condition
				which requires immediate investigation and may require emergency maintenance
				action:
(a) Concentrated seepage (e.g.,
				springs or boils) on the face of a stack slope, at the toe of the slope, or
				beyond the toe of slope with active signs of piping at the point of seepage
				(e.g., a gypsum or soil cone or delta at the point of seepage).
(b) Evidence of slope instability including
				sloughing, bulging or heaving of the face of the stack or the toe of the
				slope.
(c) Lateral movement or
				subsidence of the slope or crest of the stack.
(d) Formation of new non-shrinkage cracks or
				enlargement of wide cracks in the surface of the slope or crest of the
				stack.
(e) Observed or suspected
				damage to the liner system.
(f)
				Drains discharging turbid water.
(g) Concentrated seepage (i.e., springs or
				boils) in the vicinity of a decant pipe.