Ala. Admin. Code r. 335-14-5-.14

Current through Register Vol. 42, No. 11, August 30, 2024

Section 335-14-5-.14 - Landfills

(1)Applicability. The requirements of 335-14-5-.14 apply to owners and operators of facilities that dispose of hazardous waste in landfills, except as 335-14-5-.01(1) provides otherwise.

(2)Design and operating requirements.

(a) Any landfill that is not covered by 335-14-5-.14(2)(b) or 335-14-6-.14(2)(a) must have a liner system for all portions of the landfill (except for existing portions of such landfill). The liner system must have:

1. A double liner that is designed, constructed, and installed to prevent any migration of wastes out of the landfill to the adjacent subsurface soil or groundwater or surface water at any time during the active life (including the closure period) of the landfill. The liners must be constructed of materials that prevent wastes from passing into the liner during the active life of the facility. The liner must be:

(i) Constructed of materials that have appropriate chemical properties and sufficient strength and thickness to prevent failure due to pressure gradients (including static head and external hydrogeologic forces), physical contact with the waste or leachate to which they are exposed, climatic conditions, the stress of installation and the stress of daily operation;

(ii) Placed upon a foundation or base capable of providing support to the liner and resistance to pressure gradients above and below the liner to prevent failure of the liner due to settlement, compression, or uplift; and

(iii) Installed to cover all surrounding earth likely to be in contact with the waste or leachate; and

2. A leachate collection and removal system immediately above and between the liners that is designed, constructed, maintained, and operated to collect and remove leachate from the landfill. The Department will specify design and operating conditions in the permit to ensure that the leachate depth over the liner at any location does not exceed 30 cm (one foot). The leachate collection and removal system must be:

(i) Constructed of materials that are:

(I) Chemically resistant to the waste managed in the landfill and the leachate expected to be generated; and

(II) Of sufficient strength and thickness to prevent collapse under the pressures exerted by overlying wastes, waste cover materials, and by any equipment used at the landfill; and

(ii) Designed and operated to function without clogging through the scheduled closure of the landfill.

(b) The owner or operator of each new landfill unit on which construction commences after January 29, 1992, each lateral expansion of a landfill unit on which construction commences after July 29, 1992, and each replacement of an existing landfill unit that is to commence reuse after July 29, 1992 must install two or more liners and a leachate collection and removal system above and between such liners. "Construction commences" is as defined in 335-14-1-.02 under "existing facility".

1.

(i) The liner system must include:

(I) A top liner designed and constructed of materials (e.g., a geomembrane) to prevent the migration of hazardous constituents into such liner during the active life and post-closure care period; and

(II) A composite bottom liner, consisting of at least two components. The upper component must be designed and constructed of materials (e.g., a geomembrane) to prevent the migration of hazardous constituents into this component during the active life and post-closure care period. The lower component must be designed and constructed of materials to minimize the migration of hazardous constituents if a breach in the upper component were to occur. The lower component must be constructed of at least 3 feet (91 cm) of compacted soil material with a hydraulic conductivity of no more than 1x10^-7 cm/sec.

(ii) The liners must comply with 335-14-5-.14(2)(a)1.(i), (ii), and (iii).

2. The leachate collection and removal system immediately above the top liner must be designed, constructed, operated, and maintained to collect and remove leachate from the landfill during the active life and post-closure care period. The Director will specify design and operating conditions in the permit to ensure that the leachate depth over the liner does not exceed 30 cm (one foot). The leachate collection and removal system must comply with 335-14-5-.14(2)(b)3.(iii) and (iv).

3. The leachate collection and removal system between the liners, and immediately above the bottom composite liner in the case of multiple leachate collection and removal systems, is also a leak detection system. This leak detection system must be capable of detecting, collecting, and removing leaks of hazardous constituents at the earliest practicable time through all areas of the top liner likely to be exposed to waste or leachate during the active life and post-closure care period. The requirements for a leak detection system in 335-14-5-.14(2) (b) are satisfied by installation of a system that is, at a minimum:

(i) Constructed with a bottom slope of one percent or more;

(ii) Constructed of granular drainage materials with a hydraulic conductivity of 1x10^-2 cm/sec or more and a thickness of 12 inches (30.5 cm) or more; or constructed of synthetic or geonet drainage materials with a transmissivity of 3x10^-5 m²/sec or more;

(iii) Constructed of materials that are chemically resistant to the waste managed in the landfill and the leachate expected to be generated, and of sufficient strength and thickness to prevent collapse under the pressures exerted by overlying wastes, waste cover materials, and equipment used at the landfill;

(iv) Designed and operated to minimize clogging during the active life and post-closure care period; and

(v) Constructed with sumps and liquid removal methods (e.g., pumps) of sufficient size to collect and remove liquids from the sump and prevent liquids from backing up into the drainage layer. Each unit must have its own sump(s). The design of each sump and removal system must provide a method for measuring and recording the volume of liquids present in the sump and of liquids removed.

4. The owner or operator shall collect and remove pumpable liquids in the leak detection system sumps to minimize the head on the bottom liner.

5. The owner or operator of a leak detection system that is not located completely above the seasonal high water table must demonstrate that the operation of the leak detection system will not be adversely affected by the presence of groundwater.

(c) The owner or operator must design, construct, operate, and maintain a run-on control system capable of preventing flow onto the active portion of the landfill during peak discharge from at least a 25-year storm.

(d) The owner or operator must design, construct, operate and maintain a run-off management system to collect and control at least the water volume resulting from a 24-hour, 25-year storm.

(e) Collection and holding facilities (e.g., tanks or basins) associated with run-on and run-off control systems must be emptied or otherwise managed expeditiously after storms to maintain design capacity of the system.

(f) If the landfill contains any particulate matter which may be subject to wind dispersal, the owner or operator must cover or otherwise manage the landfill to control wind dispersal.

(g) The Department will specify in the permit all design and operating practices that are necessary to ensure that the requirements of 335-14-5-.14(2) are satisfied.

(h) Any permit which is issued after November 8, 1984 for a landfill located within the State of Alabama shall require the installation of two or more liners and a leachate collection system above and between such liners.

(3)Action leakage rate.

(a) The Director shall approve an action leakage rate for landfill units subject to 335-14-5-.14(2)(b). The action leakage rate is the maximum design flow rate that the leak detection system (LDS) can remove without the fluid head on the bottom liner exceeding one foot. The action leakage rate must include an adequate safety margin to allow for uncertainties in the design (e.g., slope, hydraulic conductivity, thickness of drainage material), construction, operation, and location of the waste and leachate characteristics, likelihood and amounts of other sources of liquids in the LDS and proposed response actions (e.g., the action leakage rate must consider decreases in the flow capacity of the system over time resulting from siltation and clogging, rib layover and creep of synthetic components of the system, overburden pressures, etc.).

(b) To determine if the action leakage rate has been exceeded, the owner or operator must convert the weekly or monthly flow rate from the monitoring data obtained under 335-14-5-.14(4)(c) to an average daily flow rate (gallons per acre per day) for each sump. Unless the Director approves a different calculation, the average daily flow rate for each sump must be calculated weekly during the active life and closure period, and monthly during the post-closure care period when monthly monitoring is required under 335-14-5-.14(4)(c).

(4)Monitoring and inspection.

(a) During construction or installation, liners (except in the case of existing portions of landfills exempt from 335-14-5-.14(2)(a)) and cover systems (e.g., membranes, sheets, or coatings) must be inspected for uniformity, damage and imperfections (e.g., holes, cracks, thin spots, or foreign materials). Immediately after construction or installation:

1. Synthetic liners and covers must be inspected to ensure tight seams and joints and the absence of tears, excessive folds, punctures, or blisters; and

2. Soil-based and admixed liners and covers must be inspected for imperfections including lenses, cracks, channels, root holes, or other structural non-uniformities that may cause an increase in the permeability of the liner or cover.

(b) While a landfill is in operation, it must be inspected weekly and after storms to detect evidence of any of the following:

1. Deterioration, malfunctions, or improper operation of run-on and run-off control systems;

2. Proper functioning of wind dispersal control systems, where present; and

3. The presence of leachate in and proper functioning of leachate collection and removal systems, where present.

[NOTE: These inspections must be documented in accordance with 335-14-5-.02(6)(d).]

(c)

1. An owner or operator required to have a leak detection system under 335-14-5-.14(2)(b) must record the amount of liquids removed from each leak detection system sump at least once each week during the active life and closure period.

2. After the final cover is installed, the amount of liquids removed from each leak detection system sump must be recorded at least monthly. If the liquid level in the sump stays below the pump operating level for two consecutive months, the amount of liquids in the sumps must be recorded at least quarterly. If the liquid level in the sump stays below the pump operating level for two consecutive quarters, the amount of liquids in the sumps must be recorded at least semi-annually. If at any time during the post-closure care period the pump operating level is exceeded at units on quarterly or semi-annual recording schedules, the owner or operator must return to monthly recording of amounts of liquids removed from each sump until the liquid level again stays below the pump operating level for two consecutive months.

3. "Pump operating level" is a liquid level proposed by the owner or operator and approved by the Director based on pump activation level, sump dimensions, and level that avoids backup into the drainage layer and minimizes head in the sump.

(5)Response actions.

(a) The owner or operator of landfill units subject to 335-14-5-.14(2)(b) must have an approved response action plan before receipt of waste. The response action plan must set forth the actions to be taken if the action leakage rate has been exceeded. At a minimum, the response action plan must describe the actions specified in 335-14-5 -.14(5)(b).

(b) If the flow rate into the leak detection system exceeds the action leakage rate for any sump, the owner or operator must:

1. Notify the Director in writing of the exceedence within seven days of the determination;

2. Submit a preliminary written assessment to the Director within 14 days of the determination, as to the amount of liquids, likely sources of liquids, possible location, size, and cause of any leaks, and short-term actions taken and planned;

3. Determine to the extent practicable the location, size, and cause of any leak;

4. Determine whether waste receipt should cease or be curtailed, whether any waste should be removed from the unit for inspection, repairs, or controls, and whether or not the unit should be closed;

5. Determine any other short-term and longer-term actions to be taken to mitigate or stop any leaks; and

6. Within 30 days after the notification that the action leakage rate has been exceeded, submit to the Director the results of the analyses specified in 335-14-5-.14(5)(b)3., 4., and 5., the results of actions taken, and actions planned. Monthly thereafter, as long as the flow rate in the leak detection system exceeds the action leakage rate, the owner or operator must submit to the Director a report summarizing the results of any remedial actions taken and actions planned.

(c) To make the leak and/or remediation determinations in 335-14-5-.14(5)(b)3., 4., and 5., the owner or operator must:

1.

(i) Assess the source of liquids and amounts of liquids by source,

(ii) Conduct a fingerprint, hazardous constituent, or other analyses of the liquids in the leak detection system to identify the source of liquids and possible location of any leaks, and the hazard and mobility of the liquid; and

(iii) Assess the seriousness of any leaks in terms of potential for escaping into the environment; or

2. Document why such assessments are not needed.

(6) [Reserved]

(7) [Reserved]

(8) [Reserved]

(9) [Reserved]

(10)Surveying and record keeping. The owner and operator of a landfill must maintain the following items in the operating record required under 335-14-5-.05(4):

(a) On a map, the exact location and dimensions, including depth, of each cell with respect to permanently surveyed bench marks; and

(b) The contents of each cell and the approximate location of each hazardous waste type within each cell.

(11)Closure and post-closure care.

(a) At final closure of the landfill or upon closure of any cell, the owner or operator must cover the landfill or cell with a final cover designed and constructed to:

1. Provide long-term minimization of migration of liquids into and through the closed landfill;

2. Function with minimum maintenance;

3. Promote drainage and minimize erosion or abrasion of the cover;

4. Minimize and accommodate settling and subsidence so that the cover's integrity is maintained; and

5. Have a permeability less than or equal to the permeability of any bottom liner system or natural sub-soils present (whichever is less).

(b) To meet the requirements in Rule 335-14-5-.14(11)(a), the final cover system must contain (as a minimum):

1. A vegetated top cover. The top cover must:

(i) Be at least 24 inches thick;

(ii) Support vegetation that will effectively minimize erosion;

(iii) Have a final top slope between three and five percent; and

(iv) Have a final side slope which does not exceed 25 percent; and

(v) Have a surface drainage system capable of conducting run-off across the cap without erosion occurring.

2. Drainage layer. The drainage layer must:

(i) Be at least 12 inches thick with a saturated hydraulic conductivity not less than 10^-3 cm/sec;

(ii) Have a final bottom slope of at least two percent;

(iii) Be overlain by a graded granular or synthetic fabric filter to prevent clogging;

(iv) Be designed so that discharge flows freely in the lateral direction to minimize the head on the low permeability layer.

3. Low permeability layer. The low permeability layer must consist of two components, a synthetic liner and a compacted soil liner.

(i) The synthetic liner component must:

(I) Consist of at least a 20 mil synthetic membrane;

(II) Be protected from damage above the membrane by at least six inches of bedding material;

(III) Have a final upper slope of at least two percent;

(IV) Be located wholly below the average frost penetration;

(V) Lay directly on the compacted soil liner;

(ii) The compacted soil component must:

(I) Have 24 inches of soil recompacted to a saturated hydraulic conductivity of not more than 10-7 cm/sec:

(II) Have the soil emplaced in lifts not exceeding six inches before compaction to maximize the effectiveness of compaction.

(c) If the owner or operator can demonstrate to the satisfaction of the Department that an alternative cover system meets or exceeds the performance standards set forth in Rule 335-14-5-.14(11)(a) and (b), the alternative final cover system may be used.

(d) After final closure, the owner or operator must comply with all post-closure requirements contained in 335-14-5-.07(8) through (11), including maintenance and monitoring throughout the post-closure care period (specified in the permit under 335-14-5-.07(8)). The owner or operator must:

1. Maintain the integrity and effectiveness of the final cover, including making repairs to the cap as necessary to correct the effects of settling, subsidence, erosion, or other events;

2. Continue to operate the leachate collection and removal systems until leachate is no longer detected;

3. Maintain and monitor the leak detection system in accordance with 335-14-5-.14(2)(b)3.(iv) and (2)(b)4. and 335-14-5-.14(4) (c), and comply with all other applicable leak detection system requirements of 335-14-5-.14;

4. Maintain and monitor the groundwater monitoring system and comply with all other applicable requirements of Rule 335-14-5-.06;

5. Prevent run-on and run-off from eroding or otherwise damaging the final cover; and

6. Protect and maintain surveyed bench marks used in complying with 335-14-5-.14(10); and

7. The owner or operator must visually inspect the final cover to identify evidence of settling, subsidence, erosion, or other events expected to limit the integrity or effectiveness. These inspections must be documented in an inspection log, as required by Rule 335-14-5-.02(6)(d). The Department will specify in the permit the inspection schedule.

(12) [Reserved]

(13)Special requirements for ignitable or reactive waste.

(a) Except as provided in 335-14-5-.14(13)(b), and in 335-14-5-.14(17), ignitable or reactive waste must not be placed in a landfill, unless the waste and landfill meet all applicable requirements of Chapter 335-14-9, and:

1. The resulting waste, mixture, or dissolution of material no longer meets the definition of ignitable or reactive waste under 335-14-2-.03(2) or (4); and

2.335-14-5-.02(8)(b) is complied with.

(b) Except for prohibited wastes which remain subject to treatment standards in rule 335-14-9-.04, ignitable wastes in containers may be landfilled without meeting the requirements of 335-14-5-.14(13)(a), provided that the wastes are disposed of in such a way that they are protected from any material or conditions which may cause them to ignite. At a minimum, ignitable wastes must be disposed of in non-leaking containers which are carefully handled and placed so as to avoid heat, sparks, rupture or any other condition that might cause ignition of the wastes; must be covered daily with soil or other non-combustible material to minimize the potential for ignition of the wastes; and must not be disposed of in cells that contain or will contain other wastes which may generate heat sufficient to cause ignition of the waste.

(14)Special requirements for incompatible wastes. Incompatible wastes or incompatible wastes and materials (see 335-14-5 - Appendix V for examples) must not be placed in the same landfill cell unless 335-14-5-.02(8)(b) is complied with.

(15)Special requirements for bulk and containerized liquids.

(a) [Reserved]

(b) The placement of bulk or noncontainerized liquid hazardous waste or hazardous waste containing free liquids (whether or not sorbents have been added) in any landfill is prohibited.

(c) To demonstrate the absence or presence of free liquids in either a containerized or a bulk waste, the following test must be used: Method 9095B (Paint Filter Liquids Test) as described in "Test Methods for Evaluating Solid Wastes, Physical/Chemical Methods", EPA Publication SW-846, as incorporated by reference in rule 335-14-1-.02(2).

(d) Containers holding free liquids must not be placed in a landfill unless:

1. All free-standing liquid:

(i) Has been removed by decanting, or other methods;

(ii) Has been mixed with sorbent or solidified so that free-standing liquid is no longer observed; or

(iii) Has been otherwise eliminated; or

2. The container is very small, such as an ampule; or

3. The container is designed to hold free liquids for use other than storage, such as a battery or capacitor; or

4. The container is a lab pack as defined in 335-14-5-.14(17) and is disposed of in accordance with 335-14-5-.14(17).

(e) Sorbents used to treat free liquids to be disposed of in landfills must be nonbiodegradable. Nonbiodegradable sorbents are: materials listed or described in 335-14-5-.14(15)(e)1.; materials that pass one of the tests in 335-14-5 -.14(15)(e)2.; or materials that are determined by the Department to be nonbiodegradable through the Rule 335-14-1-.03 petition process.

1. Nonbiodegradable sorbents.

(i) Inorganic minerals, other inorganic materials, and elemental carbon (e.g., aluminosilicates, clays, smectites, Fuller's earth, bentonite, calcium bentonite, montmorillonite, calcined montmorillonite, kaolinite, micas (illite), vermiculites, zeolites; calcium carbonate (organic free limestone); oxides/hydroxides, alumina, lime, silica (sand), diatomaceous earth; perlite (volcanic glass); expanded volcanic rock; volcanic ash; cement kiln dust; fly ash; rice hull ash; activated charcoal/activated carbon); or

(ii) High molecular weight synthetic polymers (e.g., polyethylene, high density polyethylene (HDPE), polypropylene, polystyrene, polyurethane, polyacrylate, polynorborene, polyisobutylene, ground synthetic rubber, cross-linked allylstyrene and tertiary butyl copolymers). This does not include polymers derived from biological material or polymers specifically designed to be degradable; or

(iii) Mixtures of these nonbiodegradable materials.

2. Tests for nonbiodegradable sorbents.

(i) The sorbent material is determined to be nonbiodegradable under ASTM Method G21-70 (1984a)--Standard Practice for Determining Resistance of Synthetic Polymer Materials to Fungi; or

(ii) The sorbent material is determined to be nonbiodegradable under ASTM Method G22-76 (1984b)--Standard Practice for Determining Resistance of Plastics to Bacteria; or

(iii) The sorbent material is determined to be nonbiodegradable under OECD test 301B: [CO2 Evolution (Modified Sturm Test)].

(f) The placement of any liquid which is not a hazardous waste in a landfill is prohibited unless the owner or operator of such landfill demonstrates to the Department, or the Director determines that:

1. The only reasonably available alternative to the placement in such landfill is placement in a landfill or unlined surface impoundment, whether or not permitted or operating under interim status, which contains, or may reasonably be anticipated to contain hazardous waste; and

2. Placement in such owner or operator's landfill will not present a risk of contamination of any "underground source of drinking water" (as that term is defined in 335-14-1-.02).

(16)Special requirements for containers. Unless they are very small, such as an ampule, containers must be either:

(a) At least 90 percent full when placed in the landfill; or

(b) Crushed, shredded, or similarly reduced in volume to the maximum practical extent before burial in the landfill.

(17)Disposal of small containers of hazardous waste in overpacked drums (lab packs). Small containers of hazardous waste in overpacked drums (lab packs) may be placed in a landfill if the following requirements are met:

(a) Hazardous waste must be packaged in non-leaking inside containers. The inside containers must be of a design and constructed of a material that will not react dangerously with, be decomposed by, or be ignited by the contained waste. Inside containers must be tightly and securely sealed. The inside containers must be of the size and type specified in the Department of Transportation (DOT) hazardous materials regulations ( 49 CFR Parts 173, 178, and 179), if those regulations specify a particular inside container for the waste.

(b) The inside containers must be overpacked in an open head DOT-specification metal shipping container ( 49 CFR Parts 178 and 179) of no more than 416-liter (110 gallon) capacity and surrounded by, at a minimum, a sufficient quantity of sorbent material, determined to be nonbiodegradable in accordance with 335-14-5 -.14(15)(e), to completely absorb all of the liquid contents of the inside containers. The metal outer container must be full after packing with inside containers and sorbent material.

(c) The sorbent material used must not be capable of reacting dangerously with, being decomposed by, or being ignited by the contents of the inside containers in accordance with 335-14-5-.02(8)(b).

(d) Incompatible wastes, as defined in 335-14-1-.02(1), must not be placed in the same outside container.

(e) Reactive wastes, other than cyanide- or sulfur-bearing waste as defined in 335-14-2-.03(4)(a)5., must be treated or rendered non-reactive prior to packaging in accordance with 335-14-5-.14(17)(a) through (d). Cyanide- and sulfide-bearing reactive waste may be packed in accordance with 335-14-5-.14(17)(a) through (d) without first being treated or rendered non-reactive.

(f) Such disposal is in compliance with the requirements of 335-14-9. Persons who incinerate lab packs according to the requirements in 335-14-9-.04(3) may use fiber drums in place of metal outer containers. Such fiber drums must meet the DOT specifications in 49 CFR 173.12 and be overpacked according to the requirements in 335-14-5-.14(17)(b).

(18)Special requirements for hazardous wastes F020, F021, F022, F023, F026, and F027.

(a) Hazardous wastes F020, F021, F022, F023, F026, and F027 must not be placed in a landfill unless the owner or operator operates the landfill in accord with a management plan for these wastes that is approved by the Director pursuant to the standards set out in 335-14-5 -.14(18)(a), and in accord with all other applicable requirements of 335-14-5. The factors to be considered are:

1. The volume, physical, and chemical characteristics of the wastes, including their potential to migrate through the soil or to volatilize or escape into the atmosphere;

2. The attenuative properties of underlying and surrounding soils or other materials;

3. The mobilizing properties of other materials co-disposed with these wastes; and

4. The effectiveness of additional treatment, design, or monitoring requirements.

(b) The Department may determine that additional design, operating, and monitoring requirements are necessary for landfills managing hazardous wastes F020, F021, F022, F023, F026 and F027 in order to reduce the possibility of migration of these wastes to groundwater, surface water, or air so as to protect human health and the environment.

Ala. Admin. Code r. 335-14-5-.14

October 12, 1983. Amended: April 9, 1986; September 29, 1986; February 15, 1988; August 24, 1989; December 6, 1990; January 1, 1993. Amended: Filed November 30, 1994; effective January 5, 1995. Amended: Filed February 21, 1997; effective March 28, 1997. Amended: Filed February 20, 1998; effective March 27, 1998. Amended: Filed March 9, 2001; effective April 13, 2001. Amended: Filed February 8, 2002; effective March 15, 2002. Amended: Filed April 22, 2004; effective May 27, 2004. Amended: February 28, 2006; effective April 4, 2006. Amended: Filed February 27, 2007; effective April 3, 2007. Amended: Filed April 22, 2008; effective May 27, 2008. Amended: Filed February 24, 2009; effective March 31, 2009. Amended: Filed February 23, 2010; effective March 30, 2010.

Authors: Stephen C. Maurer; Stephen A. Cobb; James W. Hathcock; Amy P. Zachry; Michael B. Champion; Vernon H. Crockett; Bradley N. Curvin

Statutory Authority:Code of Ala. 1975, §§ 22-30-11, 22-30-16.