N.J. Admin. Code § 7:26-2B.4

Current through Register Vol. 56, No. 24, December 18, 2024

Section 7:26-2B.4 - Additional engineering design submission requirements for thermal destruction facilities

(a) The following engineering design submittal requirements are in addition to the submittal requirements of N.J.A.C. 7:26-2.10:

1. The rated capacity of the facility, in both tons per day and tons per hour, and the maximum gross heat release rating for each incinerator/boiler;

2. The protocol to be established that will allow for the measurement of the rate of waste charging to the individual combustion unit(s), averaged for each over a discrete 24-hour period. In the case where the thermal destruction facility recovers energy for use by means of steam production, the boiler system and its auxiliaries shall be used as a calorimeter, and the following shall be factored into the method of determination:

i. Direct measurement of salient variables shall be employed where such means are available;

ii. Adjustments shall be made to account for variability in unit thermal efficiency as equipment is cycled for maintenance and as a result of equipment aging; and

iii. Seasonal variability of the higher heating value (HHV) of the waste subject to combustion shall be derived analytically using standard laboratory methods. At a minimum, the method chosen shall provide for quarterly reassessments of the HHV of the waste subject to combustion. Waste samples collected for HHV determination shall be representative of the nature and type of waste to be received at the facility for processing. The protocol shall also provide for a means of cross referencing the accuracy of the method of determination chosen by employing the use of the facility waste delivery weight scale records in a comparative analysis;

3. Projected average and peak daily deliveries of waste to the facility and charging rates to the combustion unit(s) (given in tons and estimated volumes). Quantify seasonal trends when anticipated;

4. The designation of normal loading, unloading and storage areas to be employed in the facility's handling of incoming wastes to be processed and residual materials generated by facility operations, including capacities in cubic yards and tons. Describe the time such areas can be practically used, based on average and peak facility operating conditions. At no time shall waste be delivered to the facility at a rate exceeding the facility's capacity to sort and process such waste. Under no circumstances shall waste be deposited beyond the confines of the refuse pit, except for the purpose of conducting incoming waste load inspections and holding unauthorized materials, or storing unprocessible materials such as oversize bulky waste;

5. The designation of emergency unloading, loading, staging, storage or other disposal capabilities to be used for the removal of previously stored waste should the facility be unable to process waste by means of combustion. Identify the plans for waste transfer from the facility, and identify the alternative disposal facility to be used under such conditions;

6. The expected daily quantity of bottom ash, fly ash (air pollution control train residues), post combustion recovered metals and other waste residue generated by facility operations, referenced by weight and projected volumes;

7. The proposed ultimate disposal location for all facility generated waste residues including, but not limited to, ash residues and by-pass materials, by-products resulting from air pollution control devices, and the proposed alternate disposal locations for any unauthorized waste types, which may have been unknowingly accepted. The schedule for securing contracts for the disposal of these waste types at the designated locations shall be provided;

8. A descriptive statement of any materials recycling or reclamation activities to be operated in conjunction with the facility, either on the incoming solid waste or the outgoing residue;

9. A descriptive statement and detailed specification of all process equipment, pollution control systems, instrumentation and monitoring mechanisms. Schematic diagrams shall be provided, where applicable. Equipment specifications, including information pertaining to the make, model and manufacturer, if available, and to the related processing equipment capacity, reliability and efficiency shall be submitted. Information on individual unit synchronization with upstream and downstream equipment shall also be submitted;

10. Profile views of all building structures, enclosures and exterior equipment appurtenances showing dimensions. Plan views showing setbacks, side and rear distances between the proposed structure and other existing or proposed structures, roadways, parking areas and site boundaries;

11. A descriptive statement and detailed specification of the proposed on-site and off-site transportation system intended to service employee vehicles, solid waste vehicles transporting waste to the facility for processing, and other vehicles removing reclaimed materials and/or process residues from the facility. The number, type, capacity, and frequency of these vehicles shall be specified. On-site parking, access and exit points, and the mechanisms or features which will be employed to provide for an even flow of traffic into, out of, and within the site, shall be identified;

12. Interior floor plans showing the layout, profile view and dimensions of the processing lines, interior unloading, sorting, storage and loading areas as well as other functional areas such as office space and employee's facilities shall be submitted;

13. A plan identifying, locating and describing utilities which will service the facility including, but not limited to, the storm water drainage system, sanitary sewer system, water supply system and energy system. Profiles on utility lines including horizontal and vertical dimensions, as well as grades, shall be provided. Existing pipeline carrying capacity and percent of that capacity being currently utilized under average and peak use conditions, shall be identified. Interface of the proposed facility with the existing utility systems and the specifications on materials to be used for constructing new systems or extending existing systems shall be detailed;

14. A waste supply analysis program characterizing the quantity and composition of the solid waste in the service area shall be submitted. The waste characterization and weight study shall be based on the most recent published composition and weight data made available through the designated department, unit or committee responsible for the supervision and implementation of the applicable District Solid Waste Management Plan as set forth at N.J.S.A. 13:1E-21b(1). In the absence of available data concerning composition and weight of the waste supply, the Department may require the applicant to perform a waste supply analysis. Should the proposed facility serve more than one district, each district's published composition and weighing study shall be consulted and appropriately factored into the database to be submitted. The effect of existing or future source separation programs on the supply of solid waste within the service area shall be described and quantified. Data to be submitted shall include:

i. The composition data for the non-combustible solid waste, indicating percent by weight and percent by volume, generated within the service area shall be defined within the following framework:

(1) Aluminum;

(2) Ferrous metals;

(3) Other non-ferrous metals;

(4) Glass;

(5) Ceramics and fines; and

(6) Oversize bulky items.

ii. The composition data for combustible solid waste, indicating percent by weight and percent by volume, generated within the service area shall be defined for the following:

(1) Newspaper;

(2) Corrugated paper;

(3) Other paper products;

(4) Plastics;

(5) Wood;

(6) Yard wastes;

(7) Food wastes; and

(8) Textiles, rubber, leather and other combustibles.

iii. The composition data for the proximate analysis of the solid waste, indicating percent by weight, generated within the service area shall be defined for the following:

(1) Total Moisture;

(2) Ash (include percent by volume);

(3) Volatiles;

(4) Fixed Carbon; and

(5) Heating Value (Btu/lb. on an as received and moisture free basis).

iv. The composition data for the ultimate analysis of the solid waste, indicating percent by weight, generated within the service area shall be defined for the following:

(1) Ash;

(2) Carbon;

(3) Chlorine;

(4) Hydrogen;

(5) Nitrogen;

(6) Oxygen;

(7) Sulfur; and

(8) Heavy metals, including, but not limited to, arsenic, cadmium, chromium, copper, lead, mercury, nickel, selenium, silver, and zinc.

v. The quantity data for the solid waste generated within the service area shall be defined within the following framework:

(1) Quantity of waste types by geographic points (that is, municipality of origin); and

(2) Weight, volume and corresponding load density characteristics expressed in terms of daily, average, peak and minimum flow to the facility.

15. A detailed analysis of the materials and energy balance for the proposed facility shall be performed that focuses on the key operational components of the system and its related subsystems. The analysis shall account for every handling and processing step starting with waste delivery scheduling and ending with product and residue removal from the site. Quantification and qualification of sidestream pollutants shall be accounted for in the analysis. Indicate how the facility design will provide redundant features or contingencies in the process line including standard emergency operating conditions. Indicate adjustments available within the system that allow for modifying recovery and processing rates based on the anticipated variability in the solid waste stream;

i. The materials balance for the proposed facility shall include, but not be limited to, the following:

(1) A description of the maximum designed processing capacity for each piece of equipment on the processing line, including auxiliary equipment in tons per day;

(2) A description of the anticipated materials recovery rates, if applicable, in tons per day for each individual equipment unit as well as the anticipated loadings to be made to that particular unit under anticipated peak and average loading conditions; and

(3) A solid waste composition component accounting for combustible and non-combustible materials in tons per day at each processing point along the system line, including materials intentionally recovered as well as entrained contaminants, balanced against values for those materials passing through the unit unaffected by the actions of that unit. Provide a unit recovery efficiency value based on incoming solid waste component concentrations.

ii. The energy balance for the proposed facility shall account for conversion efficiencies and losses that occur throughout the process, including losses incurred by transmission to markets, if applicable. Variations in energy production shall be enumerated in reference to fluctuations in the quality and quantity of incoming solid waste. The energy produced by the facility shall be balanced against the energy consumed by the facility in recovering products from the solid waste stream. Describe how the proposed energy production will meet market demands. Identify instances where energy production rates will exceed secured market demands and contingencies for energy use, if any, under these conditions.

16. A draft facility staffing plan to be developed as part of the final O and M manual containing the following:

i. The job title for each anticipated position at the facility;

ii. A written job description for each anticipated position, including duties and performance standards. The description shall define the anticipated requisite skills, education, and other qualifications deemed necessary for employees assigned to each position; and

iii. A statement of the staffing provided for each operating shift, including the job titles and number of employees for each title, and for each shift;

17. An outline of the training plan to be developed as part of the final Operations and Maintenance manual, which includes the type and amount of both the initial and annual follow up training to be provided to facility personnel;

18. An outline of the emergency contingency plan to be developed as part of the final Operations and Maintenance manual which delineates procedures for responding to fire, explosions or any unplanned sudden or non-sudden releases of harmful constituents to the air, soil, or surface or ground water shall be submitted to the local police and fire departments, and to the local and county health departments or other offices of emergency management. The contingency plan shall contain:

i. A description of the actions facility personnel shall take in the event of various emergency situations;

ii. A description of arrangements made with the Department and local police and fire departments which will allow for immediate entry into the facility by their authorized representatives should the need arise, such as in the case of response personnel responding to an emergency situation; and

iii. A list of names, addresses and phone numbers (office and home), if known at the time of submission of the engineering design, of all persons qualified to act as an emergency coordinator for the facility. The final list of names, addresses and phone numbers of such persons shall be submitted as part of the final O and M manual. This list shall be kept up to date. Where more than one person is listed, one shall be named as primary emergency coordinator and the others shall be listed in the order in which they will assume responsibility as alternates.

19. A community relations plan for facilities with a design capacity of 500 tons per day or greater identifying the steps that the owner and/or operator will take to transfer information and solicit input from the community in which the facility is located shall be submitted to the Department. The community relations plan should contain the opportunities and procedure in (a)19i through iii below. The Department shall approve a community relations plan different from that outlined above, provided the plan will inform the public, seek public input and address local concerns.

i. An opportunity for two open meetings with local officials, or their representatives, and the general public of the district affected by the proposed facility prior to and during facility construction. The purpose of such meetings will be to inform the community of the nature of operations proposed for the facility; including the progress of construction and projected initial tipping fees;

ii. An opportunity for an annual open meeting with the local officials, or their representatives, and the general public of the district where the facility is located subsequent to the initial startup of operations. The purpose of these meetings is to allow public input and to provide a forum for exchanging ideas; and

iii. A notification procedure, whereby the public is provided a report of findings in the case of an emergency incident at the facility.

(b) Thermal destruction facility engineering design requirements are as follows:

1. The combustion chambers and ancillary support equipment shall be designed with the capability of handling and effectively disposing of those wastes authorized for receipt at the proposed facility, notwithstanding the expected normal fluctuations in quantity, moisture content, heat release value, and chemical makeup of those wastes;

2. The waste loading system servicing the combustion chamber(s) shall be designed and equipped in such a manner as to minimize the potential for backfire into the feed hopper. To this end, automated waste loading systems shall be gas tight when operating the forward ram stroke portion of the charging cycle;

3. Combustion chamber interior walls shall be designed to withstand excess corrosion and wear generated by high temperatures and the oxidative-reductive atmosphere;

4. To the maximum extent practicable, except where batch feed or fluidized bed systems are utilized, the primary combustion chamber shall be designed to provide for a positive means of transporting waste into the chamber, through the chamber and to an eventual ash discharge point down line. A conventional ram loading device is not considered an internal transfer mechanism in itself;

5. A vessel shall be designed to quench or cool all siftings and bottom ash that remain after the completion of the primary chamber combustion process. The vessel shall be designed to handle the maximum potential ash volumes that could be generated when the combustion unit is operating at a maximum design throughput capacity. The quench vessel shall be designed to maintain a water level of sufficient height to effectively prevent the infiltration of exterior air into the combustion chamber, while maintaining suitable freeboard to prevent spillage. Quenched ash shall be drained of excess water prior to storage for ultimate disposal;

6. The design of the conveyance systems handling the residue streams shall control fugitive dust by means of an enclosure to protect against direct or indirect human contact with the residue under normal operating conditions;

7. The applicant shall submit documentation that verifies that the facility stack(s) are designed in conformance with the Air Pollution Control regulations, N.J.A.C. 7:27, the New Jersey Uniform Construction Code, N.J.A.C. 5:23, and the Federal Aviation Administration's limitations relating to infringement to navigable air space. The applicant shall identify the safety lighting option(s) that will be used, or are being considered, to service the stack(s);

8. The boilers employed for the purpose of recovering heat energy shall be equipped with a boiler tube wall cleaning system designed to periodically remove excess accumulations of surface deposits;

9. The steam condenser system servicing a boiler shall be designed with the capability to condense the maximum design output of the boiler without any energy extraction from the process, for the most critical weather conditions of the summer season affecting the ability of the system to reject heat energy to the atmosphere (facilities utilizing the indirect air cooled condensing technology); or in the case where an adjacent water body is to be used as a sink for rejected heat energy, the highest annual water temperature and lowest flow conditions anticipated. The Department will consider reasonable alternatives to this 100 percent steam condensing capability requirement, provided such alternatives are environmentally sound and will maximize facility availability;

10. The feedwater system servicing a boiler shall be designed with the capability of delivering 100 percent of the make-up water requirement of the boiler. The Department will consider reasonable alternatives to this requirement, provided such alternatives are environmentally sound and will maximize facility availability;

11. Facilities shall be designed and constructed in such a manner as to promote an aesthetically pleasing facade in keeping with the architectural character of the area surrounding the site. Facility equipment, including, but not limited to, fans, emission control devices, tanks, storage containers, conveyors' piping and similar equipment shall be housed within the confines of a building structure or shall be buffered in such a manner as to reduce potential negative visual impacts offsite;

12. Facilities shall be designed with sufficient internal storage areas for unprocessed incoming solid waste, facility process waste residues and effluents, and recovered materials, if applicable. The design shall allow for, at a minimum, three days of storage at maximum anticipated loading rates;

13. Facilities shall be designed and equipped with appropriate control mechanisms to minimize, contain and allow for the cleanup of accidental spills or releases of reagents, fuels, lubricants or other materials used in the operation or maintenance of the facility as well as any residues generated by facility operations;

14. Facility waste storage areas shall be designed with the capability of maintaining interior pressure below that of the exterior atmosphere to prevent the migration of odors and dust outside the confines of the waste receiving and storage building. Air drawn off as a result of maintaining negative pressure shall be directed to the combustion chamber. Such control mechanisms shall be designed to effectively operate during all periods when wastes are being received or are in storage at the facility;

15. All facilities, their related subsystems and appurtenances, including all vehicles while on-site, shall be designed, positioned and buffered in such a manner that the sound levels generated by their operation shall not exceed those limits established pursuant to the Noise Control regulations, N.J.A.C. 7:29;

16. All waste size reduction equipment, which due to the nature of its operation may have the potential for explosion, shall be designed and equipped with an effective explosion detection and suppression system which shall be situated within the facility in such a manner so as to directionalize the force of any explosion in order to effectively minimize damage to the building and the chances of injury to employees and the public;

17. All facilities shall be designed in a manner that promotes orderly vehicular movement on-site and prevents traffic backups and related traffic hazards on access roads servicing the facility site. The on-site roadway design configuration and layout shall provide sufficient roadway for unobstructed vehicular passage, with parking areas, maneuvering space in the loading and unloading areas, and traffic control measures (that is, lane delineations, signals, signs and barriers), in order to achieve this goal. All on-site roadways used by solid waste vehicles shall be constructed and surfaced in accordance with standards for heavy truck usage;

18. Off-site solid waste vehicle routes for the conveyance of solid waste to, and residues from, the facility shall be defined and delineated in a manner which will minimize impacts on surrounding residential development or similar sensitive receptors. The truck traffic to and from the proposed facility shall not result in an unacceptable decrease in the existing level of service, as described and defined in the New Jersey Department of Transportation Highway Access Management Code (N.J.A.C. 16:47), at major intersections located along the designated truck routes;

19. Facilities shall be designed with perimeter security fencing and gate controls to prevent unauthorized access to the site and to control the offsite escape of litter. Metallic chain link fencing, or its equivalent, extending to a height of seven feet shall be the minimum design standard;

20. Facility layout design shall conform to the configuration of the site. A minimum 100 foot buffer and setback distance shall be provided for between all main building enclosures and the facility's property line. The Department may allow a reduction in the setback limit if the applicant satisfactorily demonstrates that such a reduction will not pose an adverse impact on the adjacent land use activities;

21. Facilities shall be designed with alarm and fire protection systems capable of detecting, controlling and extinguishing fires that may occur at the facility;

22. The interior layout design for all facilities shall provide for system installations that maximize accessibility for repairs, maintenance and ease of cleaning, while affording employee safety;

23. All facilities shall be designed and constructed in full conformance with the specifications and requirements of the Uniform Construction Code, N.J.A.C. 5:23;

24. All tipping floors, sorting pads, waste storage areas, bunkers and pits shall be constructed of concrete or other similar quality material that will withstand heavy vehicle usage. Floor drains shall be provided in all such areas and surfaces shall be appropriately graded to facilitate washdown operations. Floor drains shall be designed to discharge wastewater into a collection and treatment system approved by the Department. In those cases where waste or residue storage pits are to be utilized, the base and sidewalls shall be sufficiently waterproofed to prevent ground water intrusion. Tipping floors shall be designed with suitable wheel stops to prevent delivery vehicles overdriving the pit edge;

25. Redundant features or other aspects of system layout shall be incorporated into the facility design to maximize online availability for the receipt and processing of that quantity of waste directed to the facility. Mechanical components shall be constructed of materials that will withstand the rigors of facility operation and shall have a rated handling capacity that prevents backups and blockages within the related system. Replacement equipment and parts for equipment which is subject to excess wear or frequent breakdown due to the nature of operation, shall be stored onsite in order to provide expedient repair. In addition, an adequately sized storage area for replacement equipment and equipment parts shall be incorporated into the design;

26. Where feasible, the facility subsystems shall be equipped with automatic process controls which contain the necessary instrumentation and related feedback mechanisms to ensure that process operational parameters are being met. Automated systems shall be equipped with manual override capabilities. Instrumentation displays and related control mechanisms shall be positioned within the facility in such a manner as to be readily accessible and highly visible for monitoring purposes;

27. The design of the facility shall not place a demand exceeding the remaining use capability of existing physical utilities including, but not limited to, potable and non-potable water supplies, waste water and stormwater collection and treatment, energy supply and transmission, transportation systems, or any other site related infrastructure subsystems, except in those cases where plans have been developed or are being implemented to provide for the expansion of existing utility systems or establishment of new utility systems which will meet the additional demand generated by the construction and operation of the facility. Copies of existing utility expansion plans and implementation time frames shall be submitted in those cases where such expansions are needed to meet the additional demand described above; and

28. All thermal destruction facilities shall be equipped with an independent, auxiliary power system capable of supplying energy in the case of a power supply failure sufficient to complete a controlled facility shutdown.

N.J. Admin. Code § 7:26-2B.4

Amended by R.1989 d.216, effective 4/17/1989.
See: 20 New Jersey Register 2668(a), 21 New Jersey Register 1002(b).
On-site and off-site hyphenated throughout rule, "vehicles" replaced by "solid waste vehicles" and "hauling" replaced by "transporting".
Amended by R.1996 d.578, effective 12/16/1996.
See: 28 New Jersey Register 2114(a), 28 New Jersey Register 5248(a).
Substantially amended section.