ILLINOIS POLLUTION CONTROL BOARD
    November
    2,
    1989
    TESTOR CORPORATION,
    Petitioner,
    V.
    )
    PCB 88—191
    (Permit Appeal)
    ILLINOIS ENVIRONMENTAL
    PROTECTION AGENCY,
    Responc~ent.
    JEFFREY
    C.
    FORT
    AND
    LEE
    P.
    CUNNINGHAM,
    GARDNER,
    CARTON,
    AND
    DOUGLAS, APPEARED
    ON
    BEHALF OF PETITIONER;
    AND
    PAUL P. JAGIELLO APPEARED
    ON
    BEHALF OF RESPONDENT.
    OPINION AND ORDER OF THE BOARD
    (by J. Theodore Meyer):
    This
    matter
    is
    before
    the
    Board
    on
    petitioner
    Testor
    Corporation’s
    (Testor)
    November
    23,
    1988
    petition
    for
    hearing.
    Testor’s
    petition
    seeks
    review
    of
    its
    closure
    plan,
    which
    was
    approved subject to conditions by respondent Illinois Environmental
    Protection Agency
    (Agency).
    Testor specifically requests review
    of conditions
    1,
    3,
    4,
    and
    8 as they relate to the deadline for
    closure,
    the
    necessity
    of
    groundwater
    monitoring,
    and
    permit
    requirements.
    A public hearing was held
    in Rockford, Illinois on
    Nay 9,
    1989.
    Both parties have submitted briefs.
    Background
    Testor
    owns
    and
    operates
    a
    plant
    in
    Rockford,
    Illinois.
    Operations
    at
    the
    plant
    include
    the
    formulation
    and
    mixing
    of
    paints and
    adhesives
    used
    for
    hobby
    models,
    arts,
    and
    crafts.
    Specific solvent blends for each type of paint are formulated
    in
    the pump room,
    which was equipped with
    a 1-1/2” overflow pipe to
    drain any spills of flammable liquid and prevent the accumulation
    of explosive vapors
    in the pump room.1
    The pipe ran
    to
    a
    small
    depression outside of the plant.
    On June 25,
    1985,
    approximately
    50
    gallons of toluene spilled
    in the pump room when an
    employee
    propped open a deadman safety switch.
    The toluene ran through the
    floor drain and pipe to the small depression outside the building.
    1The pipe,
    which was installed in 1952, was grouted closed in
    1987.
    1fl~-17

    2
    On October
    5,
    1987,
    Agency personnel collected
    soil samples
    from the
    discharge
    area.
    These
    samples
    showed
    that
    the
    soil
    beneath the discharge area was contaminated with several volatile
    organic compounds
    (VOC), including toluene.
    The Agency informed
    Testor of these results by letter dated November
    6,
    1987.
    Testor
    responded that it did not believe that a closure pursuant to the
    Resource Conservation and Recovery Act
    (RCRA)
    was necessary,
    but
    that
    it wanted
    to
    work with
    the Agency
    to
    reach
    agreement
    on
    cleaning up the discharge area.
    (Ex.
    32A.)
    Eventually,
    however,
    Testor did submit a RCRA closure plan in April 1988.
    (Ex.
    3.)
    The
    Agency disapproved that plan on July
    19,
    1988.
    (Ex.
    11.)
    After
    meeting with the Agency,
    Testor submitted
    a revised closure plan
    on August
    26,
    1988.
    (Ex.
    22.)
    The Agency approved this revised
    plan on October
    26,
    1988,
    after adding
    several conditions.
    (Ex.
    26.)
    Conditions
    1,
    3,
    4,
    and 8 of that approval are the subject
    of this appeal.
    Notion To Exclude Evidence
    On July 24, 1989, the Agency filed a motion to exclude certain
    evidence and testimony which was admitted by the hearing officer
    at the May
    9 hearing
    in this matter.
    Testor filed
    a response to
    this motion on August 2,
    1989.
    The Agency’s arguments in support
    of
    its
    motion
    were
    reiterated
    in
    its
    brief,
    and Testor
    again
    addressed the issue in its reply brief.
    The
    Agency
    moves
    to
    exclude
    Exhibits
    323,
    33,
    and
    Group
    Exhibit
    34,
    and all testimony based upon those
    exhibits,
    on the
    grounds
    that
    those exhibits
    and testimony deal with
    events
    and
    information
    gathered
    after
    the
    Agency
    issued
    the
    permit
    with
    conditions on October 26, 1988.
    Exhibit 32B is an estimate of the
    cost of the groundwater monitoring required by conditions
    3 and
    4
    of the permit.
    This estimate was developed by Gregory Verret,
    an
    engineer employed by Testor to develop its closure plan.
    Exhibit
    33
    is
    a flow chart
    showing
    the estimated
    schedule
    for Testor’s
    three treatment or disposal options,
    also created by Mr. Verret.
    Group Exhibit 34 contains three figures:
    Figure 2
    is a drawing of
    the soil sampling locations2
    Figure
    3
    is an east—west geological
    cross—section of the discharge area; and Figure 4 is a north—south
    geological cross—section of the discharge area.
    In support of its
    contention that these exhibits and testimony based upon them should
    be
    excluded,
    the Agency points to
    35
    Ill.
    Adm.
    Code 705.101(c),
    which
    states
    that
    “Board
    review
    of
    RCRA
    permit
    issuance
    or
    denial..
    .
    is restricted to the record which was before the Agency
    when the permit was issued.”
    This regulation also cites to Section
    40(b)
    of the Environmental Protection Act (Act), which states that
    hearings on RCRA permits ar~to be based tiexciusively on the record
    before
    the
    Agency.”
    Ill.
    Rev.
    Stat.
    1987,
    ch.
    111-1/2,
    par.
    1040(b).
    The Agency contends that all of the disputed exhibits
    2 There is no Figure
    1
    in Exhibit 34.
    1fl5
    13

    3
    were developed after the Agency’s October 1988 permitting decision,
    and thus that none of the exhibits belong in “the record before the
    Agency.”
    In response,
    Testor
    first argues that the Agency has waived
    its
    objections
    to
    Mr.
    Verret’s
    testimony
    which
    was
    based
    upon
    Exhibits
    32B
    and
    33
    by
    failing
    to
    object
    to
    that testimony
    at
    hearing.
    As for Exhibit 32B itself, Testor maintains that although
    the document itself was prepared after the October 1988 decision,
    it is not new material, but simply represents an expert opinion of
    the cost of the groundwater monitoring
    conditions
    imposed by the
    Agency.
    Testor contends that Exhibit 32B is reflective of what the
    Agency,
    in its expertise, knew or should have known when it imposed
    the condition.
    Testor argues that Exhibit 33
    is similar,
    in that
    it
    reflects matters
    within the Agency’s
    expertise.
    Testor
    also
    admits
    that
    Exhibit
    33
    did not
    exist
    on
    October
    26,
    1988,
    but
    maintains that
    it
    could not have been prepared before
    that date
    because Testor did not know what conditions would be imposed by the
    Agency.
    Additionally, Testor contends that the three
    figures
    in
    Exhibit
    34
    are
    admissible.
    Testor maintains
    that
    Figure
    2
    is
    simply
    a
    graphic
    representation
    of
    the
    discharge
    area
    and
    the
    boring locations, based upon information in Testor’s closure plan.
    (Ex.
    3 at pp.6—10.)
    Testor admits that Figures 3 and
    4 of Exhibit
    34 do
    include information which was not before the Agency,
    since
    those figures are based upon actual testing of soil samples taken
    after
    October
    26,
    1988.
    However,
    Testor
    asserts that
    they
    are
    illustrative of the sampling process set forth in the closure plan,
    and that much of the testimony regards that
    process,
    not actual
    data.
    The Board will grant the Agency’s motion to exclude evidence
    and testimony
    for all exhibits and testimony except Figure
    2
    of
    Exhibit 34.
    Initially, the Board must point out that the Agency’s
    references
    to Section 705.101(c)
    is not directly
    on point.
    That
    section
    refers
    to
    RCRA
    permit
    reviews,
    while
    the
    instant
    case
    involves an appeal of conditions attached to a closure plan.
    These
    are not the same thing.
    However,
    in a procedural
    sense the Board
    does
    treat
    closure
    plan
    reviews
    in
    the
    same
    manner
    as
    permit
    appeals,
    and
    the
    Board
    believes
    that
    Section
    705.101(c)
    is
    persuasive
    authority in
    a
    closure plan
    review.
    That
    section
    is
    quite clear that Board review of a RCRA permit issuance or denial
    is restricted to the record which was before the Agency when the
    permit was issued. It is well-settled that when reviewing an Agency
    permit decision, the Board must determine whether the application,
    as
    submitted
    to
    the
    Agency,
    demonstrates
    that
    issuance
    of
    the
    permit without the contested conditions would not violate the Act
    or
    Board
    regulations.
    (See
    City
    of
    East
    Moline
    v.
    Illinois
    Pollution Control Board.
    No. 3-88-0788,
    slip op.
    at 11
    (Ill. App.
    Ct.
    3d Dist., August 31,
    1989); Joliet Sand and Gravel v. Illinois
    Pollution Control Board,
    163 I1l.App.3d
    830,
    516 N.E.2d
    955,
    958
    (3d Dist.
    1987);
    Ill. Rev.
    Stat.
    1987,
    ch. 111—1/2, par.
    1039(a).)
    The Board
    finds that
    in reviewing a closure plan approval,
    that
    105 19

    4
    review is limited to the record which was before the Agency when
    it made the contested decision.
    Only Figure 2 of Exhibit 34, which
    is based
    upon information contained
    in
    Testor’s application,
    is
    admissible.
    The Board will not consider Exhibits
    32B,
    33,
    or
    Figures
    3 and 4 of Exhibit
    34, nor any testimony based upon tho9
    exhibits,
    in reaching its decision on the merits of this appeal.
    The
    Board
    also
    notes
    that
    Exhibit
    32B,
    which
    is
    Mr.
    Verret’s
    estimate
    of
    the
    cost
    of
    the
    groundwater
    monitoring,
    contains
    information
    which
    is
    not relevant
    to the
    issue
    of
    whether
    the
    application as submitted
    demonstrates that the plan without
    the
    contested
    conditions
    would
    not
    violate
    the
    Act
    or
    Board
    regulations.
    Cost
    is simply not
    a factor
    in that determination.
    (See East Moline,
    slip.
    op. at 11—13.)
    Applicability of Part 725 Rules
    This
    permit
    appeal
    presents
    a
    number
    of
    issues
    for
    Board
    decision.
    The first
    is whether the discharge area is properly a
    “surface impoundment” as defined
    at
    35
    Ill.
    Adm.
    Code 720.110 so
    that the RCRA closure rules, found at 35 Ill. Adm.
    Code 725, apply
    to this clean—up.
    Testor contends that the discharge area was not
    “designed
    to
    hold
    an
    accumulation
    of
    liquid
    wastes
    or
    wastes
    containing
    free
    liquids”,
    as
    stated
    in the definition,
    but was
    designed to receive spills of raw materials to avoid the potential
    for an explosion in the pump room.
    The Agency points out, however,
    that Testor has itself stated that the discharge area was designed
    to
    receive
    spills
    of raw materials,
    and thus contends that
    the
    discharge area was “designed” to hold liquid which would flow down
    the drain.
    The Agency
    also maintains that the liquid which was
    intended
    to
    flow down
    the pipe
    and into the discharge area was
    indeed
    a
    “liquid waste”.
    The Board must agree with the Agency’s
    assessment that the discharge area is a surface impoundment.
    Second, Testor argues that the Part 725
    PCRA
    closure rules do
    not
    apply
    to
    the
    remediation
    of
    the
    contamination
    beneath
    the
    discharge
    area
    because
    it
    has
    never
    obtained
    interim
    status.
    Testor points to the Board’s decision in Marley—Ingrid v. Illinois
    Environmental Protection Agency, PCB 88-17
    (March 23, 1989), where
    this Board held that “the closure and post—closure requirements of
    35
    Ill.
    Adm.
    Code
    725.328
    can only operate
    within
    a regulatory
    scheme
    which
    governs
    those
    facilities
    that
    are
    generally
    in
    compliance with the interim status regulations.”
    (Marley-Ingrid,
    March 23,
    1989,
    slip op.
    at
    p.
    8;
    emphasis in original.)
    Testor
    states that
    it is clear that Testor never submitted a Part A or
    The Board notes that in the recent decision in East Moline,
    the appellate court affirmed the Board’s exclusion of evidence not
    submitted to the Agency.
    Although East Moline involved a different
    Board
    rule
    governing
    NPDES
    permit
    appeals
    (35
    Ill.
    Adm.
    Code
    105.102(6) (8)),
    the Board believes that East Moline supports
    its
    decision in the instant case.
    ifl5~20

    5
    Part B
    RCRA
    permit application and never certified compliance with
    the
    interim
    status
    requirements
    for
    groundwater
    monitoring
    or
    financial assurance.
    (Tr.
    45 and 48—49.)
    Thus,
    because it never
    obtained interim status, Testor maintains that the Part 725 closure
    rules are not applicable to this clean—up.
    In response, the Agency first contends that Board regulations
    show that a facility which did not obtain interim status
    is still
    subject to the interim status regulations of Part
    725,
    including
    the regulations on closure of hazardous waste units.
    The Agency
    points to 35
    Ill. Adm.
    Code 700.104(b),
    which states:
    b)
    The Board intends:
    1)
    That, prior to RCRA permit issuance, all facilities
    otherwise subject to Part 725 comply with its
    requirements whether or not they have interim status
    under 40 CFR Section 122.23.
    now
    40 CFR 270.70
    The Agency maintains that this section means that all facilities
    are
    subject
    to
    the
    interim
    status
    regulations
    until
    they
    have
    received
    a
    permit
    which
    has
    been
    the
    subject
    of
    final
    Agency
    action.
    The Agency states that such a permit would
    be
    a Part B
    permit,
    and notes that Testor has never applied for or received
    a
    Part
    B
    permit.
    The Agency
    also
    points
    to
    35
    Ill.
    Adm.
    Code
    725.101(b):
    b)
    The standards in this Part apply to
    .
    .
    .
    those owners
    and operators in existence on November
    19,
    1980,
    who
    have failed to provide timely notification as required
    by Section
    3010(a)
    of
    RCRA,
    or failed to file Part A of
    Permit Application as required by 40 CFR 270.10(e)
    and
    (g)
    or 35
    Ill. Adm. Code 703.150 and 703.152.
    These
    standards apply to all treatment,
    storage,
    or disposal
    of hazardous waste at these facilities after November 19,
    1980,
    except as specifically provided otherwise in this
    Part or
    35 Ill. Adm.
    Code 721.
    The
    Agency
    argues
    that
    this
    language
    unambiguously
    makes
    the
    interim status regulations
    of
    Part
    725 applicable to
    facilities
    that failed to provide timely notification or failed to file a Part
    A application, and points out that Testor did neither.
    Thus,
    the
    Agency argues that Testor
    is indeed subject to the Part 725 rules
    even though it never received interim status.
    The Agency states
    that
    it would be absurd
    if Testor could avoid responsibility for
    compliance with basic hazardous waste requirements
    by simply not
    complying
    with
    those
    requirements.
    Finally,
    the Agency
    cites
    United States v. Indiana Woodtreating Corp., 686 F. Supp. 218
    (S.D.
    Indiana,
    1988),
    where
    a woodtreating
    plant which
    never
    obtained
    interim
    status or a RCRA permit was required to comply with the
    federal equivalent to Part 725
    (
    40 CFR Part 265).
    105
    21

    6
    After careful consideration of the parties’ arguments and the
    applicable statutes and regulations, the Board finds that Testor
    is subject to the Part 725 rules
    even though
    it never obtained
    interim status or a RCRA permit.
    A review of Sec~tion700.104(b),
    which states that the Board intends the Part 725 rules to apply to
    all facilities prior to RCRA permit issuance whether or not they
    have
    obtained
    interim
    status,
    in
    conjunction
    with
    Section
    725.101(b)
    convinces the Board that the plain language of these
    rules
    states
    that Part 725
    applies
    to
    owners
    and operators of
    facilities
    in existence on November 19,
    1980 who did not provide
    timely notification or file a Part A permit application, and have
    not received
    a Part B RCRA permit.
    It
    is undisputed that Testor
    did not provide notification pursuant to Section 3010(a)
    of RCRA
    and did not apply for either
    a Part A or a Part B permit.
    It
    is
    also undisputed
    that Testor’s
    facility was
    in
    existence before
    November
    19,
    1980.
    Therefore,
    applying
    Sections
    700.104(b)
    and
    725.101(b)
    to Testor’s circumstances,
    it is obvious that Part 725
    applies
    to
    Testor.
    The
    Board
    recognizes
    that
    this
    finding
    contradicts the holding
    in Marley-Ingrid,
    but believes that this
    result is mandated by the clear language of Sections 700.104(b) and
    725.101(b).
    The Board notes that
    it did not have the benefit
    of
    argument on the reading of these two sections together when making
    its decision in Marley-Ingrid,
    since
    neither party
    in that case
    ever brought
    Section
    700.104(b)
    to the Board’s
    attention.
    The
    Board’s
    holding
    in
    Marley-Ingrid,
    that
    a
    facility which
    never
    officially obtained interim status or substantially complied with
    the interim status rules is not subject to Part 725, is overturned.
    Condition
    1
    Testor has appealed four
    of the conditions which the Agency
    imposed
    on
    its approval
    of
    Testor’s closure
    plan.
    Condition
    1
    requires Testor to complete all of its closure activities by June
    1,
    1989,
    and to provide the Agency with certification of closure
    within
    60 days
    of closure.
    This gives Testor approximately six
    months to complete closure.
    Testor admits that this requirement
    is
    based
    upon
    35
    Ill.
    Adrn.
    Code
    725.213(b),
    which
    requires
    completion of closure activities within 180 days of approval of the
    closure
    plan.
    Testor
    points
    out,
    however,
    that
    Section
    725.2l3(b)(l)(A)
    allows the Agency to
    extend that period if the
    owner demonstrates that the closure activities will,
    of necessity,
    take longer than 180 days to complete.
    The closure schedule
    in
    Testor’s application included 150 days to complete all activities
    up to the treatment or disposal
    of the contaminated
    soils.
    The
    period of time needed for treatment or disposal of the soils was
    indicated as “unknown”.
    (Ex.
    3 at pp. 23-4;
    Ex.
    22 at 24.)
    Testor
    states
    that
    it
    could
    not
    reasonably
    be
    expected
    to
    choose
    a
    treatment or disposal option until the contaminant concentrations,
    volume, and treatability of the soils were determined.
    Therefore,
    Testor’s application set forth four disposal or treatment options:
    on—site treatment by mechanical aeration,
    biological degradation,
    105 22

    7
    or vapor
    extraction,
    and off-site disposal
    at
    a RCRA
    landfill.~
    (Ex.
    3
    at
    p.
    19;
    Ex.
    22
    at
    p.
    20.)
    Testor
    argues that
    it
    is
    impossible to complete any of these options within the time period
    established
    in Condition
    1,
    especially
    if contested Condition
    8
    (which requires Testor to obtain a Part B RCRA permit to stockpile
    excavated soils on-site prior to disposal)
    is upheld by the Board.
    In response,
    the Agency points out that Testor’s application
    does not give any indication whatsoever
    as to how long treatment
    or disposal of the soils may take.
    Thus,
    the Agency argues that
    Testor did not make the required demonstration that more than 180
    days
    is
    necessary
    to
    complete
    closure.
    Without
    a request
    for
    extension and
    a demonstration
    of need,
    the Agency contends that
    Section
    725.213(b)
    requires
    Testor
    to
    complete
    its
    closure
    activities within 180 days.
    The Agency maintains that Condition
    1 is necessary to assure that the closure plan did not violate the
    Act or Board regulations.
    As noted
    above, when reviewing an Agency permit decision,
    the Board must determine whether the application,
    as submitted to
    the Agency, demonstrates that issuance
    of the permit without the
    contested
    conditions
    would
    not
    violate
    the
    Act
    or
    Board
    regulations.
    Section
    725.213(b)
    clearly
    requires the owner
    or
    operator
    to
    complete
    closure
    activities
    within
    180
    days
    after
    approval
    of the closure
    plan.
    That
    section
    also
    requires
    the
    Agency
    to approve
    an extension to that period
    if
    the
    owner
    or
    operator demonstrates that closure activities will,
    of necessity,
    take longer than
    180
    days
    to
    complete.
    The burden
    is
    clearly
    placed
    upon the
    owner
    or
    operator
    to request
    an extension
    and
    demonstrate that an extension
    is
    necessary.
    The only hint
    in
    Testor’s application which
    could
    be construed as
    a
    request
    for
    extension is a statement that “the
    ultimate disposal or treatment
    of contaminated soil removed during this phase may require a longer
    time period,
    depending
    on the time requirements
    for obtaining a
    disposal permit or to complete on—site treatment
    of contaminated
    soil.”
    (Ex.
    22
    at p.
    24.)
    The Board does not believe that this
    statement was sufficient to be considered a request for extension
    pursuant
    to
    Section 725.213(b).
    The Board
    is
    unable
    to
    find
    a
    demonstration that closure would take more than 180 days anywhere
    in
    Testor’s
    application,
    and
    thus
    must
    conclude
    that
    the
    application did not demonstrate that Condition
    1 was not necessary
    to avoid a violation of the Act or regulations.
    Additionally, the
    only evidence in the record which supports Testor’s contention that
    it is impossible to comply with the 180 day period is new evidence
    and
    testimony
    by
    Mr.
    Verret,
    which
    the
    Board
    has
    excluded
    in
    response
    to
    the
    Agency’s
    motion.
    Even
    if
    Testor
    had made
    a
    sufficient
    request
    for
    an
    extension
    of
    the
    time
    period,
    its
    The Board
    notes that
    although the biological
    degradation
    option
    is
    listed
    in Testor’s
    application,
    that
    option
    was
    not
    mentioned by Testor at hearing or in post—hearing briefs.
    inS 23

    8
    application failed
    to demonstrate that closure activities would
    take more than 180 days.
    The Board must uphold the imposition of
    Condition
    1.
    The Board
    notes,
    however,
    that Testor
    can still
    request an extension of
    the deadline pursuant to Section 725.213(b)
    and
    (c).
    Conditions
    3 and 4
    Testor also challenges the imposition of Conditions
    3 and 4.
    Condition
    3 requires Testor to provide the Agency with
    a proposed
    groundwater
    monitoring
    system
    that would
    demonstrate
    that
    the
    groundwater quality
    in the saturated zone has not been adversely
    affected
    by operation of the surface
    impoundment.
    Condition
    4
    requires Testor
    to monitor
    the groundwater
    from
    its monitoring
    wells
    in
    accordance
    with
    Subpart
    F
    of
    Part
    725
    until
    Testor
    demonstrates
    that
    no
    release
    had
    occurred
    from
    the
    surface
    impoundment.
    In its application,
    Testor had proposed collecting
    soil
    samples
    at
    increasing
    depths
    to
    determine
    whether
    contamination extended to the saturated zone.
    If so, Testor would
    monitor the groundwater.
    If not, groundwater monitoring would not
    be performed.
    (Ex.
    22 at p.
    15; Tr.
    pp. 79—89.)
    Testor contends that the Board’s March
    23,
    1989 opinion
    in
    Marley—Ingrid holds that groundwater monitoring is not necessarily
    required for clean closure of a RCPA surface impoundment, although
    equivalency
    will
    have
    to
    be demonstrated.
    Testor
    attacks
    the
    testimony
    of
    Robert
    Carson
    of the Agency’s permit
    section,
    who
    testified that there
    is no demonstration that an applicant could
    make to avoid doing groundwater monitoring for
    a clean
    closure.
    (Tr.
    at 192-193.)
    Testor maintains that Marley-Ingrid allows an
    applicant to demonstrate equivalency, and argues that the sampling
    program
    in
    its
    application
    is
    sufficient
    to
    do
    so
    if
    the
    contamination has not reached the saturated
    zone.
    The
    Agency
    responds
    by
    stating
    its
    belief
    that
    Testor’s
    proposal for addressing groundwater contamination is inadequate to
    demonstrate that the surface impoundment has not had an impact on
    groundwater.
    The Agency contends that a clean closure under Part
    725
    must consider groundwater,
    that
    it
    was
    not
    satisfied
    that
    Testor’s
    proposal
    was
    adequate
    to
    show
    that
    groundwater
    was
    unaffected by the surface impoundment,
    and that Conditions
    3
    and
    4 were
    included
    in the closure
    plan
    approval
    to
    correct
    those
    inadequacies.
    The Board agrees with Testor that,
    pursuant to our March 23,
    1989 opinion in Marley-Ingrid, a facility which is subject to Part
    725 and seeks to close by removal
    is not required as
    a matter of
    law to comply with the Part 724 groundwater monitoring standards,
    although such facilities must at some time demonstrate that they
    have met the closure by removal
    standards of Part
    724 when that
    facility seeks a determination of equivalency.
    As discussed above,
    the surface impoundment at Testor’s facility
    is subject
    to Part
    105•-2.4

    9
    725, and Testor proposes closure by removal.
    Thus,
    Testor is not
    required as
    a matter of law to monitor the groundwater.
    After
    a
    review
    of
    Testor’s
    application
    and
    the
    parties’
    arguments,
    the Board finds that Testor’s application demonstrates
    that neither the Act nor the regulations would be violated if the
    permit was issued without Conditions
    3 and 4.
    In other words, the
    Board believes that Testor’s proposed method
    of
    soil sampling to
    determine
    whether contamination has reached
    the saturated
    zone,
    coupled with Testor’s commitment to perform groundwater monitoring
    if contamination has reached the saturated
    zone,
    is sufficient to
    prevent
    a
    violation
    of
    the
    Act
    or
    regulations.
    The
    Board
    emphasizes, however, that this finding is based in large degree on
    the
    fact
    that
    Testor’s
    soil
    sampling
    program
    includes
    all
    constituents identified by the Agency’s sampling in the area,
    all
    materials used at Testor’s plant,
    and a range of other chemicals,
    and
    is not limited to the identified toluene release.
    The Board
    also notes that after Testor completes this closure,
    it must either
    obtain a post—closure care permit or demonstrate equivalency.
    In
    other words,
    this
    is not the
    last time that the area groundwater
    will
    be
    considered.
    The Agency
    is
    directed to
    issue
    the
    plan
    approval without Conditions
    3
    and
    4,
    and to substitute
    Testor’s
    proposed soil sampling and subsequent monitoring program.
    Condition
    8
    Condition
    8 requires Testor to obtain
    a
    RCRA
    Part B
    permit if
    it
    stockpiles
    excavated
    soils
    on the ground
    prior
    to
    disposal.
    Storage of hazardous waste in containers or tanks would be allowed
    for
    90
    days
    without
    a
    permit
    if
    Testor
    complies
    with
    the
    requirements of
    35 Ill.
    AdTn. Code 722.134.
    Testor challenges the
    imposition of this condition, stating that it does not believe that
    RCRA
    storage or treatment permits are
    required
    in this situation,
    which
    Testor
    analogizes
    to
    clean—up pursuant
    to
    Section
    121
    of
    CERCLA.
    Testor maintains
    that the Agency
    has not historically
    required such permits for the clean—up of spills, and contends that
    the imposition of the permit requirement does not serve any of the
    purposes
    of the permit
    system.
    Testor
    argues
    that
    the
    permit
    requirement actually undermines the goal of prompt remediation of
    potential environmental threats, and maintains that CERCLA’s permit
    exemption should apply here.
    The Agency,
    in response, points out that Testor’s application
    contains
    a plan to stockpile contaminated soils after excavation
    from the surface
    impoundment.
    (Ex.
    22 at pp
    19-20.)
    The Agency
    states
    that
    Condition
    8
    was
    included
    in
    the
    plan
    approval
    to
    address violations of Board regulations which will occur
    if Testor
    does indeed stockpile the
    soils.
    The Agency maintains that the
    excavated soil
    is a hazardous waste when discarded
    (35
    Ill. Adm.
    Code 721.133(d)), and that the act of stockpiling a hazardous waste
    into piles
    is the creation of
    a waste pile which is
    a hazardous
    waste
    management unit
    (35
    Ill.
    Adm.
    Code 721.110).
    The Agency
    105 -25

    10
    contends that a
    RCRA
    permit is needed for any new hazardous waste
    management
    unit,
    and
    that
    even
    a
    hazardous
    waste
    unit
    built
    specifically as part of a closure process must be covered by a RCRA
    permit.
    The Agency states that its position is not that Testor
    must submit a Part B permit application as an absolute condition
    to closure, but that Testor must obtain such a permit if it chooses
    to stockpile the excavated soils.
    In sum, the Agency argues that
    Condition 8
    is a necessary condition to the approved closure plan,
    but that Condition
    8 does
    not require Testor to submit a Part B
    application
    if
    they
    follow
    other
    storage
    options
    which
    do
    not
    require a Part B permit.
    The Board does not agree with the Agency that Condition 8
    is
    necessary to assure
    that Testor’s closure
    of
    the area does not
    violate the Act or Board regulations.
    The Board finds that the
    condition is based upon an incorrect analysis of the situation. The
    excavated soil does not become
    a hazardous waste when discarded,
    as the Agency maintains;
    rather, the contaminated soil already is
    a waste. The Board has held that the area in question is a surface
    impoundment;
    therefore, the facility is a treatment, storage, and
    disposal
    (TSD)
    facility.
    Section 722.134, which contains the 90—
    day permit exemption, applies only to generators, not to owners and
    operators of TSD facilities.
    The Board realizes that this facility
    became a TSD facility “accidentally”,
    but this does not change the
    fact that it
    is a TSD facility under the regulations.
    Condition
    8
    is struck.
    However, striking the condition does not necessarily
    force Testor
    to obtain
    a
    RCRA
    storage permit.
    Testor would
    be
    well—advised to be prepared to provide for prompt removal of the
    waste as
    it
    is excavated.
    Conclusion
    In sum,
    the Board finds that the discharge area at Testor’s
    facility
    is
    a surface impoundment,
    and that Testor’s facility
    is
    subject to Part 725.
    Conditions
    1 is upheld, and Conditions
    3,
    4,
    and 8 are reversed.
    This
    Opinion constitutes the Board’s
    findings
    of
    fact and
    conclusions of law in this matter.
    ORDER
    The closure plan approved by the Agency on October 26,
    1988
    is affirmed in part and reversed in part.
    The Agency is directed
    to issue the plan approval without Conditions
    3,
    4, and 8, and to
    add Testor’s proposed soil
    sampling
    and
    subsequent groundwater
    monitoring program as conditions to approval.
    IT IS SO
    ORDERED.
    Section
    41
    of the Environmental Protection Act,
    Ill.
    Rev.
    Stat.
    1987,
    ch.
    111—1/2,
    par.
    1041,
    provides for appeal of final
    105-
    26

    11
    orders of the Board within 35 days.
    The Rules of the Supreme Court
    of Illinois establish filing requirements.
    B. Forcade dissented and R. Flemal was not present.
    I, Dorothy M. Gunn,
    Clerk of the Illinois Pollution Control
    Board, hereby certify that
    t~eabove Opinion and Order was adopted
    on the
    ~o~”
    day
    of
    ~
    ,
    1989,
    by
    a
    vote
    of
    Dorothy M. ~nn,
    Clerk
    Illinois Pollution Control Board
    105--27

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