1. (R88—7)
      2. The Scientific/Technical Section,Illinois Pollution Control Board
      3. June 7, 1990
      4. INTRODUCTION
      5. 112—90
      6. SECTION-BY-SECTION RESPONSES
      7. Section 807.105 Relation to Other Rules
      8. 1. Response to the Agency’s comment #1
      9. Section 810.103 Definitions
      10. 1. Response to the Agency’s comment #2 (A)
      11. See STS’s discussion at Section 811.704.
      12. 2. Response to the Agency’s comment #2 (B)
      13. 3. Response to the Agency’s comment #2 (C)
      14. 4. Response to hearing Questions (Tr. pg. 648-650)
      15. 112—91
      16. 5. Response to the Agency’s comment #2 (E)
      17. “New facility” or “New unit” means a solid waste landfill
      18. facility or a unit.
      19. effective date of this Part.
      20. concentrations;
      21. 8. Response to the Agency’s comment #2 (F)
      22. STS agrees with the Agency that the term “Uppermost aquifer”
      23. needs to be defined and suggests the inclusion of the
      24. following definition:
      25. “Uppermost aquifer” means the first geologic formation above
      26. and below the bottom elevation of a constructed liner or
      27. wastes, where no constructed liner is present. that is an
      28. aquifer, and which includes any lower aquifer that is
      29. hydraulically connected to this aquifer within the facility’s
      30. year the waste has been is being removed for utilization or
      31. 10. Response to the Agency’s comment #2 (G)
      32.  
      33. of attenuation” is the three dcluding the volume occupied by
      34. Section 811.105 Compaction
      35. 1. Response to WMI’s comments (WMI’s testimony, pg. #2 and P.C.#38, pg. #3)
      36. of safety.
      37. Section 811.108 salvaging
      38. 1. Response to the Agency’s comment #4
      39. c)2) May not be accumulated alternative conditions
      40. Section 811.111 Post Closure Maintenance
      41. 1. Response to the Agency’s comment #5
      42. c)2) All rills, gullies and crevices six inches or deeper
      43. Subpart B: Inert Waste Landfill
      44. 112—95
      45. testing shows the presence of organic chemicals, the
      46. operator shall notify the Agency of this finding, in
      47. writing, before the end of the business day following the
      48. finding.
      49. I12—96
      50. Section 811.302 Facility Location
      51. d) Compacted Earth Liner Standards
      52. and meet the requirements of subsections(di (2) through (d) (4)~
      53. Section 811.310 Landfill Gas Monitoring
      54. Section 811.311 Landfill Gas Management System
      55. Section 811.312 Landfill Gas Processing and Disposal System
      56. 1. Response to WMI’s comments (WMI’s testimony, pg. #7 and P.C.#38, pg. #9)
      57. Section 811.314 Final Cover
      58. Section 811.315 Hydrogeologic Site Investigation
      59. Section 811.317 Groundwater Impact Assessment
      60. as follows:
      61. Section 811.319 Groundwater Monitoring Programs
      62. a) Detection Monitoring Program
      63. c) Assessment of Potential Groundwater Impact Assessment
      64. A) 90 days of the Completion of the groundwater
      65. Section 811.320 Groundwater quality standards
      66. Section 811.321 Waste Placement
      67. 1. Response to WMI’s comments (WMI’s testimony, pg. #2 and P.C.#38, pg. #3)
      68. a) Phasing of Operations
      69. Section 811.323 Load Checking Program
      70.  
      71. Section 811.507 Compacted Earth Liner
      72. Section 811.700 Scope, Applicability and Definitions
      73. Section 811.704 Closure and Postclosure Care Cost Estimates
      74. Section 811.705 Revision of Cost Estimate
      75. Section 812.316 Results of the Groundwater Impact Assessment
      76. Section 813.201 Initiation of a Modification or SignificantModification
      77. Section 813.501 Annual Reports
      78. 1. Response to the Agency comment #38
      79. ~j Signature of the person
      80. Section 813.503 Information to be Retained at or near the Waste
      81. Disposal Facility
      82. 1. Response to WMI’s hearing testimony (Tr. pg. #545)
      83. Section 815.303 Information to be submitted

ILLINOIS POLLUTION CONTROL BOARD
June
7,
1990
IN THE MATTER OF:
)
DEVELOPMENT, OPERATING AND
)
R88-7
REPORTING REQUIREMENTS FOR
)
(Rulemaking)
NON-HAZARDOUS WASTE LANDFILLS
PROPOSED RULE.
SECOND NOTICE.
PROPOSED OPINION OF
THE
BOARD
(by J.
Anderson):
On March
1,
1990,
the Board adoDted a second First Notice
proposed Opinion and proposed Order
in this R 88—7
regulatory
proceeding.
The proposed regulations were published
in the
Illinois Register on March
16,
1990.
Today’s Second Notice
action
is taken
for the purpose of submitting
the proposal
to the
Legislature’s Joint
Cortunittee on Administrative Rules
(JCAR),
as
required by the Administrative Procedures Act.
The
proposal
includes modifications from the second First Notice proposal
in
response
to hearing testimony and written comments,
and the
Board’s Scientific/Technical Section
(STS)
Response
to
Additional Comments on Proposed Parts 807,
and 810 through 815”,
(STS Response) filed on this day as Ex.33).
This Opinion will
not
repeat the discussions presented
in
the Board’s
45 page
Opinion of March
1,
1990;
rather,
it will reference that Ooinion
where necessary, and will
include
in its entirety
in the Second
Notice submittal
to JCAR,
as well
as the STS Response
and,
of
course,
the proposed Second Notice Order.
To the extent that
the
Board concurs with the recommendations
in the STS Response,
the
Board accepts
the rationale contained
in
that document, with the
exceptions
or additional discussion
as noted herein.
The Board held
a hearing on the second First Notice proposal
on April
6,
1990,
and accepted comments until May
1,
1990.
Apart
from members
of
the Board’s
staff,
the hearing
participants included:
Illinois Environmental Protection Acencv (Aaencv)
Gary King,
Esq.,
Enforcement Programs
Edwin
Bakowski,
Manager, Solid Waste/UIC Unit,
DLPC
Waste Management,
Inc.
Percy Angelo,
Esq., Meyer,
Brown
&
Platt
John
J. McDonnell,
P.E.
(Ex.
31),
Environmental Manager WM,
Inc.
John Baker, Manager, Environmental Monitoring Programs,
WM,
Inc.
112—7n

—2—
National Seal Company
Mark Steger,
Esq. McBride, Baker
& Coles
Gary Kolbasuk, Technical Manager, National Seal Co.
Illinois Environmental Regulatory Group
James T.
Harrington,
Esq., Ross and Hardies
Illinois Department
of Energy and Natural Resources
Bonnie Eynon Meyer,
Coordinator, EcIS Analysis Program
Phillips Fibers Corporation
Gerald F.
Barry
,
Sales Engineer, Phillips Fibers Corp.
Comments were filed by the following:
American Colloid Company by Jim Olsta,
P.E.,
Divisional Sales
Manager, P.C.25
3M Industrial Chemical Products Division by Bruce
H.
Spoo, Market
Development Manager, P.C.26
GSI Environmental by Michael Groh,
P.C.27,28
Illinois Department
of Commerce and Community Affairs
Impact
Analysis by William M.
Rodman, Deputy Director, P.C.29
Administrative Code Division by Tom McDermand,
P.C.30
Will County Land Use Department,
by Kevin Standbridge,
Dir.,
Solid Waste Division,
P.C.3l
Winnebago Reclamation Service,
Inc.
by John Holmstrom 111,
P.C.32
Chambers Development Company,
Inc.
by Scott
A.
Fitzmorris, Area
Manager, P.C.33
Agency,
First Notice Comments
by Gary King,
Esq.,
P.C.34
112—80

—3—
National Seal Company,
by Mark Steger,
Esq., McBride, Baker
&
Coles,
P.C.35
Illinois Steel Group and Illinois Cast Metals Association
by
Charles Wesseihoft, Ross
& Hardies, P.C.36
Caterpillar,
Inc.
by
C.
D.
Seeber,
Manager Facilities
Engineering, P.C.37
Waste Management
of Illinois,
Inc.
by Percy
L. Angelo,
Esq.,
P.C. 38
Agency response to information request, by Gary King,
Esq.,
P.C. 39
BOARD COMMENTS CONCERNING PARTICULAR RULES
There are a number of comments submitted of which
the Board
wishes to take special
note.
Section 811.101 Delayed Applicability
off the Regulations.
Section 811.101(b)
as proposed
in the second First Notice
provided
for a delayed applicability
off Part
811,
Standards
for
New Solid Waste Landfills.
More specifically,
the effect of the
proposed language is to “stay”
the applicability of these rules
to new landfills, accepting waste only from the steel, utility
and foundry industries, for the period of time between
the date
when the regulations become effective
(i.e. when they are filed
with the Secretary of
State)
until December
1,
1990.
If the
industries file
a proposal of general applicability to the
industry category no later
than December
1,
1990,
then the “stay”
continues
in effect for new landfills
for
two years
after the
filing with the Secretary of State.
If the industries do not
timely file,
Part 811 becomes effective immediately,
on December
2,
1990.
During the period of delayed applicability of Part
811,
the landfills are subject
to
the now existing Part
807 standards.
The Agency continues
to strongly oppose granting any delayed
applicability of
the regulations
to the steel,
utility and
foundry industries.
(see P.C.
34,
Para.
3)
It asserts
that
persuasive
evidence is lacking regarding a lesser environmental
threat by these
landfills, and that
the industries have had more
than sufficient
time
to present
a proposal.
The Agency
recommends deletion
of Section 811.101(b).
WMI also questioned
the merits of the temporary exemption,
noting
that
the exemption could encourage
the industries
to
establish new landfills
to
a
lesser design
in the interim, and
112—81

—4—
that, while the utilities have made an effort to prepare and
present alternative proposals,
the foundries have only done
studies, and the steel industry has yet
to present
anything
demonstrating a good faith effort.
WMI asked how the new
landfills are to be designed in the interim;
if
the purpose
is to
subject such landfills
to industry specific rules,
then the Board
should make the new landfills subject to the Board’s proposal
until
the new rules are adopted,
noting that there is
no evidence
that the on—site operators are running out of space.
WMI thus
appears
to agree with the Agency.
WMI also asked for further
clarification as
to how on—site landfills can use alternatives
to
the basic Board standards,
and how they are
to proceed when
Agency approvals are required.
(R.
546-548)
The Illinois Steel Group and The Illinois Cast Metals
Association,
(Steel),
in
a joint comment,
(see P.C.36)
asserted
that
IERG,
on January
2,
1990
(P.C.
24), had requested
that
existing on—site facilities
also be included in the “stay,”
pending new industry specific rules for existing landfills.
Regarding new landfills,
they argue
that they should be subject
to the now—existing rules, and should then be allowed to make
whatever modifications are necessary to comply later with the
industry specific standard.
In support,
Steel argues
the anomaly
of having existing facilities,
receiving the exact same waste,
having to begin efforts toward retrofitting
if they want
to stay
open beyond the two year phase-in period
in the new rules,
while
new
landfills would be presumably subject
to a lesser standard.
Steel suggests that the Board,
in proposing a temporary exemption
for new landfills, apparently
feels
that there
is some merit
in
the industries’
belief that
a lower degree of control
is
necessary
for these wastes.
Steel wants,
therefore,
a two year
exemption for new facilities and the grandfathering of existing
facilities operated on—site, with the Board accepting
a proposal
in December applicable
to both new and existing facilities.
Caterpillar
Inc.
(Caterpillar)
in
its comments
(P.C.37)
noted that
its Mapleton Plant
is
a gray iron foundry,
located in
Peoria,
which operates an
82 acre onsite landfill
into which they
dispose of
80 to 90 thousand
tons per year of waste foundry sand.
They generally agree with the
“proposed regulation language
previously submitted by the Cast Metals Association
(ICMA)
regarding monofills and beneficial
reuse”.
(We note that
we are
uncertain as
to what
“proposed regulation language” Caterpillar
is
referring
to.)
Caterpillar asserted that the landfilling
costs
for the Mapleton Plant would ~o from $4.49/cubic yard
to
$15.25/cubic yard,
a
240
increase,
if the company had
to dispose
off—site,
and that this would represent
an increased annual
disposal cost ranging from $645,000
to $710,000.
Caterpillar
also noted that off—site landfilling would reduce
the available
“public” volume
for wastes needing
“a high level
of
containment”.
Caterpillar also asserted that the wastes
being
moved over public highways would
increase,
with a resulting
increase in infrastructure wear,
traffic congestion and
112—82

—5—
increasing bureaucratic burden to “follow waste handling and
transportation
in the public sector”.
We can only note that the ground continues
to shift
regarding
the industries’
intent,
timetable, and what they are
requesting,
including whether
their proposal would cover existing
landfills.
(See e.g.
R.
65, and second First Notice Opinion,
p.
38—40, which we believe reflects the situation at that time as
accurately as possible after
careful review of
a confusing
record).
For the reasons expressed
in the second First Notice
Opinion,
we do not believe
this
record supports special relief
for all these already existing landfills, whether called
“grandfathering”
or
“exemption”.
Like any other existing
landfills,
they can singly seek
to demonstrate
the need
for
temporary or long
term relief,
including during the lengthy
phase—in period already provided
in these regulations.
There
also
is nothing
in the Act preventing
the industries
from
proposing generally adplicable regulations
as
to
a category.
Regarding the anomaly asserted by Steel
if we do not
include
existing
landfills,
we note
that,
if
there
is any anomaly,
the
anomaly also supports the notion that the Board should not grant
any relief
to new landfills either.
Regarding
new landfills,
the
Board particularly disagrees with
the suggestion
by Steel
that,
in granting
a “stay”,
the Board has pre—determined
the merits of
the proposals
to be filed
in December.
Also,
we share the
concern that the delaying of the applicability of Part
811 might
provide an
incentive
to industry to build new landfills
in the
interim,
so as
to be subject only
to the existing
regulations.
We suggest, however,
that any industry doing so
is truly “rolling
the dice”.
They would be gambling on what would be the nature of
the regulations that would apply
to them
in the near future as
new landfills
(the “stay” would not affect their designation as
new landfills).
In the interim,
the existing regulations
in
large measure
leave
to the Agency considerable flexibility
as
to
how they should be implemented or enforced,
regardless
of whether
the site requires
a permit or
not.
Given
this situation, we ourselves do not quite understand
why the industries have not moved more quickly.
We also again
note that
it
is
not clear
in
the record what
number of new
landfills,
if any, are anticipated
in the near
future (the
utilities appear
to be anticipating
two).
(See second First
Notice Opinion,
p.
40).
We also agree with WMI
that
the record
gives little enlightenment
as
to whether the landfill operators
are running out of space.
This has been
a close
call for the Board.
On
reconsideration,
we have determined
that
the best course of
action
is
to grant only
a one year
“stay”.
This will serve
to
put the proceedings on a much shorter timetable and will also
provide the incentive
to the industries
to have their data ready
and submit their proposals
as soon as possible.
We also note
11 2—83

—6--
that some clarifying language has been included in Section
811.101(b).
Also,
we will continue
to include off—site as well
as on—site landfills
in the “stay”.
We
fail
to see, and the
participants have not explained environmentally or otherwise, why
they want
to exclude off—site landfills both from the “stay” and
from any December proposals they might
submit.
Our decision to
grant the “stay” admittedly rests on the expectation that
the
industries will appreciate, on balance,
the advantages
to them of
not installing new landfills during
the “stay” period unless lack
of air space
is
a critical factor,
and even then will consider
whether
it might be more prudent
to comply with these new
regulations
rather than the old ones, or
at least seek
a permit.
Finally, WMI also asked
for clarification as to how onsite
landfills,
those operating outside
the permit system, are to
proceed
if they wish to use alternatives
to basic Board standards
or when approval by
the Agency
is required
if an alternative
is
to be
used.
This question relates
to more than
the “stay”
issue.
For example, Agency approval
is required for use of
alternate daily cover materials, and there any any number of
instances
in these rules,
such as where performance standards and
assessment and remedial action plans are involved,
where onsite
operators arguably carry a greater
risk
of a subsequent
enforcement action for decisions made by them,
outside a permit
setting,
as
to what constitutes compliance with the rules.
This
is
a legal as well as
a practical problem that
is not new, except
insofar
as
the problem will be larger with the new regulations.
Answering
the question posed ultimately requires knowing what the
operator wants
to do and looking at
the individual
rule
involved,
considering
the facts of
a particular
situation.
However, as a
general observation,
the operator may have a number
of options,
including seeking an adjusted standard before the Board;
voluntarily applying for a permit,
so that modifications can be
approved;
informally consulting with
the Agency
if the Agency
is
willing; simply taking the course of action with confidence
that
the rule allows
it, etc.
We note
that
these proposed rules,
particularly
the reporting requirements, reflect
a conclusion
by
the Board,
based on the record,
that more needs
to be known about
the activities
of onsite facilities.
Section 811.306 Liner Systems
The
Board agrees with
the explanation and recommendation
in
the STS Response that,
as an alternate
to the minimum five
foot
compacted clay liner,
a minimum three
foot compacted clay liner
plus
a geomembrane be allowed.
The Board had requested comment
in its March
1,
1990,
Opinion, and received testimony and comment
in response.
(See e.g.
R.
442—524).
The record indicates that
a
three
foot compacted clay liner plus a geomembrane
liner directly
applied on top of
it has demonstrated capabilities equal
or
superior
to
the recompacted
five foot
liner,
at
least
for non—
inward gradient landfills,
both
iii
terms
off leachate captured and
as
a leachate barrier.
Experience has shown
that the controlling
factors for
the
long term effectiveness of
the geomembrane are
112—84

—7—
directly related
to the care taken during
its installation.
Geomembranes must
be selected that are compatible with the
leachate and are of appropriate thickness
to allow
for proper
installation.
It
is also important
that machinery not damage the
geomembrane.
This requires good management,
as
is also the case
with the installation of
a clay liner. The estimated costs
appeared competitive overall and economically
reasonable.
Part 8l1.Subpart
B,
Inert Waste Landfills
After reviewing the comments and testimony at hearing,
the
Board concurs with the STS proposal
for more stringent
regulations
for
inert waste landfills.
The Board had requested
comments,
with specificity,
particularly regarding random load
checking and the components
of an acceptable groundwater
monitoring program, including
locational
standards,
hydrogeological
site investigations
to establish number and
location of wells,
compliance
point, what would trigger remedial
action,
etc.
The Agency did not address
this question and no
other comments with
real specificity were
received.
At hearing,
it was pointed out that
there
is
a need
to assure that
leachate
can be sampled,
if that
is what
to be monitored
over time.
(R.
635,
636).
The STS questioned the benefits of using
a monitoring
well approach, and instead has proposed a
random load checking
system similar
to that
for non—inert
landfills, while continuing
to use the leachate itself
to determine compliance but with added
monitoring and reporting
requirements.
If subsequent
contamination
is verified,
the landfill would
lose
its
“inert”
classification,
and become subject
to the regulations applicable
to putrescible or chemical waste landfills.
We believe
that this
approach will serve
the dual purpose of
first providing
environmental protection against
the future disposal of non—inert
waste, and at the same time keeping
truly
inert waste from using
up air space
in
the putrescible or chemical waste
landfills.
Section 8ll.315(e)(2),
the test pit requirement
Waste Management noted
in
its testimony that construction of
a test pit would require
a local excavation permit
by the County
Board, citing Will County
for reference.
(R.
53)
WMI asserted
that if’it were denied,
the phase
three hydrogeologic
investigation would be
interrupted before
they got
to
the siting
hearings.
Will County
responded that
a permit might
not be
required by the County ordinance;
rather,
it would be
a case—by—
case determination by
the County engineer.
(P.C.
31)
We also
note that the regulation has been reworded
to clarify that
the
test pit
is not the only option available.
Agency Comments,
P.
C.
34.
Regarding the proposed definition
of
“aquifer”
in Section
810.103,
the Agency asserted that
it was “highly
inappropriate”
for
the Board
to narrow
in these
rules beyond the legislative
definition
of
“aquifer” contained
in the Groundwater
Protection
112—85

—8—
Act.
(see
Para.
2)
We first
note that this proceeding
is not
implementing a mandate pursuant
to the Groundwater Protection
Act, and
that the first First Notice Opinion addressed
aspects
of
the relationship between the Groundwater
Protection Act and this
rulemaking.
Aside from the merits of urging the use of
the same
language, we remind the Agency that the intended applicability of
a particular rule often may require that
we limit or otherwise
differ from legislative language (see
e.g.
the different
definitions of
“disposal”
between the Environmental Protection
Act and these
rules),
and we find nothing
in the Environmental
Protection Act that precludes
the Board from doing so, unless
there is
a
specific regulatory mandate
(see
e.g.
Sections 3.13
and 21
(m)
regarding hazardous hospital wastes).
We finally note
that the legislative definitions
in the Environmental Protection
Act are for the purposes of construing
the Act itself
(see
Section
3).
The Agency expressed concern,
rightly so,
about
the
potential applicability of the definition,
in Section 3.32
of
the
Act,
of a new “Regional Pollution Control Facility”,
which could
trigger what
is commonly called the SB 172 siting process, when
a
facility establishes ancillary facilities such as borrow areas,
facility modifications,
or
new monitoring points.
(see Para.
2)
The Agency recommends
that
the proposed definition of facility be
amended to add:
Ancillary
facilities
not
directly
related
to
waste
management,
such
as
monitoring
systems
and
borrow
areas,
are
not
to
be
considered
part
of
the
facility
for purposes
of
Section
3.37
of the Act.
We do not believe
that so altering the definition of
facility in this proceeding would cure the potential problem
noted by the Agency.
The definition of Regional Pollution
Control Facility in the Act controls what
is subject
to SB172,
not the Board.
Exempting “ancillary
facilities” would
require,
we believe, either
a legislative amendment
to Section
3.37 or
a
construction by the Board of
the existing legislative
language as
applied to
the specific
facts
in a contested case where SB 172
is
at
issue.
We also note
that construing
the definition
in Section
3.37 of the Act
is a challenge indeed.
For example, entities
coveted contain words
like “sanitary
landfill” and “waste
disposal site”
(“sanitary landfill” and
“site” are elsewhere
defined in the Act),
as well as
“waste treatment facility”
(“facility”
is not elsewhere defined
in the Act), and then
exempts certain entities called sites or
facilities
or parts of
them or other operations identified by other
labels,
depending on
what they do, who controls them,
what kind of wastes they take,
where they are located,
etc. However,
the Act’s definition says
nothing about “ancillary
facilities”,
much less
include examples
of what
they are.
Moreover, even
if
the Board were
in this
proceeding
to attempt,
by
legal
and statutory analysis,
to
construe ancillary facilities
as exempt,
the language proposed by
112—86

—9—
the Agency
is not easily construed.
For example,
if
a borrow
area
is used
for daily
cover,
and yet
is
not to be directly
related to waste management,
where
is
the dividing line?
The Agency,
in reference
to Section 811.306, continues
to
insist that anything less than
a minimum
10 foot liner
is
insufficient protection of the environment.
(see Para.
7). The
Board believes that
its proposal
for
a minimum
five foot liner,
as well as its proposed alternate of
a three
foot liner plus a
geomembrane,
is more than justified by this
record.
In addition
to the comments of
the STS,
we make the following observations.
Except
for
the Agency’s “fence post” problem, which we have taken
care of,
the Agency has not presented any scientific
or technical
justification as
to the environmental enhancement
to be gained by
requiring
a minimum
ten foot liner
in the proposed regulatory
scheme.
Nor have others.
Nor have the other participants agreed
with
the Agency’s position.
It was generally recognized
that
these regulations are crafted to change the traditional
reliance
on a liner.
The issue then was whether the minimum liner
thickness should be three feet or whether
it should be five
feet.
For example, while supporting
five feet as
an add—on
safeguard,
the McHenry County Defenders and the Citizens for a
Better Environment,
in a jointly filed Comment, nevertheless
state:
Based
on
the
STS
Background
Report
and
testimony presented
at
hearing,
we agree
that
a
three—foot
thick
clay
liner, constructed
in
relatively
thin,
well
compacted
lifts
to
achie~e
field
hydraulic
conductivities
of
lxl0’
cm/sec
or
less
can provide
sufficient
containment
of
contaminated
leachate,
when
used
in
combination
with
a
properly
designed
and operated leachate collection system.
(P.C.
11,
p.
4, June
6,
1988)
The Board believes that this record amply supports the
superiority of
the panoply of detailed site hydrogeology
investigations coupled with the design and operation of leachate
control systems embodied in these regulations.
We particularly
disagree with
the Agency’s blanket assertion,
without any
documentation whatsoever,
that allowing the now prbposed minimum
5 foot liner places the State
behind other states
in
environmental controls at
“sanitary landfills”.
We strongly
suggest
that
the Agency’s selection of
liner thickness as its
sole measure of comparison with other states’~regulations
reflects undue,
and outdated,
dependence on the passive use of
a
liner
as the only means
of preventing
the escape of leachate.
The record clearly shows
that this dependence
is not justified.
Regarding Part
811,
Subpart
D, we will delete Section
403(c)(2)(B)
for consistency with P89—13(A).
The Agency notes
that,
pursuant
to P89—13(A),
non—hazardous waste manifests would
112—87

—10—
no longer
be
required to be submitted to the Agency.
(see Para.
15)
The Agency made a sizeable number of
newly proposed
recommendations
in their post hearing comments regarding
financial assurance and contingency plans.
(see Para.
18 —32).
As has been stated on numerous occasions,
most recently in the
Board’s second First Notice Opinion of March
1,
1990,
on
p.
29,
any fundamental adjustments
to the financial assurance
regulations not related to this P88—7 proposal will have
to be
dealt with
in another proceeding.
Additionally,
the issues
raised by the Agency
in most
respects have not previously been
discussed
in this proceeding.
The Agency’s newly proposed
language for contingency plans also has not been previously
aired;
while
the Agency’s language uses RCRA Part
724 contingency
plan regulations as
a model,
the RCRA regulations were adopted as
“identical
in substance”
rules pursuant to Section 7.2 of the
Act;
they have not been considered by the Board on their merits
for hazardous wastes sites, and certainly have not been
considered
in this
regulatory proceeding. As the Board explained
in its second First Notice Opinion
(pp.
26—28),
we have
determined
to proceed, and issues raised at this stage will have
to await another proceeding.
We note that other participants have indicated a desire to
re—visit
the financial assurance regulations.
We can open a new
docket upon receipt of any formal proposals
to amend,
or consider
a request
for an inquiry hearing.
We do not believe that
it
is
advisable
at this time
to open
a Docket on
the Board’s own
motion;
in the earlier financial assurance regulatory docket,
R84—22,
a Docket D was opened by the Board primarily to receive
amending proposals and none were forthcoming from the
participants.
In any event, we note that the STS response
contains some interim observations
in response
to the Agency
comments that we invite
the participants
to
review.
Board Members
B. Forcade and J.
Dumnelle concurred.
I,
Dorothy
M. Gunn,
Clerk
of
the Illinois Pollution Control
Board, j~reby certify
that the above Opinion was adopted on
the
‘-‘i-”
day of
_____________
,
1990,
by
a vote of
7—ô
‘7
Dorothy M~Gunn, Clerk
Illinois Pollution Control Board
112—88

RESPONSE TO ADDITIONAL COMMENTS ON
PROPOSED PARTS 807,
AND
810 THROUGH 815
Development, Operating and Reporting Requirements
for Nonhazardous Waste Landfills
(R88—7)
by
The Scientific/Technical Section,
Illinois Pollution Control Board
June 7,
1990
112—89

INTRODUCTION
This document was prepared by the Scientific/Technical Section
(STS)
staff of the Illinois Pollution Control Board consisting of
Dr. Harish Rao,
STS Chief, Mr. Anand Rao and Mr. Morton Dorothy,
STS staff
scientists,
in response
to testimony presented at the
April
6,
1990 hearing and additional comments received since the
second
First
Notice
of
March
1,
1990
on
the
Board’s
proposed
nonhazardous solid waste landfill regulations of R88-7 proceedings.
STS
has
addressed
the concerns
of
the commentors
and
suggested
language changes.
It must
be noted that the major changes occur
in Subpart
B on inert wastes while most of the remaining changes
are for clarity and are not intended to substantively alter
the
intent of the proposed rules.
For the most part,
the suggested
changes
involve
re—wording
or
reorganization
of
certain
subsections.
The changes to the second First Notice are indicated
using strikeouts and underlining.
The comments addressed in this document were provided by the
Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (Agency); Waste Management
Inc.
(~TMI),
which
includes
testimony
presented
at
the
hearing
(NMI’s
testimony)
and post hearing comments
(P.C.
#38); and by the
National Seal Company (NSC), which provided testimony, and exhibits
which
include
“Fabrication
of
Polyethylene
FNL
Field
Seams,”
“Standard
No.
54,
Flexible
Membrane
Liner,”
and
“Construction
Quality Assurance for Hazardous Waste Land Disposal Facilities” at
the hearing.
As most of
WMI’s
post hearing comments were repeated
from their earlier testimony or
cortunents,
STS has provided common
response to both sets of comments.
The comments are referenced in
this document either by comment number (Agency’s comments),
by the
page
number
(WMI’s
comments)
or
by
exhibit
or
transcript
page
number.
112—90

SECTION-BY-SECTION RESPONSES
Section 807.105
Relation to Other Rules
1.
Response to the Agency’s comment
#1
The proposed
rules
were developed
for the
sole purpose
of
regulating nonhazardous solid waste disposal facilities.
STS
does not recommend the application of these rules cumulatively
with
RCRA
regulations
of
hazardous
waste
facilities.
STS
suggests clarifying changes to subsection
(a)
as follows:
a)
Persons and facilities
regulated
Part
or
35
Ill.
Adm. Code 811 through
815T~
hi-jowever,
if such a facility
also....
in
35
Ill.
Adin.
Code 810.103,
such
units are
subject
to such
reqi.iirernents of this
Part and
35
Ill.
Adm.
Code 811 through 815.
Section 810.103
Definitions
1.
Response to the Agency’s comment
#2
(A)
See STS’s discussion at Section 811.704.
2.
Response to the Agency’s comment
#2
(B)
STS believes that the additional explanation to the statuatory
definition of “Aquifer”
is needed to clarify the boundaries
of the aquifer and is consistent with the Illinois Groundwater
Protection Act.
3.
Response to the Agency’s comment
#2
(C)
STS
recommends
the
inclusion
of
the
Agency’s
suggested
definition of the term “Bedrock”
as follows:
“Bedrock”
means
the
solid
rock
formation
immediately
underlying
any
loose
superficial
material
such
as
soil,
alluvia or glacial drift.
4.
Response to hearing Questions
(Tr.
pg.
648-650)
STS suggests deletion of the term “non-watersoluble”
in the
definition of “inert waste” as follows:
“Inert waste” means.
.
.
shall
include only non—biodegradable—
~
non—putrescible and non watersoluble solid wastes.
112—91

3
5.
Response to the Agency’s comment
#2
(E)
STS agrees that the definition of “Perched aquifer”
is not
clear
arid notes that the term is inaccurate. STS suggests the
following changes for the purpose of clarity:
“Perched
watertable
aquifer”
means
an
elevated
watertable
above
a discoritinious saturated lense~that is bounded by an
elevated watertable resting
on
a
low permeability Isuch
as
clay)
layer
within
a
high
permeability
(such
as
sand)
formation.
6.
Based
on the Agency’s questions regarding the applicability
of rules to “new” units located in existing facilities,
it was
pointed out that Part
814,
which utilizes the standards
of
Part
811, would govern the operation of such units.
“New
facility”
or
“New
unit”
means
a
solid
waste
landfill
facility or a unit.
effective date of this Part.
A new unit located in an existing facility shall be considered
a
unit
subject
to
Part
814,
which
references
applicable
recp.lirements
of Part 811.
7.
STS suggests the following change
in the definition
of “New
facility” or “New unit” to clarify this intent.
Further, the
term “maximum allowable concentration”,
in the definition of
significant
modification
should
be
changed
to
“maximum
allowable predicted concentration”
for consistency with the
reset of the rule as follows:
“Significant Modification”
.
.
.
.will occur:
A
change
in.
.
.
.
or
the
maximum
allowable
predicted
concentrations;
8.
Response to the Agency’s comment #2
(F)
STS agrees with the Agency that the term “Uppermost aquifer”
needs
to
be
defined
and
suggests
the
inclusion
of
the
following definition:
“Uppermost aquifer” means the first geologic formation above
and
below
the
bottom
elevation
of
a
constructed
liner
or
wastes,
where
no
constructed
liner
is
present.
that
is
an
aquifer,
and
which
includes
any
lower
aquifer
that
is
hydraulically connected to this aquifer within the facility’s
112—92

4
p~mit
area.
9.
Response
to WMI’s comments
(P.C.
#38,
pg.
#2)
and Chambers
Development comments
(P.C.
#33)
STS
agrees
that
the
definition
of
“waste
piles”
does
not
specify
a time period for the removal
of accumulated wastes
and
suggests
a
one
year
period,
as
follows,
for
Board
consideration:
“Waste pile” means an area..
.
.
show that within the preceeding
year the waste has been
is being removed
for utilization or
disposed that there
i3
a
plan for disposal elsewhere.
10.
Response to the Agency’s comment
#2
(G)
STS
notes
that
the
definition
of
the
term
“Zone
of
attenuation” does account for what the Agency terms “disposal
of
wastes
in
trenches.”
It
must
be
noted
that
the term
“bottom of the wastes” is not referring to a single point, but
was
a reference to
the entire surface
area over which the
waste
is placed.
However,
for the purposes of clarity, STS
suggests the following alternative language:
“Zone
by ex
of attenuation”
is the three d
cluding the volume occupied by
irnensional region
formed
the placement of waste
from
extending downwards
from the bottom of
the w~e&-’-e-r
from the ground surface, whichever is lower, to the bottom of
the uppermost
aquifer,
and hounded by
the smaller
of the
volumes resulting from vertical planes drawn to the bottom of
the uppermost aquifer
at the property boundary or 100 feet
horizontally from the edge of one or more adjacent units.
Section 811.105
Compaction
1.
Response to WMI’s comments (WMI’s testimony,
pg.
#2 and P.C.
#38, pg.
#3)
STS notes that the regulations allow the placement of wastes
in areas other than the lowest part of the active face under
certain weather conditions.
However,
for reasons
of
safety
or
difficulties
related
to
the site’s characteristics,
the
following addition
is suggested:
All wastes
shall
be deposited
at
the lowest part
of
the active
face,
and compacted to the highest achievable density necessary to
minimize void
space
and
settlement
unless precluded
by
extreme
weather conditions.
The Agency may approve an alternate location
for placement
of wastes,
if the operator demonstrates that
it
is
112—93

5
required under the conditions existing at the site or for reasons
of safety.
Section 811.108
salvaging
1.
Response to the Agency’s comment
#4
STS
agrees
that
the
salvageable
materials
should
not
be
described
as
wastes
and suggests
the
following
change
to
subsection
(c) (2):
c)
2)
May not be accumulated
alternative conditions
for the management of the i~astcssuch materials in
compliance with subsection
(c) (1).
Section 811.111
Post Closure Maintenance
1.
Response to the Agency’s comment #5
STS has no objections to the inclusion of additional language
that
provides
quantifiable
standards
and
suggests
the
following additions to subsections
(C)
(2) and
Cc) (5):
c)
2)
All rills, gullies and crevices six inches or deeper
identified in the inspection shall be filled.
Areas
identified by the operator or the Agency
inspection
~
particularly
susceptible
to
erosion
shall
be
recontoured.
5)
All
reworked surfaces~ and
areas with
failed
or
eroded
vegetation
in
excess
of
100
square
feet
cumulatively,
shall
be
revegetated
in
accordance
with the approved closure plan for the facility.
Subpart B: Inert Waste Landfill
1.
Response to WMI’s
comments
(P.C.
#38,
pg.
#4—5)
and Chambers
Development comments
(P.C.
#33)
In response to the Board’s request for comments on sufficiency
of
the
groundwater
protection
measures
for
inert
waste
landfills,
WMI
has suggested that such landfills should
be
required
to
have
a
groundwater
monitoring
program.
STS
believes
that
groundwater
monitoring
will
not be workable
without
also
including
hydrogeologic
site
investigation
requirements necessary to establish an effective monitoring
network.
112—94

6
The
lesser
requirements
for
inert
waste
landfills
are
intentional in these regulations and are based on the concept
that
solid
waste
can
and will
be
stringently
screened
to
determine
if the waste can be considered
inert.
STS
notes
that the general requirements in Subpart A (Sections 811.101
through 811.111) apply to all landfills including location and
operational
standards.
Nevertheless,
because
of
concerns
expressed both by
WMI
and Board members that
standards
for
inert
waste
landfills
may
be
inadequate,
STS
suggests
for
Board consideration,
(1)
the use of
a random load checking
program
to help prevent hazardous wastes or non—inert waste
from
being
accepted
at
an
inert
waste
facility,
(2)
the
inclusion
of
a
leachate testing
program aimed
at deterring
non-inert
wastes
from
being
intentionally
or
otherwise
deposited in an inert waste landfill and
(3) specification of
reporting requirements.
The load checking will involve a prohibition against accepting
wastes if there is no accompanying documentation showing that
the
waste
is
inert
in
accordance
with
the
determination
procedure
prescribed
in Section
811.202.
In
addition,
STS
proposes a random load checking program which is an adaptation
of the one used at chemical and purtescible waste landfills
(it
includes
checking
for
non-inert
wastes
as
well
as
hazardous
wastes,
decreased
minimum
random
inspections
of
waste
loads
to
one per week,
and one leachate analysis per
month
in accordance with 811.202
of leachate generated
from
a randomly chosen waste
sample).
The results
of
the load
checking will be required to be included in the annual report
to be sent to the Agency.
The leachate testing program will require operators of inert
waste landfills to collect representative samples of leachate
on a six-month basis and test
it
in accordance with Section
811.202 to confirm that the leachate is not contaminated.
In
addition, once in two years, a broad scan organics scan of the
leachate will be required in accordance with 811.319
(a)(3).
If the leachate testing confirms that
it is contaminated or
that organics are present, then the inert waste unit or units
will become subject to the requirements and standards applying
to a chemical
or putrescible waste
landfill,
including
any
closure and remedial action requirements.
STS
recommends
using
the
above
framework
for
adding
new
Sections 811.206 and 811.207 which provide the requirements
for leachate sampling and load checking respectively for Board
consideration.
STS also corrects the reference to the Board standard and adds
language
to
specify
what
the
operator
must
test
test
in
subsection
(a)
and
suggests
language
to
(b) (2)
that will
112—95

7
ensure that
in carrying
out the test,
the extraction
fluid
used
represents
the physical
and
chemical
characteristics
(such as pH and temperature)
of the infiltrating fluid flowing
through the waste.
With regard to
P.C.
33, STS notes that
the
intent
in
the
proposed
regulations
is
to
allow
an
appropriate
test
to
be
chosen
based
on
the
site
specific
conditions and that would include consideration of the “time
factor”
in obtaining representative samples of leachate.
The suggested changes are as follows:
Section 811.202
Determination of Contaminated Leachate
a)
Leachate
shall
be
considered....
greater
than
the
standards
for public and food processing water
supply
standards
in
35
111.
Adm.
Code.. .302.5.
The operator
shall determine whether the leachate from the waste
is
contaminated by analyzing
it for constituents for which
a numerical standard has been established by the Board.
b)
2)
The
test
shall
utilize
an
extraction
fluid
resembling
representative
of
the
physical
and
chemical characteristics of the liquid expected to
infiltrate through the waste.
c)
No
change)
Section
811.206
Leachate Sampling
~j
All
inert waste landfills shall
be designed to include
a monitoring system capable of collecting representative
samples of leachate generated by the waste, using methods
such as, but not limited to, a pressure—vacuum lysiineter,
trench lysirneter or a well point.
The sampling locations
shall
be
located
so
as
to
collect
the
least
diluted
leachate samples..
~j
Leachate samples shall be collected and analyzed at least
once
in six month
to determine,
using the
statistical
procedures
of
subsection
811.320
(e),
whether
the
collected leachate is contaminated as defined in 35 Ill.
Adm.
Code 810.103.
~j
Once every two years,
leachate samples shall
be tested
for the presence of organic chemicals in accordance with
subsection
811.319
(a) (3)
.
If
the
results
of
such
testing
shows
the presence
of
organic
chemicals,
the
operator
shall
notify
the Agency
of
this
finding,
in
writing, before the end of the business day following the
finding.
I12—96

8
~j
If
the
results
of
testing
of
leachate
samples
in
accordance with subsection
(b) confirm that the leachate
is contaminated as defined ~
35 Ill. Adm. Code 810.103,
the operator shall notify the Agency of this finding,
in
writing, before the end of the business day following the
finding.
In addition, the inert waste landfill facility
causing the contamination:
fl
shall
no
longer
be
subject
to
the
inert
waste
landfill requirements of Subpart B
21
shall be subject to the requirements for Putrescible
and Chemical Waste Landfills of Subpart
C. including
closure
and remedial action.
~j
The
results
of
the
chemical
analysis
tests
shall
be
included
in the Quarterly Groundwater Reports submitted
to
the
Agency
in
accordance
with
35
Ill.
Adm.
Code
813.502 for permitted facilites and with Subpart D of 35
Ill.
Adm.
Code 815 for non-permitted facilities.
Section
811.207
Load
Checking
~j
The operator shall not accept wastes for disposal at an
inert
waste
landfill
unless
it
is
accompanied
by
documentation
that
such
wastes
are
inert
based
on
testing
of the leachate
from such wastes performed
in
accordance with the requirements of Section 811.202.
~j
The operator shall institute and conduct a random load
checking
program
at
each
inert
waste
facility
in
accordance
with
the
requirements
of
Section
811.323
except that this program shall also be designed:
fl
to detect and discourage attempts to dispose non—
inert wastes at the landfill
21
to require
the facility’s
inspector to examine
at
least one random load
of
solid waste delivered
to
the landfill on a random day each week; and
fl
to
require
the
operator
to
test
one
randomly
selected
waste
sample
in
accordance
with
Section
811.202
(a)
and
(b)
to determine
if the waste
is
inert.
~j
The
operator
shall
include
the
results
of
the
load
checking in the Annual Report submitted to the Agency in
accordance with
35
Ill.
Adm.
Code 813.501 for permitted
facilites and with Subpart C of 35 Ill. Adm. Code 815 for
112—97

9
non—permitted facilites.
Section
811.302
Facility
Location
1.
Response to WMI’s comments (WMI’s testimony,
pg.
#
3
and
P.C.
#38,
pg.
#3)
The restrictions specified in Section
811.302(e)
for locating
landfill facilities
in close proximity to airports are based
on federal criteria at 40 CFR 257.3-8
(c).
Any future changes
in that section of the
CFR will
have to be proposed to the
Board
for
adoption
in
Illinois
in
accordance
with
the
Administrative Procedures Act.
Section
811.306
Liner
Systems
1.
Response
to
the
Agency’s
comment
#7
and
NSC’s
comments
(exhibit #27)
The
issue
of
clay
liner
thickness
has
been
discussed
extensively
at
hearings.
STS’s
“Response
to
Comments”
document (Exhibit #1) also addresses this
issue.
The Agency’s
comments continue to advocate a minimum liner thickness of 10
feet
to
ensure sufficient
protection.
However,
the Agency
does not provide technical support for prescribing a 10 foot
minimum liner thickness.
STS notes that such rule-of-thumb
prescriptions
might
have
been
appropriate
before,
when
landfill
development
was
in
its
infancy
and
inadequate
scientific design standards were available.
STS contends that
a
3
feet minimum
liner thickness
is sufficient to meet the
design
and performance
standards,
provided the landfill
is
equipped with the proposed
leachate drainage and collection
system
and
meets
the
proposed
construction
quality
standards.
STS
believes
that
this
conclusion
is
supported
by
the
technical information in the record.
Regarding the option of
a composite liner,
STS notes that a
properly
installed
composite
liner
will
provide
greater
protection against groundwater seepage compared to a compacted
earth
liner
alone.
A
composite
liner
consisting
of
a
geotnembrane
in
contact
with
an
underlying
compacted
earth
layer
offers
the
greatest
degree
of
impermeability.
Geomembranes have extremely low permeability and any leachate
movement
through
the
geomembrane
is
due
to
diffusion.
Diffusion is controlled by the concentration gradient across
the geomembrane.
On the other hand, leachate movement through
a clay liner is due to convection which
is controlled by the
pressure gradient across the clay liner.
A geoinernbrane/clay
composite
layer
functions
well
because
the
geomembrane
provides a barrier to pressure driven mass transfer, while the
1I2-~98

10
underlying clay liner forms a barrier to concentration driven
mass transfer.
The two components
together
in a composite
liner
therefore
develop
a
high
degree
of
resistance
to
movement of leachate through the liner system.
The information presented at the April
6th hearings
(Exhibit
#27)
indicates that a geoinembrane used in combination with a
clay
liner
reduces
the
leakage
of
leachate over a
10
year
period
from 160,000 gallons
for
a clay liner compacted
to
l0~ cm/sec to 70
gallons for an intact composite liner.
The
large volume of leachate collected from a composite liner will
significantly reduce the threat of groundwater contamination.
STS recognizes the problems associated with geornembranes, such
as
faulty
seams,
tears
and punctures.
However,
testimony
before the Board has shown that a geornembrane in combination
with
a clay
liner
is
still
effective
since
small
tears
or
punctures
in the geomembrane do
not affect the integrity
of
the entire
liner
system.
Based
on
these observations,
STS
recommends
the
use
of
a
composite
liner
consisting
of
a
geomerabrane underlain by
3
foot compacted clay
liner as
an
alternative specification to a 5 foot compacted clay liner and
suggests the following changes to subsection
(d) (5):
d)
Compacted Earth Liner Standards
5)
Alternative
specifications,
using
standard
construction techniques, for hydraulic conductivity
and liner thickness may be utilized,
provided that
under the following conditions:
A)
In no case shall—tThe liner thickness shall be
no
less
than
1.52
meter
(5
feet)
unless
a
composite
liner
consisting
of
a
geomembrane
immediately overlying
a compacted earth liner
is installed.
The following minimum standards
shall apply for a composite liner:
£1
the geornembrane shall be no less than 60
mils
(0.06
inch)
in
thickness
and meet
the
requirements
of subsection
(e);
and
.jJJ
the compacted
earth
liner
shall
be
no
less than 0.91 meter
(3 feet)
in thickness
and meet the requirements of subsections
(di (2) through
(d) (4)~
Section
811.309
Leachate
Treatment
and
Disposal
System
1.
Response to
WMI’s
comments
(WMI’s Testimony,
pg.
#4 and P.C.
#38, pg.
#7)
112—99

11
Subsection
811.309(b)
requires
parallel
operations
that
allow
the
management
and
disposal
of
leachate
during
routine
maintenance.
The additional operations may include storage
and/or other treatment processes.
2.
Response to the Agency’s comment
#8
Subsection
(c)
prescribes
design
standards
for
leachate
treatment and disposal systems and does
not cover groundwater
monitoring
requirements.
However,
STS
notes
that
the
standards for the groundwater monitoring system contained in
Section
811.318,
does
require
all
potential
sources
of
discharges
to
the
groundwater
within
the
facility
to
be
monitored as a part of the facility’s monitoring program.
3.
STS recommends the addition of a subsection
(d)
(5)
to prevent
the leachate drainage
and collection system from being used
for storage.
STS suggests the following change:
d)
Standards for Leachate Storage Systems
~.j
The leachate drainage and collection system shall
not be used for the purpose of storing leachate.
4.
Response to WNI’s comments
(P.C.
#38,
pg.
#7)
STS agrees that the standards should allow hauling of leachate
to treatment works in situations where a direct connection to
sewerage system
is not available or temporarily restricted and
recommends the addition of
a new subsection
811.309(e) (6).
The
suggested
changes
which
include
a
minor
change
in
subsection
(e)
(5)
are
as
follows:
e)
5)
Leachate shall
be allowed
to flow into the sewer-
age system at
all times; however,
if access...
~J
Where
leachate
is
not directly discharged
into
a
sewerage system, the operator shall provide storage
capacity sufficient to transfer all leachate to an
offsite treatment works.
The storage system shall
meet the requirements of subsection
(d).
5.
STS recommends changes to subsection
(f) (6)
to be consistent
with the suggested changes
to
35
Ill.
Adrn Code 810.103
(see
Section 810.103, comment
#4)
as follows:
112—100

12
f)
6)
Daily and
intermediate cover shall be permeable
to
the extent necessary to prevent the accumulation of
water
and
formation
of
perched
watertables
conditions and gas buildup, or alternatively cover
shall...
6.
In
response
to
WMI’s
comments
regarding
the
frequency
of
leachate
monitoring
811.309(g)),
STS
recommends
that
the
Board consider requiring a reduced frequency of once per year,
if a constituent
to be monitored
is not detected.
However,
if
a
monitored constituent
is detected,
then the
frequency
could
revert
to
quarterly
sampling.
STS
suggests
the
following changes:
g)
1)
Representative
samples
of
leachate
shall
be
collected from each unit and tested
in accordance
with subsections
(2) and
(3)
at a frequency of once
per quarter while the leachate management system is
in
operation.
The
frequency
of
testing
may
be
changed
to
once
per
year
for
any
monitored
constituent,
if it is not detected in the leachate.
However,
if such
a constituent
is
detected
in the
leachate,
testing
frequency
shall
return
to
a
quarterly schedule.
7.
STS
thanks
WMI
for
pointing
out
the
error
in
lettering
Subsection 811.309(g).
The subsection will be re-lettered as
follows:
gh)
Time of Operation of the Leachate Management System
Section
811.310
Landfill
Gas
Monitoring
1.
Response to the Agency’s comment #9 and WMI’s
comments
(P.C.
#38, pg.
#9)
STS notes that the subsection
(b) (8) was intended to prescribe
minimum location standards for ambient air monitoring and was.
not intended to prescribe the type of monitor to be used.
The
following change will be made to clarify this
intent:
b)
8)
At least
air inonitorjJ~g9locations
shall
be
chosen
and
samples
shall
be
taken
-1-o-cated
no
higher...
112—101

13
2.
Response to WMI’s comments (WMI’s testimony,
pg.
#6 and P.C.
#38, pg.
#9)
STS notes that landfill operations may have an impact on air
quality and therefore it is reasonable to include air toxics
among constituents that may need to be monitored.
In order
to address WMI’s concern regarding monitoring of compounds on
the
list
of
air
toxics
adopted
by
the
Board
pursuant to
Section 9.5 of the Act,
STS recommends the addition of a new
subsection
(c) (5) that clarifies the monitoring requirements
of such compounds.
The suggested addition to Section 811.310
is as follows:
c)
~
The operator shall include in the permit
a list of
air
toxics
to
be
monitored
in
accordance
with
subsection
(d).
The Agency
shall
determine
the
monitoring frequency of the listed compounds based
upon their emission rates and ambient levels in the
atmosphere.
Section 811.311
Landfill Gas Management System
1.
Response to WMI’s comments (WMI’s testimony,
pg.
#
7
arid P.C.
#38, pg.
#9)
STS thanks
WMI
for pointing out the typographical error
in
subsection
(a) (1)
arid corrects
it
as follows:
a)
1)
A methane concentration
greater.... which is located
at or beyond outside the property boundary or 30.5
meters
(100
feet)
from
the
edge
of
the
unit,
whichever is less;
2.
Response to WMI’s comments
(WNI’s testimony,
Pg.
#7)
The intent
of subsection
(c) (10)
is
to require
a
test
for
leakage of the portion of gas collection system that conveys
the
gas
leaving
the
units
to
the
processing
and disposal
facility.
STS suggests the following additional language for
the purposes of clarity:
c)
10)
The portion of the gas collection system,
used to
convey the gas collected from one or more units for
processing
and disposal
shall
be
tested
collection system or entry of air into the system.
112—102

14
Section 811.312
Landfill Gas Processing and Disposal System
1.
Response to WMI’s comments
(WMI’s testimony,
pg.
#7 and P.C.
#38, pg.
#9)
The WMI’s comment regarding tranfer of landfill gas to a third
party
is not very clear.
If
WMI’s concern
is about offsite
gas processing
facilities, STS notes that subsection
(g) (1)
provides the criteria based
on volume of gas processed,
for
determining whether or not an off-site gas processing facility
should be
considered
as a part
of the solid waste disposal
facility.
2.
In response to WMI’s concern regarding direct discharge of gas
to
the
atmosphere,
STS
suggests
clarifying
changes
to
subsections
(c)
and
(f) (2).
Also,
a change
in
subsection
811.312(e)
reflects
the
inclusion
of
the
control
device
requirements under the new source performance standards of the
Federal Clean Air Act applicable in Illinois under Section 9.1
of the Act.
The suggested changes are as follows:
c)
No gas may be discharged directly to the atmosphere.
Gas
shall
be
unless treated or....35
Ill.
Adm.
Code
200
through 245.
f)
2)
All
constituents
and
parameters....
shall
be
identified and included
in t~e
,~
,permit issued by
the Agency pursuant to 35 Ill. Mm. Code 200 through
245.
At a minimum...
e)
When
requirements
of 3~ill.
Adm.
Code 230.110
new source
performance
standards
adopted
pursuant
to
Section 9.1(b)
of the Act.
Section 811.314
Final Cover
1.
Response to WMI’s testimony
(Tr.
pg.
#566-568)
STS
notes
that
the
proposed
rules
already
require
an
intermediate
cover
to be
placed
in accordance
with Section
811.313,
if
a final cover cannot be placed within 60 days of
the placement of the final lift.
.
Therefore,
if placement of
the final lift occurs at the end of the construction season,
and it
is not technically feasible to place the final cover,
then
the
requirements
of
Section
811.313
will
apply.
No
change
is recommended.
112—103

15
Section 811.315
Hydrogeologic Site Investigation
1.
Response to WNI’s comments
(WMI’s testimony,
pg.#
8)
STS notes that the hydrogeologic site investigation is carried
out for the purpose of characterizing the uppermost aquifer,
identifying
the
potential
contaminant
pathways,
and
determining the direction and rate
of groundwater movement.
The information developed from the hydrogeologic investigation
will
be
used
for
the
groundwater
impact
assessment
and
establishment of
a groundwater monitoring program.
The proposed rules provide
a systematic three phase approach
for performing the hydrogeologic
site
investigation and
is
based
on testimony presented at the 11-15-85 hearing by Dr.
Berg of the ISGS.
However, the requirements of this Section
allows the operator to use any number of alternative phases
to carry out the site investigation as long as the required
information is collected in a systematic sequence to meet the
purposes of the hydrogeologic site investigation.
2.
Response to the Agency’s comment #10
(A)
STS
agrees
that
the
use
of
the
term
“disposal
related
disturbance” in the existing language of subsection
(b) (1) may
lead
to
confusion
and
suggests
the
following
clarifying
change:
b)
1)
The investigation shall be conducted
in a minimum
of
three
phases
prior
to
submission
of
any
application
to the Agency
for a permit to develop
and operate a landfill facility any disposal related
disturbance.
3.
Response to the Agency’s comment #10
(C), Chambers Development
Company
(P.C.
#33)
and WNI’s comments
(P.C.
#38, pg.
#11)
Boreholes must be placed within the boundaries of the unit,
in
order
to
characterize
the
hydrogeology
of
the
site
accurately.
STS notes that
the placement of borehole as close
as feasible to the geographic center of the site is a minimum
requirement that is based on information in the record in this
proceeding.
Also,
a properly sealed borehole will not provide
a pathway for contaminant migration.
STS also notes that an
operator is not prevented from also locating boreholes outside
the
“footprint”
of
the
landfill
site,
if
it
will
provide
additional
information.
112—104

16
4.
Response to the Agency’s comment #10
(D)
STS
notes
that
the
Agency’s
comment
refers
to
subsection
(c) (2) (B)
and not
(e) (2) (B).
The existing language accounts
for the possibility of the upper most aquifer being a bedrock
aquifer.
If such
a scenario exists,
then the boring should
extend
50
feet below the bedrock aquifer.
However,
for the
purpose of clarity, STS suggests the following change:
c)
2)
B)
A minimum of one continuously.., specified by
this phase
of the investigation.
The boring
shall
extend
at
least
15.2
meters
(50
feet)
below the bottom of the uppermost aquifer or
through the full depth of the confining layer
below the uppermost aquifer, or to bedrock if
the bedrock
is below the upper most aquifer,
whichever
elevation
is
higher.
The
locations...
5.
Response to Chambers Development
(P.C.
#33)
The
term,
“extending
down
to
the
bottom
of
the
uppermost
aquifer”
refers to the depth
to which the requirements
of
subsection
(d) (2) (D)
apply.
The
proposed
definition
of
“aquifer” is a minor modification of the statutory definition
that
is
adequate and serves
the purposes
of these proposed
regulations without the
specification of
a
flow
rate.
No
change is recommended.
With
regard
to
the
flow
characterization
required
in
subsection
(e) (1) (h),
the
intent
is
to
obtain
sufficient
information
to
meet
the
purposes
of
the
hydrogeological
investigation.
Variations in quality and quantity of flow are
needed to establish background concentrations.
6.
Response to WMI’s comments
(P.C.
#38,
pg.
#11,
Tr. pg.
#
589—
595)
The requirements
of the phase
III investigation involve the
collection of additional
information based on the data base
developed during the phase
I and. II investigations, to carry
out the specific tasks listed in subsection
(e) (1).
STS notes
that
in
order
to
collect
the additional
information,
the
operator
may
use
methods
such
as
test
pits,
borings
and
monitoring wells.
STS agrees that the existing language of
subsection
(e) (2)
and subsection
(f)
are not very clear and
after
consolidating
the
methods
in
subsection
(e)
and
112—105

17
rewriting subsection
(f) for clarity,
suggests the following
language:
e)
2)
CpecifIc flequirments
In
addition to the specific
requirements
applicable
to
phase
I
and
II
investigations,
the
operator
shall
collect
information needed to meet the minimum standards of
a phase III investigation by using methods that may
include, but are not limited to, excavation of test
pits,
additional
borings
located
at
intermediate
points between boreholes placed during phase
I and
II
investigations,
placement
of
piezometers
and
monitoring wells, and institution of procedures for
sampling and analysis.
A
New DprlnrT.
..
.the
st.upy area.
B)
At least one test pit.
.
.
area of each unit.
C)
All borings.
.
.
on
homogeneous strata.
f)
The operator may conduct.
.
.
in any number of alternative
phases ways provided that the necessary information
is
collected in a systematic sequence consisting of at least
three
phases
that
is
equal
to
or
superior
to
the
investigation procedures of this Section.
Section 811.317
Groundwater Impact Assessment
1.
Response to the Agency’s comment #11
The subsection
(a) (1) requires the operator to estimate the
net amount of seepage from the unit by giving consideration
to
both inward and outward movement of groundwater.
For the
purposes of clarity, STS recommends the inclusion of minimum
design
standards
for
the
leachate
drainage
system
in
subsection
(a) (1) (A).
Suggested change is as follows:
a)
1)
A)
That
the minimum design
standards
for slope
configuration,
cover
design,
liner
design,
leachate drainage and collection system design
and operation app1y~-jand
2.
STS corrects
a typographical oversight and suggests changes
to
address
comments
on
groundwater
quality
standards
(see
comment
#1, Section 811.320)
as follows:
112—106

18
b)
The
groundwater
contaminant
transport
(GCT)
model
results...
.
considered
acceptable
if
the
GCT
model
operator predicts
that
the concentrations...
.
are
less
than the applicable
groundwater quality
standards,
as
determined
in
of Section 811.320,
within
100 years
of
closure.
Section 811.318
Design, Construction
and
Operation of
Groundwater Monitoring Systems
1.
STS believes
that the existing language of subsection
(b) (5)
is
not
consistent
with
the
requirements
of
groundwater
monitoring
programs
(Section
811.319)
and
suggests
the
following changes:
b)
5)
A minimum of at least.. .unit.
Such well or wells
shall
be
used
to
monitor
any
statistically
significant
increase
in
the concentration
of
any
constituent,
in
accordance
with
subsection
811.320(e)
and
shall
be
used
for
determining
compliance with an applicable groundwater quality
standard
of
Section
811.320.Such
aAn
observed
statistically
significant
increase
above
the
applicable groundwater quality standards of Section
811.320
in
a
well
located
at
or
beyond
the
compliance boundary shall constitute
a violation é~1
a groundwater quality standard.
2.
STS corrects
a typographical error
in subsection
811.318(c)
as follows:
c)
Maximum Allowable Predicted Concentrations
The
operator
shall.. .at
all
monitoring
points.
The
predicted values shall be used to establish the maximum
predicted
allowable predicted concentrations
(MPA~C)
at
each monitoring point.
The MPA~Cscalculated
in
this
subsection
shall
be
applicable
within
the
zone
of
attenuation.
3.
Response to WNI’s comments
(WMI’s testimony,
pg.
#9 and P.C.
#38, pg.
#13)
In response to WNI’s concern regarding the standards
for the
design and construction of monitoring wells,
STS notes that
the standards allow the use of any material for well casing,
as long as the performance standards of subsection 811.318(d)
112—107

19
are met.
4.
Response to the Agency’s comment
#12
(A)
The
purpose
of
subsection
(e) (2)
is
to
ensure
that
a
representative groundwater sample is obtained.
STS notes that
during the initial pumping, the sample will contain both the
water from the aquifer and the stagnant water present in the
well casing
arid therefore, proper sampling techniques should
be
employed
to
collect
samples
which
contain
at
least
95
percent of the aquifer water.
It is possible to estimate the
percent
of water coming
from the aquifer and that
from the
storage, if the transmnissivity of the aquifer and the pumping
rate
are
known.
A detailed discussion
on
this
subject
is
contained in a document titled “Procedures for the Collection
of Representative Water Quality Data from Monitoring Wells”
(Exhibit 2AR R84-17 D).
Section 811.319
Groundwater Monitoring Programs
1.
Response to WMI’s comments (WNI’s testimony,
pg.# 10 and P.C.
#38, pg.
#13)
In the
section
on monitoring schedule
and
frequency
,
STS
agrees that the use of the term “threat to groundwater” needs
further clarification and suggests the deletion of subsection
(a) (1) (A) (ii)
and
adding
clarifying
changes
to
subsection
(a) (1) (B).
As
noted
at
hearing,
STS
deletes
subsection
(a) (1) (B) (iii).
The following changes are suggested:
a)
Detection Monitoring Program
1)
Monitoring Schedule and Frequency
A)
The monitoring
period.
.
.
.
except as
specified
in subsection
(a) (3)
~ or may
institute more
frequent
sampling
throughout
the
time
the
source constitutes a threat e~~
groundwater
contamination.
For
the
purposes
of
this
section,
Pthe
source
shall
be
considered
a
threat
to
groundwater,
if
either
of
the
following
occur:
i)
the
results
of
the
monitoring indicate that the concentrations of
any of
the constituent monitored within the
zone
of
attenuation
are
above
the
maximum
allowable
predicted
concentration
for
that
constituent-t-. e~
i)
thc
concenf~at~on ci
monitored
at
or
beyond
112—108

20
attenuation is above background or greater
than 50°~
of any Board established standard
-i~-Ccction811.320 that is applicable.
B)
Beginning
fifteen years after closure
of the
unit,
or five years after all other potential
sources
of discharge
no
longer
constitute
a
threat to groundwater are of contamination
considered as defined
iii~
Monito~-’n’-’snaii
~
is
oDserved.
2.
Response to the Agency’s comment
#13
(C)
The intent of subsection
(a) (1) (C) (i)
is to determine if there
is a statistically significant increase in the concentration
of any monitored constituent compared to its previous value
and does not imply comparisons of absolute values.
STS notes
that the number of samples obtained at each periodic sampling
should
be
adequate
to
perform
the
statistical
analysis
required
by
this
subsection.
In
order
to
clarify
any
percieved
confusion,
STS suggests
the following
changes
to
subsection
(a) (1) (C) (i):
i)
No statistically significant increase j~
detected
in
the
concentration
of
any
constituent
above
that
measured
and
recorded during the immediately preceding
scheduled
sampling
greater
than
the
previous
sample
is
detected
for
three
consecutive years,
after changing to an
annual monitoring frequency;
or
3.
Response to WMI’s comments (WNI’s testimony, pg.#
10 and P.C.
#38, pg.
#14 to 16, Tr. pg.
#
568—578)
STS believes that the language suggested by WNI
is vague and
does not clearly define the basis for choosing constituents
to be monitored.
STS agrees that the standards should allow
the
use
of
indicator
constituents.
However,
indicator
constituents selected for monitoring should represent all the
constituents
in
the
leachate
in
terms
of
their
transport
processes
(advection,
dispersion
and
reactivity).
STS
suggests
the
addition
of
subsection
81l.319(a)(2)(B)
as
follows:
a)
2)
Criteria for Choosing Constituents to be Monitored
~
The operator.
.
.
.
following requirements:
112—109

21
Ai)
The constituent.
.
.
.
leachate; and
BJJJ
The Board has
contamination.
~j
One
or
more
indicator
constituents
representative
of the transport
processes of
constituents in the leachate, may be chosen for
monitoring
in
place
of
the
constituents
it
represents.
The
use
of
such
indicator
constituents
must
be
included
in
an
Agency
approved permit.
4.
Response to WMI’s comments (WMI’s testimony,
pg.#lJ and P.C.
#38, pg.
#16)
STS
notes
that
any
observed
increase
in
accordance
with
subsection
811.3l9(a)(4)(A)
will
trigger
the
confirmation
procedures.
In order to clarify the intent
of the existing
language,
STS suggests
the following
changes
to
subsection
811.319(a) (4) (A):
a)
4)
A)
The confirmation...
.
conditions.
The operator
shall, under any of the following conditions,
institute
the
confirmation
procedures
of
subsection
(a) (4) (B).
However,
the operator
shall
after notifying the Agency
in writing,
within
10
days,
of
such
an
the
following
observed
increase~
and
instituting
the
r~’ocedures
of
subsection
(a) (4) (B)
for
confirming the incrca3c:
5.
Response to WNI’s comments
(WNI’s testimony,
pg.#13)
The requirements of subsection 811.319 (a) (4) (B) clearly states
that
the Agency
should
be
notified
within
10
days
of
the
determination of the source of the increase.
The requirement
does not imply that the determination should be made within
10 days.
STS agrees that
it may not be possible for the operator to
notify the Agency of a confirmed increase within 24 hours of
the
confirmation
during
weekends
and
state
holidays
and
recommends changes to subsection
(a) (4) (B) (i)
as follows:
a)
4)
B)
112—110

22
i)
The
operator
shall
verify...,
observed
increase.
The operator shall notify the
Agency of
any confirmed
increase before
the end of the next business day following
within 24 hours of the confirmation.
6.
Response to WMI’s comments (WNI’s testimony, pg.# 13 and P.C.
#38,
pg.
#17, Tr. pg.
# 619—622)
The reference to the term
“remodeling”
in WNI’s comments
is
not
very
clear.
For
the
purposes
of
this
discussion,
remodeling
is assumed to be a process of model recalibration.
The model recalibration involves the use of new site specific
information
which
affect
the
model’s
parameters
and
for
confirming
the
MAPCs
established
during
the
hydrogeologic
assessment.
STS notes that the model recalibration must be
performed under the same boundary conditions,
that
is being
in
compliance
with
the
applicable
groundwater
quality
standards
at or beyond the zone of attenuation for
a period
of 100 years.
The
concept
of
model
recalibration
before
the
assessment
monitoring,
as
suggested
by
WMI,
is
not
acceptable.
STS
believes that a model recalibration
is warranted only if new
site specific information which affect the model’s parameters,
comes
to
light
during
the
assessment
monitoring.
The
requirements of subsection
(c) allows the operator to perform
model recalibration using new information developed during the
assessment
monitoring.
However,
STS
suggests
additional
language
to
subsection
(c) (1)
to
clearly
articulate
the
provision for model recalibration.
7.
Response
to the
Agency’s
comment
#13
(B),
(C)
and WMI’s
comments
(WMI’s testimony, pg.#14 and P.C.
#38,
pg.
#19)
STS agrees that when the assessment monitoring has confirmed
a monitored increase above an applicable groundwater quality
standard
that
is
attributable
to
the
solid
waste
disposal
facility at or beyond the zone of attenuation,
the operator
may,
as part of
a remedial program,
or under the Section 34
of the Act be required by the Agency to halt the acceptance
of wastes at the affected units.
STS recommends changes to
subsection
(b) (3) requiring the operator to assess the impacts
of
continued
waste
acceptance
at
a
facility.
STS
also
suggests the addition of a requirement
in
subsection
(d) (1)
to include such information along with the technical support
for the proposed remedial action plans.
In
response
to
the
Agency’s
comments
regarding
the
applicability
of
groundwater monitoring
program,
STS
notes
112—111

23
that the requirements of Part 811 apply to both permitted and
non-permitted
facilities.
However,
STS
agrees
that
the
existing language of subsection
(d) (2) (C)
is not very clear
and recommend changes for the purpose of clarity.
In response to WNI’s comments
regarding the remedial action
requirements of subsection
(d)
,
STS notes that the remedial
action procedures are triggered either by an exceedence of the
applicable groundwater quality
standards of Section 811.320
in accordance with subsection
(b) (3)
,
or if the groundwater
impact assessment
of subsection
(c)
indicates the need
for
remedial
action.
However, STS agrees the existing language
of
subsections
(b),
(c)
and
(d)
needs
clarification
and
recommends changes.
STS notes that several subsections within
subsection
(d)
have been relettered.
Changes
suggested
in
response
to
comments
6 and
7
are
as
follows:
b)
Assessment Monitoring
1)
The
assessment monitoring
shall
be
conducted
to
collect
information
to
assess
the
nature
and
extent.
3)
If the analysis of the assessment monitoring data
program shows that the concentration of one or more
constituents,
monitored
at
or beyond
the
zone
of
attenuation
is
above
the
applicable
groundwater
quality
standards
of
Section
811.320
and
is
attributable to the solid waste disposal facility,
exceeds the applicable Section 811.320 groundwater
quality standards beyond the zone
of
attenuation,
then
the operator
shall
determine
the nature and
extent of the groundwater contamination including
an
assessment
of
the
potential
impact
on
the
groundwater should waste continue to be accepted at
the
facility and
shall
implement
remedial
action
requirements
in accordance with subsection
(d).
4)
If the analysis of the assessment monitoring data
program shows that the concentration...
c)
Assessment of Potential Groundwater Impact Assessment
An
operator required
to
conduct
a
groundwater
impact
assessment
under
this
Section
in
accordance
with
subsection
(b) (4)
shall assess the potential impacts
e~
the
increased
concentrations
outside
the
zone
of
attenuation
that
may
result
from
confirmed
increases
112—112

24
above
the
maximum
allowable
predicted
concentration
within
the
zone
of
attenuation,
attributable
to
the
facility,
in
order
to
determine
if
there
is
need
for
remedial
action.
In
addition
to
the requirements
of
Section 811.317, the following standards
shall apply:
1)
The operator asscssmen-t shall..
.
.programs
~
such
information
may
be
used
for
the
recalibration of the GCT model
and
2)
The
operator
shall
submit
the
groundwater
impact
assessment
and any proposed
remedial
action
plans
determined.
.
.
.
assessment
monitoring program.
Permitted facilities shall
submit this information as an application for
~inn~ricant
r~rm~c
mooiricaLlon.
d)
Remedial Action
fl
The
operator
shall
submit
plans
for the remedial
action to the Agency.
Such plans and all supporting
information
including
data
collected
during
the
assessment monitoring shall
be submitted within 90
days of determination of either of the following:
~j
If tlhe groundwater impact assessment performed
in
accordance
with
subsection
(c),
shows
a
potential for exceeding the groundwater quality
standards of Section 811.320 at or beyond the
zone of
attenuation,
indicates that remedial
action
is needed
or if
it
is
An~
confirmed,
unacr
ei~ncr
~u~~ccc~on
~a)or
significant
increase
above
the
applicable
groundwater
quality
standards
of
Section
811.320 is determined to be attributable to the
solid
waste
disposal
facility
in
accordance
with subsection
(b).
at or beyond the zone of
pttenuation, then the operator shall institute
a remedial action pro-gram
in compliance with
the following standards.
~)
The plans...pursuant
to
subsection
(b).
If
the
facility
has
been
issued
a
permit.
.
.
significant
modification to the permit;
~)
The operator shall implement the plan for remedial
action shall
be
implemented within
90 days of the
following:
A)
90
days of the Completion
of the groundwater
112—113

25
impact assessment
under
subsection
(c)
that
requires remedial action
B)
90
days
of
Establishing
that
detection
a
violation of an applicable groundwater quality
standard of Section 811.320 is attributable to
the solid waste disposal facility in accordance
with under subsection
(b)ji);
or
C)
Agency approval of the remedial
action plan,
where the facility has been permitted by the
Agency
pursuant
of
Section
21
of
the
Act,
within 90 days.
.
.action plan.
~4)
The remedial action program shall consist of
‘4~j~.Termination of the Remedial Action
A)
The remedial action program shall continue j~
accordance with the plan until monitoring shows
that
the
concentrations
of
all
monitored
constituents are below the threat of exceeding
the maximum allowable predicted concentration
of
any
constituent
within
the
zone
of
attenuation, and the threat
of exceeding and
below
the
applicable
groundwater
quality
standards of Section 811.320 at or beyond the
zone
of
attenuation,
over
a
period
of
4
consecutive quarters no longer exist.
B)
The operator shall
submit to the Agency
all
information
collected
under
subsection
(d) (5) (A) necessary to show that the threat of
~
the maximum allowable concentration
of any constituent
no longer exists.
If the
facility
is
permitted,
facilities
then
the
operator
shall
submit
this information
as
a
significant modification of the permit.
Section 811.320
Groundwater quality standards
1.
Response to WMI’s comments (WMI’s testimony,
pg.
#17, Tr. pg.
#
540—546)
STS notes
that
in
its
Response
to
Comments document dated
March
1,
1990,
Section
811.320
was
expanded to
establish
clearly
what
the
term,
“applicable
ground
water
quality
standard” would be under different situations.
Each of these
situations was included at subsections
(a) (1) (A) through
(D).
For the situation in which the background is above an existing
Board
established
standard
for
a
specific
monitored
112—114

26
constituent,
the STS had recommended that
the
lower
of the
two,
namely
the
Board
established
standard
would
be
the
applicable
standard.
The
STS
had
intended,
in
such
a
situation,
that
the
operator
would
apply
for
an
adjusted
groundwater
quality
standard
in
accordance
with
subsection
(b) (3).
However, after reconsideration, based on the comments
and hearing
testimony,
STS agrees
that
filing
an
adjusted
standard each time the background concentration
is above
a
Board established standard may not be feasible.
STS therefore
recommends that subsections (a) (1) (B) and (a) (1) (C) be deleted
in
their
entirety
and
suggests
changes
to
(a) (1) (A)
and
relettering of
(a) (1) (D);
minor clarifying changes to
(b) (3)
are also suggested for clarity as follows:
a)
1)
A)
The background concentration,
if
there
is no
Board
established
standard
for
that
constituent
~x
B)
The background concentration,
constituent;
The Board established standard,
if
...
if
...
for that
below the
C)
background concentration;
or
D~)
The Board established standard adjusted by the
Board
in
accordance
with
the
justification
procedure of subsection
(b).
b)
Justification for Adjusted Groundwater Quality Standards
3)
For groundwater which contains naturally occurring
constituents which do not meet exceed the standards
-~-equircinentsof 35 Ill.Adm. Code
2.
STS notes that
the performance
standards
for the design
of
landfills
require
new units
to
be
in
compliance
with
the
applicable groundwater quality standards
of Section 811.320
for
a period
of
100
years
after the
closure
of
the unit.
However, this standard has not been clearly articulated in the
proposed
rules.
STS
believes
that the
compliance
period
should be included under the groundwater quality standards and
suggests the following addition to subsection 811.320(a) (2):
a)
2)
Any
statistically
significant
increase
above
an
applicable
groundwater
quality
standard
established
pursuant to subsection
(a)
that
is attributable to
the facility and which occur~soutside at or beyond
at the zone
of attenuation within
100 years after
112—115

27
closure of the last unit accepting waste within such
a facility shall constitute
a violation.
3.
Response to WMI’s comments
(WMI’s testimony, pg.#l4 and 15)
STS
notes
that
for
any
monitored
constituent,
only pj~
groundwater quality standard established
in accordance with
subsection 811.320(a) exists and it is applicable at or beyond
the zone of attenuation.
In order to clarify any perceived
confusion,
STS recommends the use of
consistent terminology
in the text of the rules where ground quality standards are
refered,
and
suggests
the
use
of
“applicable
groundwater
quality
standards
of
Section
811.320,”
as
a
possible
referencing format.
This format has been incorporated in the
changes suggested
in the preceding pages.
STS suggests the
following change to subsection
(c) (1) for consistency in this
regard
as
well
as
with
the
definition
of
“zone
of
Attenuation”:
c)
1)
The zone of attenuation, within which concentrations
of constituents in leachate discharged from the unit
may
exceed
the
applicable
groundwater
quality
standard of Section
811.320,
is volume bounded...
uppermost aquifer and excluding the volume occupied
by the waste.
4.
Response to WNI’s comments (WNI’s testimony,
pg.
#17)
The proposed rules require the gathering of monitoring data
prior to acceptance of waste
at a landfill for establishing
background
concentrations.
In
fact,
subsection
811.320(d)
requires initial monitoring to start during the hydrogeologic
investigations.
5.
Response to the Agency’s comment
#14
(A)
STS notes that the statistical tests, such as those listed in
subsection
(e) (4)
(C), may be used to determine whether or not,
monitored concentrations above an absolute value represents
a
statistically
significant
increase.
For
example,
a
confidence
interval
may
be
constructed
for
the
mean
concentration of a monitored
constituent and compared with an
absolute value,
such as an MAPC.
If the entire
confidence
interval’s
lower
bound
exceeds
the
MAPC,
that
is
strong
evidence of a statistically significant increase in the mean
concentration above the MAPC.
No changes to this section are
suggested.
112—116

28
6.
Response to the Agency’s comment #14
(B)
Where percentage of nondetects are between 15 and 50 percent,
Cohen’s adjustment must be used to account for the nondetects.
A number
of
statistical
tests
may
be
used
to
analyze
the
adjusted data.
However, the application of tests other than
those
listed
in
subsection
(e) (4) (C)
will
require
special
considerations
and guidance
from
a
qualified
statistician.
Therefore,~.cnlythe tests listed
in subsection
(e) (4) (C) are
specified.
It must be noted that the use of other statistical
tests
are allowed
as
long
as
they meet the requirements
of
subsection
(e) (6).
STS
agrees
that
the
rules
should
allow
the
use
of
transformation procedures to normalize the sampling data and
use
the
normal
theory
statistical
tests,
if
data
transformation is sucessful.
This was the intent, but was not
explicitly included.
However based on the Agency’s comments,
STS recommends changes to subsections
(e) (1) and
(e) (3) (B) to
include data transformation provisions.
7.
Response to the Agency’s comment #14
(C)
STS believes that the general performance standards of 35 Ill.
Adm.
Code
724.197(i)
are
not
adequate
for
choosing
the
appropriate
statistical
test
or
tests
for
analyzing
groundwater monitoring
data.
Even though the standards
of
Part
724
address
issues,
such
as
nondetects
and~data
distribution in general terms, detailed requirements will be
useful for choosing an appropriate test.
STS notes that the
existing language of subsection
(e) reflects the requirements
of Part 724 and provides additional guidance.
STS recommends
that the Board retain the existing
subsection
(e).
STS agrees that the experiment-wise error rates are applicable
to
the
tests
listed
in
subsection
(e) (4) (C);
however,
the
error rates for these tests must be specified by the Agency
in accordance with the requirements of Part 724.
STS suggests
changes to clarify the intent of subsection
(e) (4) (C).
STS notes that the
proposed rules specify
statistical tests
based on the adequacy of the background data and analytical
capability.
These
issues
are
addressed
in
subsections
811.319(a) (4) and 811.320(e).
Suggested changes to subsection
(e)
e)
1)
Statistical
tests
shall
be
used
to
analyze
groundwater monitoring
data.
One
or
more
of the
normal theory statistical tests listed in subsection
112—117

29
(e) (4) shall be chosen first for analyzing the data
set
or
transformations
of
the
data
set.,
unless
Where such normal theory tests are demonstrated to
~
inappropriate~j
tests
listed
in
subsections
(e) (5) a~ or a test in accordance with subsection
(e) (6)
shall be used.
Any
3)
Monitored
data
that....
(MDL).
The
following
procedures
shall
be
used
to
analyze
such
data,
unless
an alternative procedure,
as
prescribed
in
accordance with
subsection
(e) (6),
is shown
to be
applicable:
B)
Where percentage of nondetects in the data base
used is between 15 and 50 percent, and the data
or
data
transformations
are
normally
distributed,...
4)
Normal theory statistical
tests that the owner or
operator shall use:
B)
Parametric analysis of
but not limited to,
Fisher’s Least
Significant difference
(LSD),
Student M~jewman—Kuelprocedure
C)
Control
charts,
prediction
intervals
and
tolerance intervals, for which the type I error
levels
shall
be
specified
by
the Agency
in
accordance with the requirements
of
35
Ill.
Adm.
Code 724.197(i)
are not applicable.
5)
Nonparametric statistical tests shall include that
the owner or operator shall use use:
Mann—Whitney
U-test...
6)
The owner or operator may use a~nyother statistical
test that it can demonstrate is more appropriate due
te
based on the distribution of the sampling data
may
be
used,
if
it
is
demonstrated
to
meet
the
requirements of
35 Ill.Adm Code 724.197(i).
Section 811.321
Waste Placement
1.
Response to WMI’s comments
(WMI’s testimony,
pg.
#2 and P.C.
#38,
pg.
#3)
STS provides additional language to subsection 811.321(a) (1)
to address
WMI’s concern regarding the requirements for waste
placement
(see
comment
#1,
Section
811.105).
Also,
a
typographical
oversight
in
subsection
811.321(a) (2) (C)
is
corrected.
The suggested changes are as follows:
112—118

30
a)
Phasing of Operations
1)
Waste disposal... .the placement of waste shall begin
in the lowest part of the active face of the unit,
located
in
the
part
of
the
facility
most
downgradient with respect to groundwater flow, part
of the facility,
in the lowest possible part of the
unit.
2)
C)
When
groundwater..
.
requirements
of
Section
811.319
Section 811.323
Load Checking Program
1.
Response to WHI’s comments
(P.C.
#38, pg.
#21)
The requirements of this Section does not prevent the operator
from
returning
unacceptable
wastes
to
the generator.
To
clarify the intent of this Section, STS suggests the following
addition to subsection
(c) (1):
c)
1)
If
any
regulated hazardous
wastes
•are....
known.
Waste
loads
identical
to
the
regulated
hazardous
waste identified through the random
load checking
which have not yet been deposited
in the landfill
shall not be accepted.
The area where
Section 82.1.503
Construction Quality Assurance
1.
Response to WMI’s comments (WNI’s testimony,
pg.#18 and P.C.
#38,
pg.
#22)
In response to WNI’s comments regarding the duties of the CQA
officer,
STS
notes that the requirements
of Section 811.503
allows the CQA officer to designate an officer—in-absentia to
carry out the duties
listed
in subsection
811.503(a).
STS
suggests
the
following
clarifying
addition
to
subsection
811.503(b):
b)
If the CQA officer
is unable to be present
to perform,
as required by subsection (a), then the CQA officer shall
provide,
in
writing,
reasons
for
his
absence,
a
designation of ~person
who shall exercise professional
iudgeinent
in carrying out the duties of a COA officer as
the
designated
CQA
officer-in-absentia,
and
a
signed
statement that..., absence of the CQA.
112—110

31
Note:
STS suggests that the Board consider the option of
allowing the CQA officer—in-absentia to also perform
the
other
duties
of
a
CQA
in
addition
to
those
listed
in Section 811.503.
If such an option
is
acceptable,
then
the
requirements
of
subsection
811.503(b)
should more
appropriately
be
included
under the duties and qualifications
of the CQA at
Section
811.502(b),
perhaps
as
new
subsection
811.502(b) (3).
Section
811.504
Sampling Requirements
1.
STS corrects a typographical error and suggests the following
changes
to subsections
(b) -and
(c)
to correct the incorrect
use of statistical terms:
A sampling
program....
all construction
activities,
in order
to
~iensure, at a minmum
b)
The
sampling
program
shall
be
based
upon
statistical
sampling
techniques
to
yield
ci
95
percent
level
of
confidence. and shall establish and specify criteria for
acceptance or relection of materials and operations.
c)
t~
er.iLcria.
.
.
.properLics or standards.
Section 811.505
Documentation
1.
Response to the Agency’s comment #16
STS agrees that the description of data for both on-site as
well as off—site materials must be provided and suggests the
following changes to subsection
(a) (6):
a)
6)
A description of
~
materials
rccicvcd used
and
references or results of testing and documentation;
Section 811.506
Foundations and Subbases
1.
Response to Chambers Development Company
(P.C.
#33)
STS agrees with and thanks them for their comments and makes
the following change to subsection
(a):
a)
The CQA officer shall
identify and confirm the results
e~ensure that the site investigation
is carried out
in
accordance
with
the
plans,
identify
unexpected.
.
.as—
built drawings.
112—120

32
Section 811.507
Compacted Earth Liner
1.
Response to the Agency’s comment #17
(A)
The
rationale
for the
use
of
field
permeabilty
tests
for
determining the hydraulic conductivity
of the test liner
is
discussed
in the STS’s background
report.
STS
notes that
field
testing
is
not
specified
for the
full-scale
liner.
Field testing methods for mesuring hydraulic conductivity are
discussed
in the summary
of David Daniel’s testimony before
the Board (exhibit l3B, docket A) and EPA’s technical guidance
document
on
construction
quality
assurance
(exhibit
2DF,
docket D).
2.
Response to the Agency’s comment #17
(B)
STS
notes
that
the
subsection
(a) (4)
only
specifies
the
minimum number of lifts to be used during the construction of
a test
liner.
The operator may choose any number of lifts
above the minimum to meet the performance standards.
3.
STS notes that the existing language of subsection 811.507(a)
does
not
provide
for
CQA
officer’s
oversight
during
the
construction and testing of test fills.
STS believes that the
CQA
officer
should
be
involved
in
the
above
mentioned
activities and suggests the following addition to subsection
8.11.507(c):
c)
The
COA
officer
shall
inspect
the
construction
and
testing of test fills to ensure that the requirements of
subsection
(a) are met.
During construction of.... shall
~iensure the following:
Section 811.700
Scope, Applicability and Definitions
1.
Financial assurance requirement
The
financial
assurance
requirements
of
35
Ill.
Adm.
Code
807.602, allow the operator to submit, the financial assurance
to the Agency before the receipt of the waste as opposed to
submitting the information with the permit application.
This
requirement has been inadvertently left out of the proposed
rules.
STS believes that such a requirement must be included
in
financial
assurance requirements
of Section
811.700 and
suggests the following addition:
b)
Financial assurance.
.
.
insurance or self—insurance.
Th~
operator shall provide financial assurance to the Agency
before the receipt
of the waste.
112— 121

33
Section 811.704
Closure and Postclosure Care Cost Estimates
1.
Response to the Agency’s comment #20
(A)
STS agrees that the term “active parts” used in the existing
language of
subsection
(a)
is not defined and suggests the
following changes for the purposes of clarity:
a)
Written cost estimate.
The operator shall have a written
estimate of the cost of clos~4-~~
all active parts
of
the
facility
where
wastes
have
been
deposited
in
accordance with the requirements of this Part;
and
the cost of postclosure care
and p1an~required by this
Part and the written postclosure care plans required
‘by
35 Ill.
Adm.
Code 812.115....
Section 811.705
Revision of Cost Estimate
1.
Response to the Agency’s comment
#21
STS
thanks
the
Agency
for pointing
out
the
typographical
oversight and corrects subsection
(b)
as follows:
b)
The operator shall
with current operations,
~
the requirements of this Subchapter.
The operator..
Section 812.309
Landfill Gas Monitoring Systems
1.
Response to WMI’s comments
(P.C.
#38, pg.
#9)
STS notes that the proposed rule includes the predictive gas
flow model as a tool, which the operator may use to determine
the optimum location of monitoring points.
The requirement
does
not prevent the operator from using other techniques.
STS notes that the Board’s proposed rule does not require the
use
of
a
predictive
gas
flow
model.
STS
corrects
a
typographical
error
in
subsection
(a)
and
suggests
the
addition of a new subsection
(c) which clarifies the intent
of this Section.
The suggested changes are as
follows:
a)
A description of the
pursuant to
35 Ill. Adm. Code
811.310(b)(2~3);an4
b)
The location and design of sampling points-v;
and
~j
Support for the items under subsections
(a) and
(b) must
be
provided
and
shall
include
the
results
of
the
predictive modeling study of the gas
flow,
if used,
in
accordance with
35 Ill.
Adrn. Code 811.310(b) (2).
112—122

34
Section 812.316
Results of the Groundwater Impact Assessment
1.
Response to Chambers Development Company
(P.C.
#33)
The 100—year period is used in modeling to assess groundwater
impacts,
to
design
the
landfill
and
to
predict
what
the
concentrations
are
over
time
and
space.
The
15
years
of
monitoring
is a minimum established by statute for landfills
not exclusively disposing waste generated
at the site.
The
criteria
for
discontinuing
monitoring
is
included
in
the
section on monitoring
(35 Ill.
Adni. Code 811.319).
Section
813.110
Adjusted Standards to Engage in Experimental
Practices
1.
Response to the Agency’s comment
#35
STS believes that the Agency’s evaluation and recommendation
of any experimental practice should be considered in a Board
review and suggests the following changes to subsection
(d)
to clarify the intent of this Section:
d)
The
Board
will
review
all
requests
to
conduct
experimental practices
in accordance with Section 28.1
of
the
Act,
35
Ill.
Adm.
Code
106.Subpart
G
and ~ny
Agency recommendation regarding the experimetal practice
under the following criteria assumptions:
Section 813.111
Agency Review of Contaminant Transport Model
1.
Response to the Agency’s comment #36
STS
agrees
with
the
Agency’s
comment
and
recommends
the
addition of language suggested by the Agency to subsection
(c)
as follows:
(c)
An
applicant
accepted
by
the
Agency
and
shall
demonstrate that the model
is accepthble for use in the
site specific hydrogeology
of the proposed facility.
Section 813.201
Initiation of a Modification or Significant
Modification
1.
STS
notes
that
the
proposed
rules
does
not
require
the
operator
to
apply
to
the
Agency
since
the
term
“may
be
initiated”
is used
in
subsection
813.201
(a),
and suggests
changing
this
subsection
to
require
operators
to
file
application to the Agency for any modification or significant
modification
as follows:
112—123

35
a)
A modification or significant modification to an approved
permit
~ay shall be initiated
Section 813.501
Annual Reports
1.
Response to the Agency comment
#38
STS
agrees
with
the
Agency’s
comments
and
recommends
the
changes to subsection
(c)
(1)
as follows:
c)
1)
A waste volume summary that includes:
A)
Total amount volume of solid waste accepted at
the facility
in
units
of
cubic meter
(cubic
yard)
as measured at the gate
B)
Remaining solid waste capacity in each unit
,jp,
units of cubic meter
(cubic yard)
as measured
at the gate
.and
2.
In response to the Agency’s comments at the April 6th hearing
(transcript pg. #653-654),
STS believes that any modification
or
significant modification
affecting the operation
of the
facility must be included
in the annual report and submitted
to the Agency
in
accordance with
35
Ill.
Adm.
Code
813.501
and 815.301.
STS recommends new language to subsection
(c) (4)
to reflect this intent, and rename existing subsection
(c) (4)
as
(c)(5).
The suggested changes
(also to Section 815.303)
are as follows:
C)
4)
Any
modification
or
significant
modification
affecting
the
operation
of
a
-
facility
shall
be
included.
~j
Signature of the person
Section 813.503
Information to be Retained at or near the Waste
Disposal Facility
1.
Response to WMI’s hearing testimony
(Tr.
pg.
#545)
Onsite
maintenance
of
records
during
postclosure
may
be
difficult.
STS agrees that an alternate active site
in the
state,
if one exists,
must be provided to
the Agency.
The
following changes are suggested:
Information
developed.
.
.normal
working
hours.
If
there
is
no
112—124

36
active office for maintenance of records at the facility during the
postclosure care period,
then an alternate active operation site
in the state, owned or operated by the same facility operator, may
be
specified.
The Agency
must be
notified
of
the
address
and
telephone number of the operator at the alternative facility where
the information will be retained.
Section 815.303
Information to be submitted
1.
STS
suggests
the
following
changes
to
subsection
(d)
in
response
to
the
Agency’s
comments
(see
Section
813.501,
comment
#2)
d)
A summary
of
all
significant
modifications,
including
significant modifications, made to the operations during
the course of the year.
Section 815.501
Scope and Applicability
1.
STS
suggests
the
following
changes
in
response
to
WNI’s
comments (see Section
813.503, comment #1):
All facilities.
.
.
.care period.
If
there
is no active office for
maintenance of records at the facility during the postclosure care
period, then an alternate active operation site in the state, owned
or operated by the same facility operator~may be specified..
The
Agency must be notified of the address and telephone number of the
operator at the alternative facility where the information will be
retained.
112—125

37
GENERAL RESPONSES
I.
Response to Comments on Procedural Issues
(P.C.
#
38, pg. 24—
25,
Tr. pg.
437—439)
WMI
in its questioning
at hearing
and in
its comments
states that the involvement of STS in this proposed rulemaking
and that its interactions with consultants previously involved
in
the landfill
regulatory
proposal
(R84-l7D)
are
somehow
improper
and that they would appear
to
constitute
ex parte
contacts.
STS responds to this charge by noting that extreme
care has been taken throughout this regulatory proceeding to
ensure that all information received by the STS regarding the
proposal
was introduced
into
the public
record,
either
in
writing or made public at a hearing.
Mr. DiMambro was retained as a STS consultant because he was
intimately
involved
with
the
earlier
hearings
in
this
proceeding
and
with
the
first
First
Notice
proposal
of
February 25,
1988.
STS communication with Mr. DiMambro since
he left the Board has been to ask for details of the earlier
proposal and its technical support and to have him appear at
hearing
if any new information was going to be presented and
to answer questions.
Mr. DiMambro was not present at the last
hearing
on April
6,
1990;
however,
any information that was
received from Mr.
DiNambro after the June 1989 hearings was
included in the Response to Comments document prepared by STS.
That STS document
(Ex.
26)
contains the STS recommendations
and suggested language for the Board’s consideration.
Ex.
26
was mailed to persons on the notice list, submitted into the
public record
and was open
to
questioning and post—hearing
comments.
Under the procedural rules of
35 Ill.
Adm.
Code 101.200
(d),
if an ex parte contact occurs then it should be made a matter
of public record.
Since the STS’s communications with
the
outside
consultant
has
been
included
in
the
Response
to
Comments document and made a part of the public record,
STS
does not consider its actions to be inappropriate or that such
actions are improperly influencing the Board’s proposal.
II.
Response to comments on groundwater modeling
(P.
C.
#
38, pg.
12—13, Tr.
pg.
532)
STS wishes to note yet again that the earlier STS Background
Document
(Ex.
1), the testimony of
Dr. Jennings and Dr. Ham
in the earlier R84-l7D hearings,
the testimony of Ms.
tJhlman
at
the
November
27,
1989
hearing
as
well
as
post
hearing
comments
(P.C.
22)
by
DENR
listing
several
models
and
applications
of
those
models
all
add
to
the
evidence
and
support in the record that there are groundwater contaminant
112-12~

38
transport
(GCT)
models
that
can
be
used
and
that
it
is
reasonable
to use such GCT models for the purposes intended
in the proposed regulations.
STS notes
that,
particularly
because of the variations in the site-specific hydrogeology,
no single model can be prescribed under all situations.
This
is the reason that the proposed regulations instead prescribes
standards
and
conditions
that
a
groundwater
contaminant
transport model must meet before it can be approved for use.
In addition,
WMI
is incorrect
in believing that modeling is
“used to set a groundwater regulatory standard.”
Groundwater
modeling is a tool that can be used for designing landfills
to meet the groundwater quality standards outside the zone of
attenuation (ie. “100 feet in 100 years” standard).
The model
also serves
to predict concentrations
of
contaminants
as
a
function of
distance and time.
Increases measured above
a
predicted concentration can provide an early warning trigger
for potential
increases
above
a groundwater standard at or
outside the compliance boundary.
III. STS thanks American Colloid Company and 3M Industrial Chemical
Products division
for their comments
(Exhibits
#25 and
#26
respectively) and notes that the existing requirements of the
proposed ru1e~”.’~readequate to address their concerns.
IV.
STS’s
response
to
the
Agency’s
comments
on
the
financial
assurance requirements
The following
is STS’s
response to the financial assurance
questions in the Agency comment.
(PC 34)
As the Board noted
earlier,
(see
p.
29 of the March
1,
1990 Second First Notice
Opinion) problems with the financial assurance regulations not
related to this R88-7 proposal will have to be dealt with in
another proceeding.
Also,
since many of the Agency’s post—
hearing
comments
are
newly
raised
and thus
have
not
been
aired, they cannot be considered in any event.
The following
responses
are
only
“interim”
observations
for
Board
consideration.
1.
Comment:
Automatic
defaults.
Agency
urged
the
Board
to
follow the STS recommendation
of 6/7/89
that the financial
assurance
mechanisms
provide
an
automatic
default
if
the
operator fails to provide additional or substitute financial
assurance when required to do so-(Section 811.7-10(h)
(PC 34,
#18)
Response:
STS notes
that
in R84-22,
the Board removed the
automatic default mechanism
after hearing testimony that
it
was unacceptable to sureties.
The Board specified a five year
bond with
a one year extension, during which the Agency could
112—127

39
obtain a closure order triggering a default.
These provisions
are linked, and need to be considered together.
The automatic default language is not appropriate for the
trust
fund,
since there is no default associated with trust
funds.
Once the money
is
in the trust fund,
it stays there
until paid out for closure and post-closure care expenses, or
released by the Agency.
2.
Comment:
Extend the exemption for State and local government
in Section 811.700(c)
to include the U.S. Government
(PC 34,
#19)
Response:
STS appreciates the logic of extending the
exemption to the U.S. Government,
since it is also a taxpayer
liability.
However,
the
Agency
did
not
give
a
specific
example
of
the
problem
it
is
addressing,
or
provide
a
statutory rationale.
Section 21.1 of the Act does not exclude
the U.S.
Government.
The STS
is
not aware
of any basis
in
State law for expanding the exemption.
Nor is the STS aware
of any federal law preempting State regulation in this area.
It
is
possible that
a provision
could
be
added
to
Section
811.715 to the effect that the U.S. Government automatically
meets the financial
test,
and gross
revenue
test.
Section
811.715(b)
would
require
the Government
to
provide
a bond
without surety.
This would fix the amount of liability,
and
place the burden
of proof
on
the Government with regard
to
payments.
3.
Comment:
Set
a minimum
of
five years
for extended
post—
closure care periods
(Section 811.704(h) (4)).
Response:
Section 811.704(h) (4) merely requires financial
assurance
for any extended post—closure
care
period.
The
length of the extension
is governed by other portions of the
rules,
or by the outcome of
a specific enforcement action.
4.
Comment:
Delete “duplicate”
from Section 811.710(a)
(PC 34,
#22A)
Response:
The trustee will probably insist on
a signed
original of the trust document.
The copy or duplicate of the
trust document to be sent to the Agency must also be signed,
such a document has been termed “original duplicate.”
This
does not mean a photocopy of the original.
As is discussed
below, the STS recommends that a requirement be added to use
IEPA forms where available.
5.
Comment:
Require the use of IEPA forms.
(PC 34,
#22B).
Response:
STS agrees with the need for required forms which
cannot be duplicated.
However,
rather than specify this at
numerous points
in
the
text,
STS
recommends
that
a single
112—128

40
Section be added, as follows:
Section 81l.@@@ Use of Forms
The Agency
shall
promulgate
financial
assurance
forms
based
on
this
Subpart
and
Appendix
A.
Owners
and
operators shall use such forms
if available.
6.
Comment:
add
a sentence to Section 811.710(d) (4)
requiring
that,
if an operator switches from another financial assurance
mechanism
to
a
trust
fund,
the
payment
schedule
be
back—
calculated
to the date on which the operator became subject
to the financial assurance requirement
(PC 34,
#22C).
Response:
“Assumed closure date”
is defined in Section
811.700(e).
This is the time during the next permit term when
the cost of closure will be greatest.
Section 811.710(d) (2)
defines
the pay-in period
as
the number
of years
remaining
until the assumed closure time.
Since permits have a maximum
term
of
five
years
(Section
813.108),
the maximum
pay—in
period
is
five years.
Part 811 differs
from the hazardous
waste rules insofar as it places this 5—year cap on the pay—
in period.
The Agency’s suggested changes introduces a new level of
complexity
to
the trust
fund calculations.
The
amount
of
additional security the State receives is small compared with
the crude
approximations
used
in
getting
to
the amount of
required
contributions
in
the
first
place.
Moreover,
requiring quicker funding would discourage the use of trusts,
which
give
the
State
the
best
security.
STS,
therefore,
suggests
that
the
Board
not
impose
requirements
which
discourage the use of trusts.
7.
Comment:
Establish a
10 year maximum for the pay-in period
for additiona.1 financial assurance to meet new post-closure
care requirements under Section 811.710(d) (7).
(PC 34,
#22D)
Response:
As discussed above, the “assumed closure time”
is
never more than five years away.
This places a five year cap
on pay—in periods.
Section 811.710(d) (7) allows an operator at least three
years
to
fund a trust
for the
excess.
Existing facilities
are
likely
to
already
be
at
the
point
of
maximum
cost
exposure,
such that the general rules would require immediate
full funding of the trust.
However,
as
is discussed above,
the trust is the preferred method of financial assurance from
the State’s perspective.
The three year minimum encourages
operators to use the trust.
8.
Comment:
Limit requests to withdraw excess funds from a trust
to one per year
(PC 34,
#22E).
112—129

41
Response:
Excess
funds can come about
in one
of two ways:
from the annual valuation of the trust (Section 811.710(e)),
or from a reduction
in the cost estimate
(Section 811.704).
The former
is
intrinsically limited to once per year.
The
latter is linked to permit modifications.
If an operator is
indeed changing his operations
so as to reduce the cost of
closure and post—closure care, the excess funds from the trust
are to be released.
9.
Comment:
Shorten bond terms to 1 year with
1 year extension;
delete Section 811.711(g) (1), which provides that bonds to not
satisfy
the
financial
assurance
requirement
during
the
extended period
(PC 34, #23-25).
Response:
The Agency’s position is inconsistent with its
position on automatic defaults, discussed above,
and appear
to misreading the existing rules.
The Agency might consider placing sites under close scrutiny
as
expiration
of
financial
assurance
documents approaches.
With
a
5
year
bond,
20
of
sites
are
within
one
year
of
expiration.
However, with
1 year bonds,
100
would require
close
scrutiny.
This
would
be
much
more
difficult
to
administer.
Under the existing rules and proposal,
if an operator failed
to renew the financial assurance,
the Agency would have
an
additional year to obtain a closure order and collect on the
bond.
However,
if
the
extended
bond
met
the
financial
assurance requirement, the Agency could not allege failure to
have
financial
assurance
as
a
basis
for
the
enforcement
action.
If the operator were otherwise
in compliance,
the
Agency
could not get a
closure order,
and hence
could
not
collect on the bond, STS suggests that the Agency’s problems
with
the financial
assurance rules
appear to
stem
from the
incorrect assumption that it has to wait until the end of the
extension year to take action.
When the operator fails to renew financial assurance, he
violates the Act and regulations.
The Agency could file an
enforcement action alleging this simple violation, along with
a motion for expedited consideration advising the Board that
a final decision is needed to determine financial assurance.
10.
Comment:
The
Agency
cannot provide
notice
to
the surety
within 30 days after the expiration of a bond if the operator
fails to renew,
as required in App.
A, Illus.
C.
(PC 34, #26—
28).
Response:
This notice requirement is triggered only by
a
112—130

42
failure
to provide
substitute
financial
assurance prior to
the expiration date of the bond.
Some sort of notice to the
surety is needed if the surety’s liability is to be extended
for another year.
(Sureties need to
know this to establish
loss
reserves.)
The Agency
might consider establishing
a
system which closely monitors sites prior
to expiration
of
financial assurance,
and to move to a
“if in doubt,
notify”
posture.
The
financial
assurance
rules
place
powerful
tools
in
the
Agency’s hands.
11.
Comment:
The bond language allows operators
to “walk away”
from a site
(PC 34,
#26—28).
Response:
Section 811.711(e) (2) (A)
specifies that
it
is
a
“failure to perform”
if the operator abandons a site.
Similar
language
is specified for the other mechanisms.
The Agency
is not required to file an enforcement action; abandonment is
a condition of default in and of itself.
The Agency need only
notify
the surety
that
abandonment
has
occurred.
If
the
surety refuses to pay, the Agency should sue in Circuit Court,
where the question is simply whether abandonment did or did
not occur.
This is not linked to the 30 day notification requirement
discussed above, under which the Agency must notify the surety
within
30
days after expiration
of
a
bond
if the operator
fails to provide substitute financial assurance.
Failure to
provide substitute financial assurance is something the Agency
can tell just from its files.
On
the other hand, there is no
time limit on the
notification that abandonment has occurred.
After expiration
of the bond,
if the Agency determines that
abandonment occurred during the term of the bond,
the surety
remains liable.
112—131

.
.

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