United States Environmental Protection Agency
Solid Waste and Emergency Response (OS-305)
EPA/530-SW-91-089 March 1993
Criteria for Solid Waste Disposal Facilities A Guide for Owners/Operators
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To make waste management effective, approach federal, governments are adopting
more an integrated This 1)
EPAs
continuing
mission
is to minimize are an They
state, tribal, and local
the risks from landfills. described important in this booklet
The criteria
to waste management.
part of this effort.
strategic approach involves a mix of three waste management techniques: decreasing producing the amount and/or toxicity of by of waste that must be disposed
establish minimum national standards for landfill design, operation, and management that will enhance landfill safety and boost public confidence in landfills as a component of a workable integrated waste management system.
less waste to begin with
(source reduction); 2) increasing recycling of materials such as paper, glass, steel, plastic, and aluminum, recovering discarding disposal these materials capacity them; and 3) providing by improving the thus safer rather than
design and management and landfills.
of incinerators
Owners/operators must set up a system to ensure that hazardous wastes are kept out of municipal landfills.
Source reduction and recycling will keep a lot of waste out of municipal landfills, but we still need landfills. The challenge is to make them safe in order to protect our communities and our
...environment-and that requires a strong partnership of federal, state, and tribal governments; industry; and citizens.
Criteria. It discusses the major requirements of these regulations, who is required to comply and when, how the rule will be implemented and enforced, and where to obtain more information. adopt these federal standards permit programs. This booklet and tribes that develop This booklet Volume October provides highlights States and Indian tribes are expected the regulations through the increased flexibility to and implement their own
T
his booklet Protection
summarizes Agency’s
the provisions
of the U.S. Environmental Solid Waste Landfill (MSWLF)
(EPA's) Municipal
given to states
EPA-approved only an overview
programs. of the federal regulations. Readers in to
affected by them should refer to the actual regulations, 40 of the Code of Federal Regulations, 9,1991, 56FR50978). The Agency encourages
which are published
Part 258 (see the Federal Register, landfill owners/operators since state . .
work with their respective and tribal programs requirements. Although written primarily
state or tribal authorities,
may have different .
for
owners/operators solid waste landfills, including
of municipal this booklet
also will be useful for others, state and tribal governwho are responsible the regulations. ment officials,
for implementing
Introduction
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years.
he problems
caused by municipal have become in recent more aware
solid waste landfills As Americans
a source of public concern have become
of the potential environment have become generation sometimes
threat to health and the from toxic substances, they also more concerned about the of solid waste — to allow Americans solid waste generated is
and management
to the point of refusing near their homes. more municipal
new landfills are generating declining.
each year, but available over 195 million expected
landfill space is
In 1990, Americans
tons of municipal to more than
solid waste, and the annual amount to increase 220 million tons by 2000.
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The Purpose of These Regulations
restrictions, criteria,
operating
and design for final cover monitoring to
and requirements ground-water
and post-closure also require
care. The regulations of contaminants from
ground-water partly explains new facilities. Ground-water drinking
H
istorically, associated significant
landfills problems,
have been including which to
detect any releases landfills. assurance Corrective provisions
with some
action and financial ensure immediate to such releases.
contamination,
and effective
responses
the public’s resistance
contamination. population Ground
Nearly draws its and other water
half the country’s ground-water industrial, Landfills
water from aquifers bodies.
Some Definitions Under the Regulations
Municipal solid waste landfill (MSWLF): A discrete area of land or an excavation that receives household waste, and that is not a land application unit, surface impoundment, injection well, or waste pile, as those terms are defined in the law. (Household waste includes any solid waste, including waste derived campgrounds, may receive Subtitle garbage, trash, and septic tank hotels, motels, unit also Act under An MSWLF as defined from houses, apartments,
also is used extensively can contribute
for agricultural, purposes. to the
and recreational
contamination of this valuable resource if they are not designed to prevent waste releases into ground water or detect them when they occur. Cleaning up contaminated ground water is a long and in some cases Affected and costly process communities
and picnic grounds.) other types of wastes
may not be totally successful.
D of the Resource
Conservation
and Recovery
often bear both the
cleanup costs and the expense of providing other sources of potable water. By adopting a philosophy of prevention, water. Difficulties problem volume in landfill siting. The the regulations’ improved
(RCRA), such as commercial solid waste, nonhazardous sludge, small quantity generator waste, and industrial solid waste. Such a landfill maybe publicly or privately owned. An MSWLF unit can be a new unit, an existing unit, or a lateral expansion (see definitions below).
design standards
will protect ground Existing unit: A municipal solid waste landfill unit that is receiving solid waste as of October 9,1993. Waste placement operating in existing practices units must be consistent practices with past
of managing of municipal
the increased solid waste is
or modified
to ensure good
management. Lateral expansion: A horizontal expansion of the waste boundaries of an existing unit; does not include expansion in the vertical dimension.
compounded by rising public resistance to siting new landfills. The regulations are designed expanded to ensure that new or do not contaminate landfills
ground water and thus become community burdens. As a result, they protect the intrinsic associated value of ground that can drive water and can help avert the pressures with landfills values. measures written include location down property
New unit: Any municipal solid waste landfill unit that has not received waste prior to October 9,1993. Small landfill: A landfill serving a community that disposes of less than 20 tons of municipal solid waste per day, averaged yearly.
Specific prevention into the regulations
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EPA has carefully considered the impacts of the regulations on local governments. written flexibility Where possible, to allow EPA has the regulations
need only comply requirements 16). Landfills
with the accepting
for-final cover (see page that stopped 9, 1991, do not
waste before October need to comply
in both the technical and their implementation. the regulations provide
with these regulations. apply to landfills that
requirements For example,
The regulations accept household
relief from the more costly requirements for certain small landfills. Moreover, states and tribes with EPA-approved landfill permitting programs are given the opportunity flexibility components considered ground-water to provide considerable criteria, can be so in applying all major
waste, which means garbage, (including hotels ranger waste in septic tanks) residences,
any solid waste (including trash, and sanitary derived single and multiple from households
and motels, bunkhouses,
of the landfill conditions monitoring.
that site-specific
stations, crew quarters, campgrounds, picnic grounds, and day-use recreation areas). They do not apply to units (including application landfills, surface impoundments, waste piles, and land waste (e.g., landfills).
in such areas as design and
units) that accept only nonhazardous
Who Is Covered?
industrial
construction/demolition
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he regulations operators October waste landfills
apply to owners/ solid waste that receive
(owners/operators of these units would be required to comply with the provisions of 40 CFR Part 257.) owners/operators from the regulations of
of all municipal 9, 1993.
ills receiving waste on or after Octpber 9, 1993, must comply with the or after on regulations.
Landfills
As mentioned, for exemption
that stop accepting
waste between
certain small landfills
may be eligible
October 9,1991, and October 9,1993,
governing design, ground-water monitoring, and corrective action. See the section entitled for Small Landfills,” “Exemptions page 5.
When Do the Requirements Apply?
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drinking
he requirements location restrictions,
concerning design criteria units
(new and lateral expansion October
only), operating
criteria, and closure/post9, 1993.
closure care are effective
Ground-water monitoring and corrective action requirements are effective three, four, or five years after October depending on a unit’s proximity water intakes 9,1991, to
(see sidebar,
page 15). The financial assurance requirements are effective April 9,1994.
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These dates reflect the requirements the federal MSWLF criteria. Contact to deteryour state or tribal authority mine specific state/tribal
of
this potential flexibility, which extends to all parts of the regulations (see box, page 6).
effective
dates.
Implementation in states/tribes without approved programs
Implementation of the Regulations: Federal, State, Tribal, and Owner/Operator Responsibilities
Implementation by approved states and Indian tribes
States and tribes are entitled their own permitting incorporating complying. establish stringent to develop programs are
EPA expects that although most states will be approved by the effective date of the rule, some simply may not apply. In these cases, owners/operators are required to implement the federal regulations. Each owner/operator must document compliance and supply this documentation to the state or tribe on request. Owners/operators must comply with state/tribal requirements.
Citizen roles
While state, tribal, and local governments are responsible for ensuring compliance with their waste programs, important private citizens play an role, too. Individuals comply can with
the federal landfill criteria States and tribes also may that are more
to ensure that owners/operators requirements
than those set by the federal EPA's role is to review these programs. the State/Tribal Rule, which will for receiving to a state or tribe of issuing For permit programs adequate,
help ensure that facilities through such activities
government. and approve
state or tribal rules and regulations as participating and in any public meetings regarding landfill siting and permit issuance, working state, tribal, and local officials. owners/operators compliance
EPA is developing Implementation delineate EPA approval. be considered
closely with their responsible Citizens
the requirements
also have the right to sue landfill who are not in with the federal regulations.
must have the capability
permits or some other form of prior approval, and must establish conditions requiring owners/operators to comply A state or and with the landfill regulations. compliance enforcement through
tribe must also be able to ensure monitoring actions and must provide
Exemptions for Small Landfills
for public participation. By securing approval for its program, for in a
A
people.
proximately landfills to the criteria.
6,000 municipal subject as Quite a few —
are potentially — are defined
nearly 50 percent
state or tribe has the opportunity more flexibility and discretion
“small” landfills, meaning they receive an average of no more than 20 tons of municipal annually). solid waste per day (figured These landfills generally of fewer than 10,000
implementing the criteria according to local needs and conditions. Owners/ operators located in a jurisdiction program with an approved may benefit from
serve communities
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The landfill
design, ground-water
landfill is located
in an area that
monitoring, and corrective action provisions required under the criteria are likely to be expensive. communities leading Small might be unable to spread increases in per-
receives less than 25 inches of precipitation annually. 2) There is no evidence water contamination community interruption undergoes of groundand the an annual
these costs among many users, thereby to significant capita disposal The regulations the opportunity compromising environment. assessments. are designed to provide
of surface transportamonths, that prevents facility. This since,
tion, lasting at least three consecutive for some relief from the without of a from the and These exemptions qualifying of groundthe waste and the tribal jurisdictions, 1) There is no evidence water contamination, community management EPA-approved are available to small landfills permitting in all states or programs, under human health or the access to a regional
more costly requirements
exemption is less widespread for example, it maybe more
An owner/operator monitoring,
small landfill may be exempted design, ground-water corrective two circumstances: action requirements
applicable to certain communities in rural Alaska.
even those without
has no practical alternative,
providing the state or tribal program does not restrict the exemption.
Some small landfills serving small communities, such as this one in the dry, western United States, may qualify for exemption from some of the requirements.
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Special restrictions apply to landfills sited in floodplains, indicated here as the shaded area.
(The exemptions flexibility regulations approved
supplement the
the in
in implementing
given all communities with programs. See page 6.) qualifying for
Complying With the Regulations
states and tribal jurisdictions
Owners/operators exemptions information qualify and include Owners/operators
must show why they the documenting records. to are also required in their operating
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and
he regulations categories municipal
describe
six
of criteria for solid waste landfills:
1) Location 2) Operation 3) Design 4) Ground-water corrective 5) Closure monitoring and
comply with all other MSWLF regulations, including the location, operation, financial closure and post-closure, assurance provisions. of an exempt
action and post-closure assurance for care
If the owner/operator contamination operator
facility learns of ground-water at the site, the exemption and the owner/ with the action. is no longer applicable must comply requirements monitoring,
6) Financial
Owners/operators are responsible reviewing the criteria to determine which of the provisions landfill(s). refer to EPA's Technical (Owners/operators
for design, ground-water and corrective
apply to their should Manual for Solid
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Waste Disposal
Facility Criteria for
details.) They should also bear in mind that state or tribal programs might include provisions that do not mirror discussed below. are therefore in complying with the Airport Wetlands
Location Criteria Summary
Location Applicability Closure If Demonstration Cannot Be Met?
Yes Yes No No No Yes Expansion)
the federal provisions Owners/operators encouraged regulations. tribal regulators
to work with their state and
Safety
N,E,L N,E,L N,L N,L N,L N,E,L
Floodplains Fault Areas
Location
There are six location apply to municipal operators restrictions that landfills. Owners/ that their in the facility
Seismic Zones Unstable
Impact Areas
must demonstrate documents
units meet the criteria and keep the demonstration operating record. cannot show provisions, 9,
*(N=New,E=Existing,L=Lateral
If an owner/operator compliance floodplain, 1996.
If an owner/operator new unit or laterally
plans to build a expand an existing
with the airport safety, or unstable-area
unit within 5 miles of any airport, the airport and the Federal Administration 2. Floodplains Units located in 100-year floodplains water or cannot restrict the flow of the 100-year flood, reduce the temporary storage capacity allow the washout of the floodplain, of solid waste. Aviation must be notified. ThIe regulations impose special requirements on landfills near airports to prevent compromises to air traffic safety.
the unit must be closed by October However, EPA-approved this deadline capacity programs
states and tribes with can extend
by as much as two years waste management health and
when no alternative immediate
exists and there is no threat to human
the environment. Restricted include: 1. Airports The owner/operator of a municipal landfill located within 10,000 feet of the end of any airport runway by turbojet used aircraft, areas
or within 5,000 feet of any airport runway used only by pistontype aircraft, must demonstrate bird hazard. that the unit does not pose a
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3. Wetlands In general, owners/operators expanding municipal landfills build or expand permitting exceptions
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proper compensation of new or may not However, 4. Fault areas restoring creating damaged man-made
(e.g., wetlands wetlands). or
in wetlands.
states or tribes with EPA-approved programs can make for units able to show: is available.
New units or lateral expansions are generally prohibited within 200 feet of fault areas that have shifted since the last Ice Age. approved However, the director of an of state or tribal program may
No siting alternative
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Construction and operation will not (1) violate applicable state/ tribal regulations or toxic effluent; endangered or critical habitats; on water quality (2) jeopardize or (3) violate any species
allow an alternative
setback distance
less than 200 feet if the owner/operator can show that the unit will maintain structural integrity in the event of a fault displacement. 5. Seismic impact zones When anew or laterally expanding containment collection systems) structures
or threatened
protection of a marine sanctuary.
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The unit will not cause or contribute degradation to significant of wetlands. no
Landfills may not be built in unstable areas prone to landslides, mudslides, or sinkholes, such as the one shown here.
unit
is located in a seismic impact zone, its (liners, leachate control to resist the systems, surface-water motion due to
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Steps have been taken to achieve net loss of wetlands by avoiding effects where possible, unavoidable impacts, minimizing or making
must be designed
effects of ground earthquakes.
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6. Unstable areas All owners/operators the structure compromised
cover requirement must show that
(if local climate
of their units will not be during “destabilizing
conditions make such a requirement impractical). 3. Vectors The owner/operator
events,” including: Debris flows resulting rainfall.
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is responsible
for
from heavy
controlling include
vector populations.
Vectors of
any rodents,
flies, mosquitoes,
Fast-forming excessive withdrawal.
sinkholes
caused by
or other animals transmitting Application operating
or insects capable
ground-water
disease to humans. of cover at the end of each day generally controls vectors.
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Rockfalls
set off by explosives
or 4. Explosive gases The owner/operator program emissions exceeded, must set up a gas If are
sonic booms.
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The sudden wetting
liquification
of the soil
after a long period of repeated and drying.
to check for methane
at least every three months. in the regulations must the owner/operator
the limits specified
Operation
All owners/operators with the requirements management landfills. procedures, must comply for proper solid waste
immediately director
notify the state/tribal for implementing and take immediate health and the also States The owner/operator and implement a plan within 60 days. the
(that is, the official in the state or
area responsible landfill criteria) environment. must develop remediation
of municipal including
These cover a-range of
steps to protect human
1. Receipt of regulated hazardous waste The owner/operator must set up a program to detect and prevent quantities disposal of regulated (PCB) wastes. inspections, personnel appropriate discovered PCB wastes, of hazardous biphenyl must training of the of
and tribal jurisdictions with approved programs may alter this interval. 5. Air quality Open burning agricultural land-clearing operations.
wastes and polychlorinated The program include procedures
of waste is not permitted burning of waste, trees, or must
for random hazardous and
except for infrequent
record keeping, to recognize authorities at the facility. and notification
waste, silvicultural debris, diseased Owners/operators clean-up
debris from emergency
if such waste is
comply with the applicable requirements of their State Implementation Plans for meeting federal air quality standards. 6. Access The owner/operator dumping,
2. Cover material The owner/operator disposed inches of earthen each operating
must cover at the end of
solid waste with at least 6 material day to control vectors, litter, and must control illegal vehicular Artificial may be used to
fires, odors; blowing
public access to prevent unauthorized
scavenging. An approved state or tribe may allow an owner/operator to use an alternative and/or cover material or depth, waiver of the grant a temporary
traffic, and public exposure. and/or natural barriers control access.
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7. Storm water run-on/run-off The owner/operator must build and maintain prevent a control system designed The to on storm waters from running
9. Liquids A landfill cannot accept bulk or noncontainerized or (2) it is leachate that is recirculated the unit is equipped liner and leachate described liquid waste unless (1) household waste, and or gas condensate to the landfill, collection with a composite system as the waste is nonseptic
to the active part of the landfill.
run-on control system must be able to handle water flows as heavy as those expected from the worst storm the area might undergo in 25 years. The owner/operator and maintain control, volume managed also must build
below under “Design.”
a surface water run-off
Containers of liquid waste maybe placed in the landfill only if the containers: (1) are similar in size to those typically found in household waste, such as cleaning, automotive, or homeimprovement products (i.e., containers such as 55-gallon drums are excluded); (2) are designed household to hold liquids for use or (3) hold only collected in other than storage; routine pickups
control system that can collect and at a minimum, the surface water that results from a 24-hour, 25Run-off waters must be to the requirements with on the according
year storm.
of the Clean Water Act, particularly regard to the restrictions discharge Owners and operaters must ensure that each day‘s waste is covered to control litter and diseasebearing vermin. of pollutants
into water
waste (containers
bodies and wetlands.
8. Surface water protection All landfills must be operated that ensures they do not release
from households).
10. Record-keeping in a way Owners/operators certain documents including
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are required to keep in or near the facility,
pollutants that violate the Clean Water Act, which protects surface waters.
Location
restriction
demonstrations.
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Procedures hazardous
for excluding waste. results. system
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Gas monitoring Leachate
or gas condensate
design documentation.
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Ground-water corrective demonstrations.
monitoring
and
action data and
Maximum Contaminant Levels
(as of October plans. Chemical 9, 1991) MCL (mg/1)
0.05 1.0 0.005 0.01 0.005 0.05 0.1 0.075 0.005 0.007 0.0002 4 0.004 0.05 0.002 0.1 10 0.01 0.05 0.005 . 0.2 0.005 0.01 0.002
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Closure
and post-closure
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Cost estimates and financial assurance documentation.
Design
The criteria for landfill design apply only to new units and lateral expansions. (Existing units are not required to retrofit liner systems.) The criteria give owners/operators design options. First, in states and tribal areas with EPAapproved programs, owners/operators to comply with by the state/tribal the design, the may build their landfills a design approved director. In approving two basic
director must ensure that it meets the EPA performance standard, i.e., that Maximum Contaminant Levels (MCLs) will not be exceeded compliance.” in the uppermost
Arsenic Barium Benzene Cadmium Carbon tetrachloride Chromium (hexavalent) 2,4-Dichlorophenoxy acetic acid 1,4-Dichlorobenzene 1,2-Dichloroethane 1,1-Dichloroethylene Endrin Fluoride Lindane Lead Mercury Methoxychlor Nitrate Selenium Silver Toxaphene 1,1,1-Trichloromethane Trichloroethylene 2,4,5-Trichlorophenoxy acetic acid Vinyl chloride
aquifer at a “relevant point of This point is determined director, membrane conductivity cm/sec. and a lower layer of soil at of no greater than 1 X 10-7 collection system to keep the depth of least 2 feet thick with a hydraulic The leachate by the approved-state/tribal
but it must be no farther than 150 meters from the landfill unit boundary and on land owned by the landfill has already solid waste constituents; In reviewing designs, must consider hydrogeologic climate, owner. (EPA of set MCLs for a number see table.)
must be designed the leachate centimeters.
over the liner to less than 30
these performance-based states and tribes also other factors, such as the characteristics of the land, the local and nature of
approved
The criteria also provide owners/operators states or tribal jurisdictions performance standard EPA design described met:
an option for to use the
in nonapproved (rather than the above), providing conditions are
facility and surrounding and the amount the leachate.
that both of the following The second option is a design developed by EPA that consists and a leachate general, landfills of a composite system. In liner collection
EPA does not promulgate Tribal Implementation October
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a State/
in states or tribal
Rule by
jurisdictions without EPA-approved programs must use this design. The composite liner system combines flexible an upper liner of a synthetic
9,1993. that
The state or tribe determines the alternative
design meets the
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performance standard in the federal criteria; the state or tribe petitions mination; EPA to review this deterand EPA does not deny within 30 days.
the quality of the uppermost beneath the landfill boundary background relevant gradient). consider quality)
aquifer (1)
the landfill before it has passed (to determine and (2) at a (downshould of their by a or the state/
the determination
point of compliance Owners/operators
Ground-Water Monitoring and Corrective Action
This section sets criteria for groundwater monitoring sampling and corrective environment criteria, systems, programs to for and analysis of ground water,
the specific characteristics systems, but the systems scientist
the sites when establishing monitoring qualified director must be certified
as adequate
ground-water
action as necessary health and the are protected.
of an EPA-approved
ensure that human
tribal program.
Here, as in the federal that are
with the other provisions approved adopt programs criteria.
In approved
states and tribal jurisdicmaybe able to
states and tribes may with requirements than the federal
tions, an owner/operator
are more stringent encouraged
obtain a variance from the ground-water monitoring requirements if the owner/ operator can demonstrate that the landfill is located over a geologic structure that will prevent hazardous constituent migration to the ground water. The demonstration must show that no migration of constituents from the unit will occur during the unit’s life, including the closure and post-closure care period.
Again, owners/operators
to work closely with their
states or tribes. Ground-water monitoring systems Generally, ground-water monitoring Performance of a landfill cover must meet certain federal minimum criteria. must be conducted at all MSWLF units. Owners/operators must install enough ground-water monitoring wells in the appropriate places to accurately assess
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Detection and assessment monitoring programs States and tribes with EPA-approved programs have the flexibility to design ground-water monitoring programs that are well-suited to the landfills operating in their area, and that may therefore differ from the federal program. states/tribes without an approved permit program, owners/operators must follow the federal regulations describing monitoring. During samples detection monitoring, owners/ detection and assessment In
ScheduIe for Implementing Ground-WaterMonitoring
An EPA-approved state or tribe can set its own schedule, provided at least 50 percent of all the state’s or tribe’s units comply by October compliance by October 9,1996. by EPA, 9,1994, and all are in
If a state or tribe has not been approved owners/operators schedule systems: must comply for installing ground-water
with the following monitoring from a
. If a site is less than 1 mile in any direction drinking water intake (whether 9,1994. water), by October
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operators constituents regulations approved analysis programs frequencies, significant is detected,
must take ground-water and analyze them for specific (as defined in the federal or by the director of an state/tribal program). sampling Under and
surface or ground-
If the site is farther than 1 mile but less than 2
miles, by October 9,1995.
the federal regulations, twice a year. Approved
. If the site is more than 2 miles, by October 9, 1996.
New units must install monitoring accepting any waste. systems prior to
must be conducted may set alternative but sampling ground-water
at least
state/tribal and analysis If may seek contamination
must be done at least annually. owners/operators
federal regulations. monitoring, shows significant
As in detection analysis contamination, might be able to that the landfill If
to demonstrate to contamination sampling ground-water appropriate
that the results are due from other sources, in quality. Otherwise, official and
if ground-water
error, or natural variation must notify the monitoring.
owners/operators
make the determination the owner/operator determination, must be cleaned Action” below). levels specified director;
owners/operators begin assessment The purpose is to determine ground-water assessment detected
is not the source of the contamination. cannot make this then the ground water up (see “Corrective In EPA-approved up to by the state/tribal states and water must not exceed levels. monitoring and A here.
state/tribal
of assessment contamination. monitoring,
monitoring During
states
the nature and extent of ground-water
and tribes, it must be cleaned in nonapproved
must be analyzed initially constituents
both for constituents and for other in the federal of an approved
tribes, contamination quality or background
federal limits set for drinking
(defined
criteria or by the director
state/tribal program). States and tribes with EPA-approved programs specify the frequency conducted monitoring. for sampling In nonapproved and analysis states and in the during assessment is specified
The federal ground-water requirements technical thorough than described explanation
are more complex
of the regulations
tribes, the frequency
can be found in EPA's Technical Manual for Solid Waste Disposal Facility Criteria.
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Ground-water programs
monitoring
regulations from ground-
in
of the remedy. must continue
The owner/operator corrective action until
states and tribes with EPA-approved may differ somewhat Landfill states conducting the federal regulations. owners/operators water monitoring regulations
compliance with the clean-up standard has been met for three consecutive years, although approved the director period. of an may state or tribal program
in nonapproved
and tribes must comply in addition tribe’s regulations. owner/operator compliance regulations.
with the federal to their state’s or
specify a different
In all cases, the is encouraged to work
Closure Care
The criteria
and Post-Closure
establish specific standards
with his or her state or tribe to ensure with all applicable
for all owners/operators
to follow when
The corrective action program Cleaning up ground water requires corrective action. The owner/operator measures one(s). and During must assess corrective select the appropriate corrective Some owners/operators may choose to install leachate collection systemsr such as the one shown here. These systems are designed to collect any fluids that seep down through the landfill. The fluids can be recycled in the landfill or treated for disposal elsewhere. monitoring assessment must continue
closing a landfill and setting up a program of monitoring and maintenance period. during the post-closure must enter plans into The owner/operator operating
the closure and post-closure the landfill’s October 9,1993,
records by
action, the owner/operator ground-water with the program. remedies, Once the the owner/ it a ground-water the effectiveness the in accordance monitoring
or by the initial receipt is later.
of waste, whichever
Owners/operators of landfills that stop receiving waste between October 9, 1991, and October within six months waste. 9,1993, must install final covers that meet the federal criteria of the last receipt of Here again, owners/operators
While evaluating owner/operator meeting remedy operator
potential
must hold a public
to discuss them. has been selected, is responsible this period, program to measure
for carrying must be
out. During monitoring established
should work with their state or tribal program officials to ensure that all applicable considered. closure requirements are
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The final cover must be designed
and
constructed to have a permeability less than or equal to the bottom liner system or natural lower. subsoils, or a permeability is in the that no is greater than 1X10-5 cm/see, whichever Thus, the regulation form of a performance must be achieved operator. The final cover must be constructed an infiltration minimum material layer composed of a of 18 inches of earthen to minimize the flow of water The cover must layer to prevent The of a of standard
Closing
a Landfill
— and Beyond
Owners/operators must follow certain procedures when closing a municipal landfill, including the following The state or tribe must be notified A closure plan must be prepared. The final cover must consist of at least 18 inches of earthen material of a specified permeability, an erosion layer at least 6 inches thick. (An approved cover design.) An independent plan. The deed of property restricted. For 30 years following closure (or an alternative period designated by an approved state or tribe), owners/operators are responsible for maintaining the integrity of the final cover, continuing to monitor ground water and methane, and continuing leachate management. must note that the property certified engineer must certify that with the with prior to closure.
by the owner/
state/ tribe may allow an alternative
into the closed landfill. also contain erosion capable an erosion the disintegration minimum
of the cover.
layer must be composed of sustaining
closure was conducted
in accordance
of 6 inches of earthen material plant growth. liner system or of a flexible was used as a landfill and that future use is
When a landfill’s bottom includes synthetic generally
a flexible membrane liner, the addition
liner in the infiltration
layer cover will a
be the only design that will less than or equal to the
allow the final cover design to achieve permeability bottom liner. of an approved that achieves from erosion above. the owner/ state or final
The director cover design equivalent design and protection
tribe may approve reduction
an alternative an in infiltration
effective
April 9, 1994. must demonstrate for the costs of
The owner/operator financial responsibility
as the
described
closure, post-closure care, and corrective action for known releases. This requirement can be satisfied mechanisms: Trust fund with a pay-in period. Surety bond. Letter of credit. Insurance. by the following
For 30 years after closure, operator is responsible the integrity continuing (Approved interval.)
for maintaining gas, and
of the final cover, monitorleachate management. states/tribes may vary this
ing ground water and methane
Financial
operated financial
Assurance
those owned or governwith the which are
Guarantee. State assumption Multiple of responsibility. (a combina-
All units except ment entities
by state or federal must comply criteria, assurance
mechanisms
tion of those listed above).
Owners/operators of landfills in approved states or tribal jurisdictions may also use other state-approved mechanisms. EPA is currently developing provisions for four additional financial mechanisms that owners/operators can use to satisfy the financial assurance requirements: (1) a financial test for local government owners/operators; (2) a financial test for corporate owners/operators; (3) a guarantee for local governments that wish to cover the costs of a municipal landfill for an owner/operator; and (4) a guarantee for corporations that wish to cover the costs of a landfill for an owner/operator.
Conclusion
he standards described in this booklet are federal minimum requirements for owners/ operators of MSWLF units. Readers should understand that the regulation of municipal landfills is, and will continue to be, primarily a state and tribal function. States and tribes are therefore urged to revise their programs as soon as possible to incorporate these criteria, so that they can take advantage of the flexibility that accompanies program approval.
T
Owners/operators are again reminded that state and tribal programs may be more stringent than the federal criteria. They should work closely with state or
...tribal program officials and their regional EPA office to address questions about the requirements.
6
Areas of Flexibility for EPA-Approved States and Tribes
States and tribes with approved operators Approved additional flexibility. permitting programs have the opportunity to provide owners/ Some examples of this flexibility are listed below.
states or tribes may:
Location:
Allow siting of new and laterally expanding landfills in wetlands, are met. for closure of existing with the and airport safety providing certain conditions Extend landfills unstable provisions. deadlines Approve detection Modify an alternative monitoring. list of assessment (Appendix frequency for
monitoring II constituents), for ,
parameters Specify
that do not comply area, floodplain,
alternative
frequencies
assessment Establish
monitoring. Ground-water Contaminant Protection for which a Level has not been
Operation:
q
Standards Maximum cover materials. of cover established. waivers
for any constituent
Allow use of alternative Grant temporary requirement.
Corrective action:
q
Determine Appendix
that cleanup II constituent
of a particular is not necessary.
Design:
Approve site-specific landfill designs appropriate for conditions.
Specify an alternative time period defining the end of corrective action.
Ground-water
Establish landfills landfills
monitoring:
schedules for existing of existing
Closure and post-closure care:
Approve use of an alternative beyond final cover. Grant extensions deadline boundary (or specified
alternative to comply
and lateral expansions
with ground-water
monitoring. Establish relevant a site-appropriate point of compliance)
for beginning
closure activities. specified closure.
Grant extensions deadline Reduce
beyond
for groundaction
for completing or increase
water monitoring and design).
q
(and corrective
the 30-year post-closure
care period. ground-water of separate system, systems instead
Allow use of a multi-unit monitoring monitoring facility.
for each unit at a
Financial assurance:
Approve assurance use of alternative mechanisms. financial
q
Modify
list of detection (Appendix
monitoring I constituents).
parameters
19
For More Information
maintains
F
or more information
about specific requirements
for solid waste landfills
in
your area, contact your state solid waste agency. If you don’t know how to reach them, call one of the resources listed below. The RCRA Hotline current lists of all state solid and hazardous waste management officials. it centers are the best place to start collecting if some other source maybe information,
While these information additional help.
may still be useful to ask these contacts
able to give you
RCRA Hotline
Provides information about RCRA regulations and policies, and takes document requests. Hours: Telephone: Monday-Fndayr 8:30 a.m. to 730 p.m., EST Toll-free — (800) 424-9346 TDD (hearing impaired) — (800) 553-7672 Washington metro area — (703) 412-9810 TDD — (703) 412-3323
EPA RCRA Information Center (Docket)
Maintains and tracks policy and guidance documents; provides nontechnical assistance and written reference services; develops and disseminates public information materials. Hours Telephone Address: Monday-Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., EST (202) 260-9327 RCRA Information Center U.S. Environmental Protection Agency 401 M Street, SW. (OS-305) Washington, DC 20460
Solid Waste Assistance Program
Collects and distributes information on all aspects of municipal solid waste management. Hours: Telephone Address: Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., EST
Toll-free — (800) 677-9424 Solid Waste Assistance Program P.O. Box 7219 Silver Spring, MD 20910
National Response Center
Accepts reports of oil and chemical spills or any other environmental Hours: Telephone: 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Toll-free — (800) 424-2675 Washington metro area — (202) 426-2675 incident.
EPA Small Business Ombudsman
Helps small businesses comply with environmental Hours Telephone laws and EPA regulations. Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., EST Toll-free — (800) 368-5888 Washington metro area — (703) 305-5938
20
EPA Regional Contacts
U.S. EPA Region 1 Waste Management Division (HEE-CAN 6) JFK Federal Building Boston, MA 02203 (617) 573-9656 U.S. EPA Region 2 Air & Waste Management Division (2AWM-SW) 26 Federal Plaza New York, NY 10278 (212) 264-0002 U.S. EPA Region 3 RCRA Solid Waste Program (3HW53) 841 Chestnut Street Philadelphia, PA 19107 (215) 597-7936 U.S. EPA Region 4 Waste Management Division (4WD-RCRA-FF) 345 Courtland Street, NE Atlanta, GA 30365 (404) 347-2091 U.S. EPA Region 5 Waste Management Division (H-7J) 77 West Jackson Blvd. Chicago, IL 60604 (312) 353-4686 U.S. EPA Region 6 RCRA Programs Branch First Interstate Bank Tower 1445 Ross Avenue, Suite 1200 Dallas, TX 75202 (214) 655-6655 U.S. EPA Region 7 Waste Management Division 726 Minnesota Avenue Kansas City, KS 66101 (913) 551-7666 U.S. EPA Region 8 Hazardous Waste Management Branch (HWM-WM) 999 18th Street, Suite 500 Denver, CO 80202-2466 (303) 293-1661 EPA Region 9 Hazardous Waste Management Division (H-3-1) 75 Hawthorne Street San Francisco, CA 94105 (415) 744-2074 U.S. EPA Region 10 Hazardous Waste Division (HW-114) 1200 Sixth Avenue Seattle, WA 98101 (206) 553-2857
U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE: 1993 719-116/61149
The information in this document has been funded wholly or in part by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) under assistance agreement #X820495-0l-0 to the Solid Waste Association of North America. It has been subjected to the Agency’s peer and administrative review and has been approved for publication as an EPA document. Mention of trade names or commercial products does not constitute endorsement or recommendation for use.