Alaska Administrative Code
Title 18 - Environmental Conservation
Chapter 75 - Oil and Other Hazardous Substances Pollution Control
Article 3 - Discharge Reporting, Cleanup, and Disposal of Oil and Other Hazardous Substances
18 AAC 75.335 - Site characterization

Universal Citation: 18 AK Admin Code 18 AAC 75.335

Current through February 27, 2024

(a) Before proceeding with site cleanup under the site cleanup rules, a responsible person shall characterize the extent of hazardous substance contamination at the site.

(b) A responsible person shall submit a site characterization work plan to the department for approval before beginning site characterization work. The department will approve the site characterization work plan if the work plan is

(1) prepared by a qualified environmental professional; and

(2) designed, to the maximum extent practicable, to
(A) determine if a discharge or release of a hazardous substance has occurred;

(B) identify each hazardous substance at the site, including the concentration and extent of contamination; this information must be sufficient to determine cleanup options;

(C) identify site characteristics or conditions that could result in ongoing site contamination, including the potential for leaching of in-situ contamination and the presence of leaking barrels, drums, tanks, or other containers;

(D) evaluate the potential threat to human health, safety, and welfare, and to the environment from site contamination;

(E) identify any interim removal action necessary under 18 AAC 75.330;

(F) locate sources of known site contamination, including a description of potential releases into soil, sediment, groundwater, or surface water;

(G) evaluate the size of the contaminated area, including the concentration and extent of any soil, sediment, groundwater, or surface water contamination;

(H) identify the vertical depth to groundwater and the horizontal distance to nearby wells, surface water, and water supply intakes;

(I) evaluate the potential for surface water runoff from the site and the potential for surface water or sediment contamination; and

(J) identify the soil type and determine if the soil is a continuing source of groundwater contamination.

(c) After completing site characterization work, the responsible person shall submit to the department for approval a site characterization report that

(1) is prepared by a qualified environmental professional;

(2) sets out the information obtained from activities performed in accordance with a site characterization work plan;

(3) sets out the results of sampling and analysis;

(4) demonstrates that the inspections, sampling, and analysis performed adequately characterized the extent of hazardous substance contamination; and

(5) proposes cleanup techniques for the site.

(d) The department will approve the report submitted under (c) of this section if the department determines that the work described in the report and the cleanup techniques proposed are protective of human health, safety, and welfare, and of the environment. The department will, as part of its approval, modify proposed cleanup techniques or require additional cleanup techniques for the site as the department determines to be necessary to protect human health, safety, and welfare, and the environment.

Authority:AS 46.03.020

AS 46.03.050

AS 46.03.710

AS 46.03.740

AS 46.03.745

AS 46.03.755

AS 46.04.020

AS 46.04.070

AS 46.09.010

AS 46.09.020

Disclaimer: These regulations may not be the most recent version. Alaska may have more current or accurate information. We make no warranties or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness, or adequacy of the information contained on this site or the information linked to on the state site. Please check official sources.
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