Indiana Administrative Code
Title 329 - SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT DIVISION
Article 10 - SOLID WASTE LAND DISPOSAL FACILITIES
Rule 21 - Municipal Solid Waste Landfills; Ground Water Monitoring Programs and Corrective Action Program Requirements
Section 21-7 - Detection ground water monitoring program

Universal Citation: 329 IN Admin Code 21-7

Current through March 20, 2024

Authority: IC 13-14-8-7; IC 13-15; IC 13-19-3

Affected: IC 13-20; IC 36-9-30

Sec. 7.

(a) A detection ground water monitoring program that satisfies the following requirements is required for all MSWLFs:

(1) Within the six (6) months following the scheduled date of compliance that is specified in section 1(a) of this rule, a minimum of four (4) independent background samples from each approved ground water monitoring well must be collected and analyzed for the constituents listed in section 15(a) of this rule (Table 1A). If a background data base, comprising data from every monitoring well approved by the commissioner and every constituent listed in section 15(a) of this rule (Table 1A), has been previously established, then additional independent samples are not required for the purpose of establishing background.

(2) Any ground water monitoring well installed after the scheduled date of compliance specified in section 1(a) of this rule and designated for detection monitoring must have minimum number of independent samples collected and analyzed for the constituents listed in section 15(a) of this rule (Table 1A). The minimum number of independent samples must satisfy the chosen statistical procedures and performance standards under section 6 of this rule.

(3) Subsequent sampling events during the active life, closure, and post-closure periods of the MSWLF must include the collection and analysis of at least one (1) independent sample from each approved ground water monitoring well. These samples must be analyzed for all constituents in section 15 of this rule (Table 1A and Table 1B). The detection monitoring frequency must be at least semiannual during the active life, closure, and post-closure periods.

(4) The commissioner may specify an alternative frequency for detection monitoring that must comply with the following:
(A) The alternative frequency must be no less than annual.

(B) The alternative frequency must be based on consideration of the following factors:
(i) Sedimentology of the aquifer and unsaturated zone.

(ii) Hydraulic conductivity of the aquifer and unsaturated zone.

(iii) Ground water flow rates.

(iv) Minimum distance between the upgradient permitted solid waste boundary and the downgradient ground water monitoring well screen.

(v) Resource value of the aquifer.

(vi) The fate and mode of transport of any constituents detected in response to detection monitoring.

(vii) Constituent concentrations recorded at the date of alternative frequency selection.

(5) The owner, operator, or permittee must determine, based on the results of sample collection and analysis performed in accordance with this subsection, whether any statistically significant increase in concentration has occurred for any constituent listed in section 15(a) of this rule (Table 1A). In order to make this determination, the owner, operator, or permittee must compare the samples to:
(A) background ground water quality;

(B) a ground water protection standard that has been established from a previous assessment ground water monitoring program conducted under section 10 of this rule; or

(C) a ground water protection standard that was established under 329 IAC 2-16-10, which was repealed in 1996.

(b) If a preliminary exceedance in a constituent concentration has been determined, through ground water detection monitoring performed in accordance with subsection (a), the owner, operator, or permittee must accomplish the following:

(1) Notify the commissioner within fourteen (14) days of the determination. The notification must include the following:
(A) Those constituents listed in section 15(a) of this rule (Table 1A) for which a preliminary exceedance in concentration has been observed and the last recorded concentration for each of those constituents.

(B) The identification of each ground water monitoring well where a preliminary exceedance was observed.

(C) Whether verification procedures and sampling as described under section 8 of this rule will be pursued.

(2) Establish, within ninety (90) days of determination of a statistically significant increase, an assessment ground water monitoring program that meets the requirements of section 10 of this rule unless the owner, operator, or permittee chooses:
(A) to institute a verification program, pursuant to section 8 of this rule; or

(B) to demonstrate, pursuant to section 9 of this rule.

(c) A corrective action program may be required during a detection monitoring program if a preliminary exceedance is verified and is attributable to the MSWLF and is an increase over either of the following:

(1) A ground water protection standard that has been established from a previous assessment ground water monitoring program conducted under section 10 of this rule.

(2) A ground water protection standard that was established under 329 IAC 2-16-10, which was repealed in 1996, for any constituent listed in section 15(a) of this rule (Table 1A).

(d) If, pursuant to subsection (c), the commissioner determines that a corrective action program is necessary, the owner, operator, or permittee must notify all pertinent local government officials, including the county commissioner, officials of the solid waste management district, and the county health department, of this determination.

(e) If the field pH for any ground water sample obtained at the monitoring boundary is determined to be above ten (10) or below five (5) standard pH units, the owner, operator, or permittee shall:

(1) within fourteen (14) days of the determination, notify the commissioner, in writing, of the identity of the ground water monitoring well or wells whose samples indicated an anomalous pH level, and of the corresponding pH values of those samples; and

(2) within sixty (60) days of the determination, submit a written report explaining the anomalous pH values to the commissioner. After reviewing the report, the commissioner may determine that an assessment ground water monitoring program, described under section 10 of this rule, is necessary.

(f) During detection monitoring, if arsenic (dissolved) is determined to exceed the MCL or, if established, the ground water protection standard for arsenic for any ground water sample obtained at the monitoring boundary, the owner, operator, or permittee shall notify the commissioner in writing within fourteen (14) days of the determination. The notification must include the following:

(1) The identification of each ground water monitoring well where samples indicated a concentration greater than the MCL or, if established, the ground water protection standard for arsenic.

(2) And, whether:
(A) assessment monitoring and corrective action programs under sections 10 and 13 of this rule [sections 10 and 13 of this rule] are to be initiated; or

(B) a demonstration, as described under section 9 of this rule, will be pursued while maintaining a detection monitoring program.

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