Code of Maine Rules
06 - DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
096 - DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION - GENERAL
Chapter 692 - SITING OF OIL STORAGE FACILITIES
Appendix 096-692-A - Determination of the Water Supply Potential of a Proposed New Oil Storage Facility on a Mapped Significant Sand and Gravel Aquifer

If the proposed facility site falls within a significant sand and gravelaquifer mapped as potentially yielding 10 or more gallons per minute (gpm) but no more than 50 gpm (moderate yield) or more than 50 gpm (high yield), the applicant may implement a Commissioner-approved hydrogeological evaluation to verify the actual aquifer yield at the location of the proposed facility.

The hydrogeological evaluation must determine to the Commissioner's satisfaction the well yield from a properly constructed well in the sand and gravel aquifer beneath the site.The hydrogeological plan and associated fieldwork must be completed by a Maine-certified geologist with demonstrated experience in hydrogeology. A written report, signed and certified by the Maine-certified geologist supervising the work, must be submitted to the Department for review and approval.

The Sand and Gravel Aquifer Mapping Program at the Maine Geological Survey has used a single-borehole evaluation to estimate the projected long-term yield of aquifers. The techniques are described on pages 15 to 18 of Maine Geological Survey Open File No. 98-2, Hydrogeology and Water Quality of Significant Sand and Gravel Aquifers in Parts of Piscataquis and Somerset Counties, Maine, 1998, Nichols, W. J., Neil, C. D., Locke, D. B. and Foley, M. E. (authors). Using this method, a single borehole is advanced to the bedrock surface with continuous soils sampling. Geological information including material observations and aquifer thickness, along with the grain size analysis of the representative soils in the overburden is used to calculate the aquifer transmissivity and to estimate the long-term yield of a well at that location. The Commissioner may consider other methods of aquifer evaluation based on the available hydrogeologic data of the aquifer if the data is considered to be applicable to the site under consideration.

NOTE: Copies of the above referenced technical document are available from the Department or the Maine Geological Survey.