Current through Register Vol. 54, No. 44, November 2, 2024
(a) Except
as provided in subsection (b), the operator shall provide final cover in the
following manner:
(1) A cap shall be placed
and graded over the entire surface of each final lift. The cap may be no more
permeable than 1.0 x 10-7 cm/sec. The following
performance standards for the cap shall be met:
(i) The cap shall minimize the migration of
precipitation into the landfill.
(ii) The cap shall be resistant to physical
and chemical failure.
(iii) The cap
shall cover all areas where waste is disposed.
(2) A drainage layer capable of transmitting
flow and preventing erosion of the soil layer shall be placed over the
cap.
(3) A uniform layer of
material shall be placed over the drainage layer. The layer of material shall
support vegetation and protect the cap.
(b) The Department may waive the cap and
drainage layer requirements of subsection (a)(1) and (2) based on a
demonstration that it is not necessary to limit infiltration into the waste.
The demonstration shall include the following:
(1) The leachate production without a cap
will be equivalent to leachate production with a cap.
(2) Waiver of a cap will not cause or
contribute to groundwater degradation as a result of leachate
production.
(c) Unless
alternative design requirements to meet the performance standards in subsection
(a)(1) are approved as part of the permit under §
287.231 (relating to equivalency
review procedure), the cap shall meet the design requirements set forth for
caps in Appendix A, Table II (relating to minimum liner design
standards).
(d) The operator shall
place final cover within 1 year after disposal in the final lift ceases or as
soon thereafter as weather permits, unless the Department, in the permit,
allows a later period based on a demonstration that a later period is necessary
to protect the cap and drainage layer from differential settlement of waste at
the facility. The Department will not allow a later period unless, at a
minimum, delayed installation will not cause or allow violations of this
article, the act or the environmental protection acts.
(e) The layer of material described in
subsection (a)(3) shall meet the following performance standards. The layer
shall:
(1) Prevent vectors, odors, blowing
litter and other nuisances.
(2)
Cover solid waste after it is placed without change in its properties and
without regard to weather.
(3) Be
capable of allowing loaded vehicles to successfully maneuver over it after
placement.
(4) Be capable of
controlling fires.
(5) Be capable
of preventing frost damage to the cap.
(6) Be capable of supporting the germination
and propagation of vegetative cover as required by §§
288.236 and
288.237 (relating to revegetation;
and standards for successful revegetation).
(7) Not crack excessively when dry.
(8) Be consistent with the waste acceptance
plan.
(f) Unless
alternative design requirements to meet the performance standards in subsection
(e) are approved as part of the permit under §
287.231 (relating to equivalency
review procedure) the layer of material described in subsection (a)(3) shall
meet the following design requirements:
(1)
The cover soil shall fall within the United States Department of Agriculture
textural classes of sandy loam, loam, sandy clay loam, silty clay loam, loamy
sand and silt loam as defined in the Soil Survey Manual
published by the United States Department of Agriculture, Soil Conservation
Service (available from the Department or the Northeast National Technical
Center of the Soil Conservation Service, 160 E. 7th Street, Chester,
Pennsylvania 19013-6092).
(2) At
least 40% by weight of the cover soil shall be capable of passing through a 2
millimeter, No. 10 mesh sieve.
(3)
The cover may not include rocks that are greater than 6 inches in
diameter.
(4) The layer of cover
soil shall be at least 2 feet in thickness.
(g) The grade of final slopes shall be
designed, installed and maintained to accomplish the following:
(1) Ensure permanent stability.
(2) Control erosion due to rapid water
velocity and other factors.
(3)
Allow compaction, seeding and revegetation of cover material placed on the
slopes.
(4) Ensure minimal
infiltration and percolation of precipitation, surface water run-on and runoff
into the disposal area.
(h) Unless the Department authorizes a
different slope design in the permit based on a demonstration that the
different design can meet the requirements of subsection (g), slopes shall be
designed, installed and maintained as follows:
(1) The grade of the final surface of the
facility may not be less than 3%.
(2) If the Department approves final grades
of more than 15%:
(i) The operator shall
construct a horizontal terrace at least 15 feet wide on the slope for every 25
feet maximum rise in elevations on the slope. The terrace width shall be
measured as the horizontal distance between slope segments.
(ii) The gradient of the terrace shall be 5%
into the landfill.
(iii) Drainage
ditches shall be constructed on each horizontal terrace to convey
flows.
(3) An operator
may not leave final slopes that have a grade exceeding 33%, including slopes
between benched terraces.
This section cited in 25 Pa. Code §
288.141 (relating to compaction
and cover plan); and 25 Pa. Code §
288.232 (relating to topsoil
storage).
