Pennsylvania Code
Title 25 - ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
Part I - Department of Environmental Protection
Subpart D - Environmental Health and Safety
Article IX - Residual Waste Management
Chapter 289 - RESIDUAL WASTE DISPOSAL IMPOUNDMENTS
Subchapter C - OPERATING REQUIREMENTS
WATER QUALITY MONITORING
Section 289.266 - Groundwater assessment plan

(a) Requirement. A person or municipality operating a residual waste disposal impoundment shall prepare and submit to the Department a groundwater assessment plan within 60 days after one of the following occurs:

(b) Exception. The operator is not required to conduct an assessment under this section if one of the following applies:

(c) Assessment plan. The groundwater assessment plan shall specify the manner in which the operator will determine the existence, quality, quantity, areal extent and depth of groundwater degradation and the rate and direction of migration of contaminants in the groundwater. A groundwater assessment plan shall be prepared by an expert in the field of hydrogeology. The plan shall contain, at a minimum, the following information:

(d) The groundwater assessment plan shall be implemented upon approval by the Department in accordance with the approved implementation schedule, and shall be completed in a reasonable time not to exceed 6 months unless otherwise approved by the Department. If the Department determines that the proposed plan is inadequate, it may modify the plan and approve the plan as modified. The operator shall notify, in writing, each owner of a private or public water supply that is located within 1/2 mile downgradient of the disposal area that an assessment has been initiated.

(e) Within 45 days after the completion of the groundwater assessment plan, the operator shall submit a report containing the new data collected, analysis of the data and recommendations on the necessity for abatement.

(f) If the Department determines after review of the groundwater assessment report that implementation of an abatement plan is not required by § 289.267 (relating to abatement plan), the operator shall submit a permit modification application under § 287.222 (relating to permit modification) for necessary changes to the groundwater monitoring plan. The operator shall implement the modifications within 30 days of the Department's approval.

(g) This section does not prevent the Department from requiring, or the operator from conducting, groundwater abatement or water supply replacement concurrently with or prior to implementation of the assessment.