(1) For
composite-lined or composite-capped mining waste facilities, the department
shall schedule a preconstruction meeting with representatives of the owner
prior to the initiation of construction for each phase of construction of the
geomembrane component of the liner or cap. At a minimum, the meeting shall
include the design engineer, the appropriate department district and central
office staff, the engineer or engineers responsible for quality assurance of
all aspects of construction, and the geomembrane installer. The department
shall use the meeting to clarify or confirm design changes, acceptability of
selected construction materials, and construction concepts or practices
required in the approved plan of operation or identified in the preconstruction
report.
(2) The owner shall prepare
a preconstruction report for construction of each phase of a composite liner as
well as each phase of a composite capping or cover layer. The department may
also require a preconstruction report for each phase of construction that
utilizes other geosynthetics, or when other geosynthetic materials are used in
significant structural features of the facility. The owner shall submit the
preconstruction report to the department no later than 15 days prior to each of
the preconstruction meetings under sub. (1) for the construction of the
geomembrane component of a composite liner or a composite capping layer. Unless
otherwise specified, the owner shall submit 3 copies of each preconstruction
report to the appropriate department office as directed by the department. The
preconstruction report shall include all of the following:
(a) An explanation of any proposed revisions
to the plan of operation. The report shall include detail diagrams
incorporating the changes and include all instructions regarding the changes
between the owner, the installer, and the quality assurance contractor. The
report shall highlight and explain any proposed changes to the information
provided in the plan of operation. If, in the department's opinion, major
changes are proposed to previously approved plans, the department shall require
a plan modification approval. The report shall indicate the proposed limits of
installation and the schedule for construction.
(b) An identification of the manufacturer of
the geomembrane, GCL, and other geosynthetics used in construction,
manufacturer qualifications, technical specifications of the geomembrane resin
and polymer selected, technical specifications for geotextile and reinforcement
of the GCL, bentonite specifications used for manufacture of the GCL, and
results of the manufacturer's quality control tests on the geomembranes and
GCLs supplied to the project.
(bd)
An identification of the fabricator of geotextiles and other geosynthetics used
in site construction, technical specifications of the products and materials to
be used, methods used to bond the materials together and to connect panels
together, installation contractor, contractor qualifications, and on-site
supervisory staff.
(bh) A
description of any contractor-specific storage and material handling
procedures, deployment methods, attachment methods, panel overlaps, patching,
procedures for minimizing bentonite loss in the GCL, and acceptable limits on
sub-grade for geomembrane or GCL, including maximum rut depth, maximum stone
size, removal of gravel cobbles and other debris, and limits imposed by weather
conditions.
(bm) A description of
methods to be used to assure the GCL does not become saturated prior to
covering with soil and the procedure that will be followed if the GCL does
become saturated, methods and equipment to be used to place the geomembrane
over the GCL, and the maximum time between deployment of the GCL and placement
of soil cover layers.
(br) A
description of the selected materials and source of the sideslope riser pipe,
methods proposed to assemble and place the sideslope riser pipe, and measures
to be taken to prevent puncture of the geomembrane below the sideslope riser
pipe and protective drainage material.
(c) The results of a shear test conducted, in
accordance with ASTM method D5321, which is incorporated by reference, on the
soils and geosynthetic materials selected for use in construction of the liner
system and the final cover system. The test shall be conducted using wetted
soil and geomembrane interfaces. The shear test results shall be used to
evaluate the stability of the geomembrane component over the clay component and
the drainage layers and overburden placed on the geomembrane component. For
designs which utilize a GCL, the shear test results shall be used to evaluate
the stability of the geomembrane component over the GCL component and the soil
barrier layer and the drainage layers and overburden placed on the geomembrane
component. Wet unit weights of soils shall be used in analyses. If all soil and
geosynthetic materials to be used are identical to those that were tested for a
previous construction phase, then the test need not be conducted again. The
department may waive testing of materials which are proposed exclusively for
use on liners or final cover systems with slopes of less than 10 percent.
Note: Copies of the ASTM D5321/D5231M-20,
"Standard Test Method for Determining the Shear Strength of Soil-Geosynthetic
and Geosynthetic-Geosynthetic Interfaces by Direct Shear," revised 2020, are
available for inspection at the Department of Natural Resources, 101 South
Webster St., Madison, Wisconsin 53703; and the Legislative Reference Bureau, 1
E. Main St., Ste. 200; Madison, Wisconsin 53703; and for purchase at
http://www.astm.org.
(d) A quality control plan which provides all
information specified in s. NR 182.109(2) (c) 9., as well as identification of
the installation contractor, contractor qualifications, and on-site supervisory
staff. Any proposed changes to the quality control plan contained in a mining
waste facility's approved plan of operation shall be highlighted and
explained.
(e) A quality assurance
plan that provides all information specified in s. NR 182.109(2) (c) 10. and
11. and that identifies the registered professional engineer and qualified
technician who will be providing quality assurance and that summarizes of their
qualifications and related work experience.
