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State
Washington Regulations
Chapter 173-351 WAC Criteria for municipal solid waste landfills

Last Update: 10/26/93



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173-351-010
Purpose, applicability and effective dates.
(1) Purpose. The purpose of this regulation is to establish minimum statewide standards for all municipal solid waste landfill (MSWLF) units under the authority of chapter 70.95 RCW as amended in order that jurisdictional health departments can enact ordinances equally as or more stringent than this regulation and to have jurisdictional health departments implement such ordinances through a permit system set forth in Section 700. It is also the purpose of this regulation to implement rule making by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) under the authority of subtitle D of the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA), as amended in 1984, and under the authority of Section 405(d) of the Clean Water Act as amended. The Clean Water Act required EPA "to establish standards for sewage sludge that is co-disposed with municipal solid waste." EPA satisfied both statutory requirements with the publication of 40 CFR Part 258-Criteria For Municipal Solid Waste Landfills on October 9, 1991. These minimum statewide criteria ensure the protection of human health and the environment.

(2) Applicability.

(a) These criteria apply to new MSWLF units, existing MSWLF units, and lateral expansions, except as otherwise specifically provided in this regulation; all other solid waste disposal facilities and practices that are not regulated under subtitle C of RCRA and chapter 70.105 RCW are subject to the criteria contained in 40 CFR Part 257, Criteria For Classification of Solid Waste Disposal Facilities, and/or chapter 173-304 WAC as amended.

Note: These rules do not apply to facilities that receive only inert and demolition waste, wood waste, industrial solid wastes, or other types of solid waste (other than household waste) disposed of in limited purpose landfills regulated in chapter 173-304 WAC, minimum functional standards for solid waste handling. Co-disposal of any solid waste with household waste is governed by these rules.

(b) These criteria do not apply to MSWLF units that do not receive waste on or after the effective date of this chapter. MSWLF units that stopped receiving waste prior to October 9, 1991, are subject to closure and post-closure rules under chapter 173-304 WAC, the Minimum Functional Standards for Solid Waste Handling. MSWLF units that received waste on and after October 9, 1991, but stop receiving waste prior to the effective date of this rule:

(i) Are also subject to federal closure rules under 40 CFR Part 258.60(a);

(ii) Will be subject to all the requirements of this regulation unless otherwise specified, if such MSWLF units fail to meet the federal closure rules under 40 CFR Part 258.60(a) by April 9, 1994, and the closure standards of chapter 173-304 WAC; except that jurisdictional health departments may grant time extensions to complete closure under 40 CFR Part 258.60(a) by October 9, 1994; and

(iii) Will be subject to the ground water monitoring and corrective action requirements of WAC 173-351-400 and the permitting requirements of WAC 173-351-700 if such MSWLF units are part of a multiunit ground water monitoring system of WAC 173-351-450(4).

(c) All MSWLF units that receive waste on or after the effective date of this chapter must comply with this chapter by the effective date of this chapter unless:

(i) Later effective dates are specified elsewhere in this chapter, such as WAC 173-351-400 (1)(b), ground water monitoring and WAC 173-351-600 (4)(c); or

(ii) The MSWLF unit is an existing MSWLF unit or an existing lateral expansion of an existing unit that:

(A) Disposed of 100 tons per day or less of solid waste during a representative period prior to the effective date of this chapter;

(B) Does not dispose of more than an average of 100 tons per day of solid waste each month between the effective date of this chapter and April 9, 1994; and

(C) Is not on the National Priorities List (NPL) as found in Appendix B to 40 CFR Part 300.

(d) MSWLF units that meet conditions of (c) of this subsection are exempt from all requirements of this rule but must meet the final cover requirement specified in 40 CFR 258.60(a) and the requirements of chapter 173-304 WAC. The final cover must be installed by October 9, 1994. Owners or operators of MSWLF units described in (c) and (d) of this section that fail to complete cover installation by October 9, 1994, will be subject to all requirements of this chapter, unless otherwise specified.

(e) MSWLF units failing to satisfy these criteria are considered open dumps for purposes of state solid waste management planning under RCRA.

(f) MSWLF units failing to satisfy these criteria constitute open dumps, which are prohibited under section 4005 of RCRA.

(g) MSWLF units containing sewage sludge and failing to satisfy these criteria violate Sections 309 and 405(e) of the Federal Clean Water Act.

Note: All state codes standards, rules and regulations cited in this chapter are available by writing to the Department of Ecology, P.O. Box 4-7600, Olympia, Washington 98504-7600, or call 1-800-RECYCLE for the location of the nearest regional office of the department.




[Statutory Authority: Chapter 70.95 RCW and 40 CFR 258. 93-22-016, § 173-351-010, filed 10/26/93, effective 11/26/93.]




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173-351-100
Definitions.
Unless otherwise noted, all terms contained in this part are defined by their plain meaning. This section contains definitions for terms that appear throughout this regulation; additional definitions appear in the specific sections to which they apply.

"Active area" means that part of a facility that includes the active portion and portions of a facility that recycle, store, treat, or dispose of solid (including liquid) wastes. The active area includes leachate treatment facilities and runoff ponds. It excludes run-on ponds and on-site roads which are used for any purpose; on-site roads are considered part of the buffer zone. See active portion and buffer zone definition below.

"Active life" means the period of operation beginning with the initial receipt of solid waste and ending at completion of closure activities in accordance with WAC 173-351-500, Closure and post-closure care.

"Active portion" means that part of a facility or MSWLF unit that has received or is receiving wastes and that has not been closed in accordance with WAC 173-351-500, Closure and post-closure care.

"Airport." See WAC 173-351-130 (2)(d)(i).

"Areas susceptible to mass movement." See WAC 173-351-130 (7)(b)(iv).

"Arid" means locations in the state of Washington having less than twelve inches (30 centimeters) of precipitation annually.

"Biosolids" means municipal sewage sludge that is a primarily organic, semisolid product resulting from the wastewater treatment process, that can be beneficially recycled and meets all requirements under chapter 70.95J RCW. Biosolids includes septic tank sludge, also known as septage, that can be beneficially recycled and meets all requirements of chapter 70.95J RCW.

"Bird hazard." See WAC 173-351-130 (2)(d)(ii).

"Buffer zone" means that part of a facility which lies between the active area and the property boundary.

"Closure" means those actions taken by the owner or operator of a MSWLF unit or facility to cease disposal operations and to ensure that a MSWLF unit or facility is closed in conformance with applicable regulations at the time of such closures and to prepare the site for the post-closure period. Closure is considered part of operation. See definition of operation.

"Commercial solid waste" means all types of solid waste generated by stores, offices, restaurants, warehouses, and other nonmanufacturing activities, excluding residential and industrial wastes.

"Composite layer." See WAC 173-351-500 (1)(i)(B).

"Composite liner." See WAC 173-351-300 (2)(a)(ii).

"Construction quality assurance" means a planned system of activities that provide assurance that a facility is constructed as specified in the design and that the materials used in construction are manufactured according to specifications. Construction quality assurance includes inspections, verifications, audits, and evaluations of materials and workmanship necessary to determine and document the quality of the constructed facility.

"Construction quality control" means a planned system of activities that is used to directly monitor and control the quality of a construction project. Construction quality controls are the measures under taken by the contractor or installer to determine compliance with requirements for workmanship and materials put forth in the plans and specification for the construction project.

"Contaminate" means to allow to discharge a substance into ground water that would cause:

The concentration of that substance in the ground water to exceed the maximum contamination level specified in chapter 173-200 WAC; or

A statistically significant increase in the concentration of that substance in the ground water where the existing concentration of that substance exceeds the maximum contaminant level specified in chapter 173-200 WAC; or

A statistically significant increase above background in the concentration of a substance which:

Is not specified in chapter 173-200 WAC; and

Is present in the solid waste; and

Has been determined to present a substantial risk to human health or the environment in the concentrations found at the point of compliance by the jurisdictional health department in consultation with the department and the department of health.

"Dangerous wastes" means any solid waste designated as dangerous waste under chapter 173-303 WAC, the Dangerous waste regulations.

"Demolition waste" means solid waste, largely inert waste resulting from the demolition or razing of buildings, roads and other man-made structures.

"Demonstration" means a showing by the owner or operator that human health and the environment can be protected as equally as a given requirement in the regulation. A demonstration is made in the application for a permit under WAC 173-351-700. A successful demonstration allows or authorizes an activity authorized for the life of the facility unless an alternative time period is approved by the jurisdictional health department.

"Department" means the department of ecology.

"Disease vectors." See WAC 173-351-200 (3)(b).

"Displacement." See WAC 173-351-130 (5)(b)(ii).

"Disposal" or "deposition" means the discharge, deposit, injection, dumping, leaking, or placing of any solid waste into or on any land or water.

"Establish" means to construct a new or laterally expanded MSWLF unit.

"Existing MSWLF unit" means any municipal solid waste landfill unit that is receiving solid waste as of the appropriate dates specified in WAC 173-351-010 (2)(c). Waste placement in existing units must be consistent with past operating practices or modified practices to ensure good waste management practices, including operating plans approved under chapter 173-304 WAC. For the purposes of this rule, any existing horizontal expansion approved by the jurisdictional health department for which as-built plans documenting construction prior to the effective date of this chapter, have been prepared and submitted to the jurisdictional health department shall be considered an existing MSWLF unit.

"Fault." See WAC 173-351-130 (5)(b)(i).

"Facility" means all contiguous land and structures, other appurtenances, and improvements on the land used for the disposal of solid waste.

"Floodplain." See WAC 173-351-130 (3)(b)(i).

"Free liquids." See WAC 173-351-200(9).

"Gas condensate." See WAC 173-351-200 (9)(c)(ii).

"Ground water" means water below the land surface in a zone of saturation.

"Holocene." See WAC 173-351-130 (5)(b)(iii).

"Household waste" means any solid waste (including garbage, trash, and sanitary waste in septic tanks) derived from households (including household hazardous waste) (including single and multiple residences, hotels and motels, bunkhouses, ranger stations, crew quarters, campgrounds, picnic grounds, and day-use recreation areas). This term does not include commercial, industrial, inert and demolition waste, or wood waste.

Note: Sanitary waste in septic tanks that is not disposed of in a MSWLF unit is subject to other state and federal rules.

"Hydrostratigraphic unit" means any water-bearing geologic unit or units hydraulically connected or grouped together on the basis of similar hydraulic conductivity which can be reasonably monitored; several geologic formations or part of a geologic formation may be grouped into a single hydrostratigraphic unit; perched sand lenses may be considered a hydrostratigraphic unit or part of a hydrostratigraphic unit, for example.

Note: 'Hydraulically connected' denotes water-bearing units which can transmit water to other transmissive units.

"Inert waste" means noncombustible, nondangerous solid wastes that are likely to retain their physical and chemical structure under expected conditions of disposal, including resistance to biological attack and chemical attack from acidic rain water.

"Industrial solid wastes" means solid waste or waste by-products generated by manufacturing or industrial processes such as scraps, trimmings, packing, pallets, and other discarded materials not otherwise designated as dangerous waste under chapter 173-303 WAC, the Dangerous waste regulations. This term does not include commercial, inert, demolition, construction, woodwaste, mining waste, or oil and gas waste but does include lunch room, office, or other similar waste generated by employees at the industrial facility.

"Jurisdictional health department" means city, county, city-county, or district public health department as defined in chapters 70.05, 70.08, and 70.46 RCW.

"Landfill." See "Facility."

"Lateral expansion" means a horizontal expansion of the waste boundaries of an existing MSWLF unit that is not an existing horizontal expansion. (See also definition of "existing MSWLF unit.")

"Leachate" means a liquid that has passed through or emerged from solid waste and contains soluble, suspended, or miscible materials removed from such waste.

"Lithified earth material." See WAC 173-351-200 (6)(b)(iii).

"Liquid waste." See WAC 173-351-200 (9)(c)(i).

"Lower explosive limit." See WAC 173-351-200 (4)(d).

"Maximum horizontal acceleration in lithified earth material." See WAC 173-351-200 (6)(b)(ii).

"Modification" means a substantial change in the design or operational plans including removal of a design element of a MSWLF unit previously set forth in a permit application or a disposal or processing activity that is not approved in the permit. To be considered a substantial change, a modification must be reasonably related to a specific requirement of this rule. Lateral expansions, a fifty percent increase or greater in design volume capacity or changes resulting in significant adverse environmental impacts that have lead a responsible official to issue a declaration of significance under WAC 197-11-736 shall not be considered a modification but would require permit reissuance under these rules.

"Municipal sewage sludge" means a semisolid substance consisting of settled sewage solids combined with varying amounts of water and dissolved materials generated from a publicly owned wastewater treatment plant. For the purposes of this rule sewage sludge generated from publicly owned leachate waste treatment works that receive sewage from on-site sanitary facilities shall not be considered to be municipal sewage sludge.

"Municipal solid waste landfill unit (MSWLF unit)" means a discrete area of land or an excavation that receives household waste, and that is not a land application unit, surface impoundment, injection well, or waste pile, as those terms are defined under chapter 173-304 WAC, the Minimum functional standards for solid waste handling or chapter 173-218 WAC, Underground injection control program. A MSWLF unit also may receive other types of RCRA subtitle D wastes, such as commercial solid waste, nonhazardous sludge, conditionally-exempt small quantity generator waste, and industrial solid waste. Such a landfill may be publicly or privately owned. A MSWLF unit may be a new MSWLF unit, an existing MSWLF unit, or a lateral expansion.

"New MSWLF unit" means any municipal solid waste landfill unit that has not received waste prior to the effective date of this regulation.

"Nonarid" means locations in the state of Washington having equal to or more than twelve inches (30 centimeters) of precipitation annually.

"Nuisance" means unlawfully doing an act, or omitting to perform a duty, which act or omission either annoys, injures, or endangers the comfort, repose, health or safety of others, offends decency, or unlawfully interferes with, obstructs or tends to obstruct, any lake or navigable river, bay, stream, canal, or basin, or any public park, square, street or highway; or in any way renders other persons insecure in life, or in the use of property.

"100-year flood." See WAC 173-351-130 (3)(b)(ii).

"Open burning" means the combustion of solid waste without:

Control of combustion air to maintain adequate temperature for efficient combustion;

Containment of the combustion reaction in an enclosed device so as to provide sufficient residence time and mixing for complete combustion; and

Control of the emission of the combustion products.

"Operator" means the person(s) responsible for the overall operation of a facility or part of a facility.

"Operation" means those actions taken by an owner or operator of a facility or MSWLF unit beginning with waste acceptance at a facility or MSWLF unit up to and including closure of the facility or MSWLF unit.

"Owner" means the person(s) who owns a facility or part of a facility.

"Point of compliance" means the point located on land owned by the owner of the MSWLF unit, and is no more than one hundred fifty meters (four hundred ninety-two feet) from the waste management unit boundary; see also WAC 173-351-300 (2)(c).

"Poor foundation conditions." See WAC 173-351-130 (7)(b)(ii).

"Post-closure" means those actions taken by an owner or operator of a facility or MSWLF unit after closure.

"Purchase" means execution of a long term lease, securing of options to purchase or execution of agreements to purchase.

"Qualified ground-water scientist." See WAC 173-351-400(2).

"Random inspection." See WAC 173-351-200 (1)(b)(ii).

"Regulated dangerous waste." See WAC 173-351-200 (1)(b)(i).

"Run-off" means any rainwater, leachate, or other liquid that drains over land from any part of a facility.

"Run-on" means any rainwater, leachate, or other liquid that drains over land onto any part of a facility.

"Saturated zone" means that part of the earth's crust in which all voids are filled with water.

"Seismic impact zone." See WAC 173-351-130 (6)(b)(i).

"Sewage sludge" means a semisolid substance consisting of settled sewage solids combined with varying amounts of water and dissolved materials generated from a wastewater treatment system, that does not meet the requirements of chapter 70.95J RCW.

"Sludge" means any solid, semisolid, or liquid waste generated from a municipal, commercial, or industrial wastewater treatment plant, water supply treatment plant, or air pollution control facility exclusive of the treated effluent from a wastewater treatment plant.

"Sole source aquifer." See WAC 173-351-140 (1)(b)(vii).

"Solid waste" means all putrescible and nonputrescible solid and semisolid wastes including, but not limited to garbage, rubbish, ashes, industrial wastes, commercial waste, swill, sewage sludge, demolition and construction wastes, abandoned vehicles or parts thereof, discarded commodities and recyclable materials.

"Structural components." See WAC 173-351-130 (7)(b)(ii).

"Unstable area." See WAC 173-351-130 (7)(b)(i).

"Vadose zone" means that portion of a geologic formation in which soil pores contain some water, the pressure of that water is less than atmospheric, and the formation occurs above the zone of saturation.

"Vulnerability." See WAC 173-351-140 (1)(b).

"Waste management unit" means a MSWLF unit.

"Waste management unit boundary" means a vertical surface located at the hydraulically down gradient limit of the unit. This vertical surface extends down into the hydrostratigraphic unit(s) identified in the hydrogeologic report.

"Waters of the state" means lakes, rivers, ponds, streams, inland waters, underground waters, salt water, and all other surface waters and watercourses within the jurisdiction of the state of Washington.

"Wetlands." See WAC 173-351-130 (4)(b).

"Woodwaste" means solid waste consisting of wood pieces or particles generated as a by-product or waste from the manufacturing of wood products, handling and storage of raw materials and trees and stumps.



[Statutory Authority: Chapter 70.95 RCW and 40 CFR 258. 93-22-016, § 173-351-100, filed 10/26/93, effective 11/26/93.]




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173-351-120
Consideration of other local, state, and federal laws.
The owner or operator of a municipal solid waste landfill unit must comply with any other applicable federal, state, and local rules, laws, regulations, or other requirements.

Note: Except for 40 CFR Part 258.60(f) and 258.60(g) set forth in WAC 173-351-010 (2)(b)(ii), 40 CFR Part 258 is not an applicable federal rule for purposes of this section.




[Statutory Authority: Chapter 70.95 RCW and 40 CFR 258. 93-22-016, § 173-351-120, filed 10/26/93, effective 11/26/93.]




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173-351-130
Location restrictions.
(1) Applicability.

(a) On and after the effective date of this chapter, all MSWLF units shall meet the locational restrictions of this section unless otherwise specified.

(b) Existing MSWLF units that cannot make the demonstration specified in subsection (2)(a) of this section, pertaining to airports, subsection (3)(a) of this section, pertaining to floodplains, subsection (7)(a) of this section, pertaining to unstable areas, must close by October 9, 1996, and conduct post-closure in accordance with WAC 173-351-500, Closure and post-closure care.

(c) The deadline for closure required by (b) of this subsection may be extended up to two years if the owner or operator demonstrates to the jurisdictional health department during the permitting process of WAC 173-351-700 that:

(i) There is no available alternative disposal capacity; and

(ii) There is no immediate threat to human health and the environment.

Note: Owners or operators of MSWLFs should be aware that the state department of health has adopted a state wellhead protection program in accordance with section 1428 of the Safe Drinking Water Act. Owners and operators should also be aware of locational restrictions which may exist through the process of designating and implementing Ground Water Management Areas, under chapter 173-100 WAC, and through the Special Protection Areas of chapter 173-200 WAC.

(2) Airport safety.

(a) Owners or operators of new MSWLF units, existing MSWLF units, and/or lateral expansions that are located within ten thousand feet (three thousand forty-eight meters) of any airport runway end used by turbojet aircraft or within five thousand feet (one thousand twenty-four meters) of any airport runway end used by only piston-type aircraft must demonstrate that the units are designed and operated so that the MSWLF unit does not pose a bird hazard to aircraft.

(b) Owners or operators proposing to site new MSWLF units and/or lateral expansions within a five-mile (eight kilometer) radius of any airport runway end used by turbojet or piston-type aircraft must notify the effected airport and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

(c) The owner or operator must place the demonstration required by (a) of this subsection in the application for a permit under WAC 173-351-700 and be issued a solid waste permit by the jurisdictional health department.

(d) For purposes of this subsection:

(i) "Airport" means public-use airport open to the public without prior permission and without restrictions within the physical capacities of available facilities.

(ii) "Bird hazard" means an increase in the likelihood of bird/aircraft collisions that may cause damage to the aircraft or injury to its occupants.

(3) Floodplains.

(a) Owners or operators of new MSWLF units, existing MSWLF units, and lateral expansions located in 100-year floodplains must demonstrate that the unit will not restrict the flow of the 100-year flood, reduce the temporary water storage capacity of the floodplain, or result in washout of solid waste so as to pose a hazard to human health and the environment. The owner or operator must place the demonstration in the application for a permit under WAC 173-351-700 and be issued a solid waste permit by the jurisdictional health department.

(b) For purposes of this subsection:

(i) "Floodplain" means the lowland and relatively flat areas adjoining inland and coastal waters, including flood-prone areas of offshore islands, that are inundated by the 100-year flood.

(ii) "100-year flood" or "base flood" means a flood that has a one-percent or less chance of recurring in any given year or a flood of a magnitude equalled or exceeded once in one hundred years on the average over a significantly long period.

(iii) "Washout" means the carrying away of solid waste by waters of the base flood.

(4) Wetlands.

(a) New MSWLF units and lateral expansions shall not be located in wetlands, unless the owner or operator can make the following demonstrations during the permit process of WAC 173-351-700:

(i) The construction and operation of the MSWLF unit will not:

(A) Cause or contribute to violations of chapter 173-201A WAC, Water quality standards for surface waters of the state of Washington and chapter 173-200 WAC, Water quality standards for ground waters of the state of Washington;

(B) Violate any applicable toxic effluent standard or prohibition under Section 307 of the Federal Clean Water Act or chapter 173-220 WAC, the National Pollutant discharge elimination system permit program;

(C) Jeopardize the continued existence of endangered or threatened species or result in the destruction or adverse modification of a critical habitat, protected under the Federal Endangered Species Act of 1973; and

(D) Violate any requirement under the Federal Marine Protection, Research, and Sanctuaries Act of 1972 for the protection of a marine sanctuary;

(ii) The MSWLF unit will not cause or contribute to significant degradation of wetlands. The owner or operator must demonstrate during the permit process of WAC 173-351-700 the integrity of the MSWLF unit and its ability to protect ecological resources by addressing the following factors:

(A) Erosion, stability, and migration potential of native wetland soils, muds, and deposits used to support the MSWLF unit;

(B) Erosion, stability, and migration potential of dredged and fill materials used to support the MSWLF unit;

(C) The volume and chemical nature of the waste managed in the MSWLF unit;

(D) Impacts on fish, wildlife, and other aquatic resources and their habitat from release of the solid waste;

(E) The potential effects of catastrophic release of solid waste to the wetland and the resulting impacts on the environment; and

(F) Any additional factors, as necessary, to demonstrate during the permit process of WAC 173-351-700 that ecological resources in the wetland are sufficiently protected.

(iii) Where applicable under Section 404 of the Federal Clean Water Act or applicable state wetlands laws and regulations (e.g. chapter 173-22 WAC, Adoption of designations of wetlands associated with shorelines of the state), the presumption that a practicable alternative to the proposed landfill is available which does not involve wetlands is clearly rebutted;

(iv) To the extent required under Section 404 of the Federal Clean Water Act steps have been taken to attempt to achieve no net loss of wetlands (as defined by acreage and function) by:

(A) Avoiding impacts to wetlands to the maximum extent practicable as required by (a)(iii) of this subsection;

(B) Minimizing unavoidable impacts to the maximum extent practicable; and

(C) Finally offsetting remaining unavoidable wetlands impacts through all appropriate and practicable compensatory mitigation actions (e.g., restoration and maintenance of existing degraded wetlands or creation of man-made wetlands);

(v) Sufficient information is available to make a reasonable determination with respect to these demonstrations.

(b) For purposes of this subsection, "wetlands" means those areas that are defined in 40 CFR 232.2(r): Areas that are inundated or saturated by surface or ground water at a frequency and duration sufficient to support, and that under normal circumstances do support, a prevalence of vegetation typically adapted for life in saturated soil conditions. Wetlands include, but are not limited to, swamps, marshes, bogs, and similar areas.

(5) Fault areas.

(a) New MSWLF units and lateral expansions shall not be located within two hundred feet (sixty meters) of a fault that has had displacement in Holocene time unless the owner or operator demonstrates during the permit process of WAC 173-351-700 that an alternative setback distance of less than two hundred feet (sixty meters) will prevent damage to the structural integrity of the MSWLF unit and will be protective of human health and the environment.

(b) For the purposes of this subsection:

(i) "Fault" means a fracture or a zone of fractures in any material along which strata on one side have been displaced with respect to that on the other side.

(ii) "Displacement" means the relative movement of any two sides of a fault measured in any direction.

(iii) "Holocene" means the most recent epoch of the Quaternary period, extending from the end of the Pleistocene Epoch to the present.

(6) Seismic impact zones.

(a) New MSWLF units and lateral expansions shall not be located in seismic impact zones, unless the owner or operator demonstrates during the permit process of WAC 173-351-700 to the jurisdictional health department that all containment structures, including liners, leachate collection systems, and surface water control systems, are designed to resist the maximum horizontal acceleration in lithified earth material for the site. The owner or operator must place the demonstration in the application for a permit under WAC 173-351-700 and be issued a solid waste permit by the jurisdictional health department.

(b) For the purposes of this subsection:

(i) "Seismic impact zone" means an area with a ten percent or greater probability that the maximum horizontal acceleration in lithified earth material, expressed as a percentage of the earth's gravitational pull, will exceed 0.10g in two hundred fifty years.

(ii) "Maximum horizontal acceleration in lithified earth material" means the maximum expected horizontal acceleration depicted on a seismic hazard map, with a ninety percent or greater probability that the acceleration will not be exceeded in two hundred fifty years, or the maximum expected horizontal acceleration based on a site-specific seismic risk assessment.

(iii) "Lithified earth material" means all rock, including all naturally occurring and naturally formed aggregates or masses of minerals or small particles of older rock that formed by crystallization of magma or by induration of loose sediments. This term does not include man-made materials, such as fill, concrete, and asphalt, or unconsolidated earth materials, soil, or regolith lying at or near the earth surface.

(7) Unstable areas.

(a) Owners or operators of new MSWLF units, existing MSWLF units, and lateral expansions located in an unstable area must demonstrate that engineering measures have been incorporated into the MSWLF unit's design to ensure that the integrity of the structural components of the MSWLF units will not be disrupted. The owner or operator must place the demonstration in the application for a permit under WAC 173-351-700 and be issued a solid waste permit by the jurisdictional health department. The owner or operator must consider the following factors, at a minimum, when determining whether an area is unstable:

(i) On-site or local soil conditions that may result in significant differential settling;

(ii) On-site or local geologic or geomorphologic features; and

(iii) On-site or local human-made features or events (both surface and subsurface).

(b) For purposes of this subsection:

(i) "Unstable area" means a location that is susceptible to natural or human-induced events or forces capable of impairing the integrity of some or all of the landfill structural components responsible for preventing releases from a landfill. Unstable areas can include poor foundation conditions, and areas susceptible to mass movements.

(ii) "Structural components" means liners, leachate collection systems, final covers, run-on/run-off systems, and any other component used in the construction and operation of the MSWLF that is necessary for protection of human health and the environment.

(iii) "Poor foundation conditions" means those areas where features exist which indicate that a natural or man-induced event may result in inadequate foundation support for the structural components of a MSWLF unit.

(iv) "Areas susceptible to mass movement" means those areas of influence (i.e., areas characterized as having an active or substantial possibility of mass movement) where the movement of earth material at, beneath, or adjacent to the MSWLF unit, because of natural or human-induced events, results in the downslope transport of soil and rock material by means of gravitational influence. Areas of mass movement include, but are not limited to, landslides, avalanches, debris slides and flows, soil fluction, block sliding, and rock fall.



[Statutory Authority: Chapter 70.95 RCW and 40 CFR 258. 93-22-016, § 173-351-130, filed 10/26/93, effective 11/26/93.]




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173-351-140
Other location restrictions.
(1) Ground water.

(a) Liner separation. No new MSWLF unit or lateral expansion shall be located at a site where the bottom of the lowest liner is any less than ten feet (three meters) above the seasonal high level of ground water in any water bearing unit which is horizontally and vertically extensive, hydraulically recharged and volumetrically significant as to harm or endanger the integrity of the liner at any time, unless a demonstration during the permit process of WAC 173-351-700 can be made that a hydraulic gradient control system or the equivalent can be installed to control ground water fluctuations and maintain a five foot (1.5 meter) separation between the controlled seasonal high level of ground water in the identified water-bearing unit and the bottom of the lowest liner. The owner or operator must place the demonstration in the application for a permit under WAC 173-351-700 and be issued a solid waste permit by the jurisdictional health department.

This demonstration must include:

(i) A hydrogeologic report required in WAC 173-351-490 including a discussion showing the effects from subsoil settlement, changes in surrounding land uses affecting ground water levels, liner leakage or other impacts will not bring any hydrostratigraphic unit to within five feet (1.5 meters) of the bottom of the lowest liner during the active life, closure and post-closure of the MSWLF unit;

(ii) Any currently available ground/surface water quality data for aquifers, springs, or streams in direct hydrologic contact with landfill's active area;

(iii) A showing that any gradient-control discharges to ground water will not adversely impact existing ground water/surface water users or the instream flow of surface waters in direct hydrologic contact or continuity with the landfill's hydraulic gradient control system;

(iv) Conceptual engineering drawings of the proposed MSWLF unit and discussion as to how the hydraulic gradient control system will not affect the structural integrity nor performance of the liner;

(v) Design specifications for the proposed ground and surface water monitoring systems; and

(vi) Preliminary engineering drawings of the hydraulic gradient control system (if applicable).

(b) Sole source aquifers. No new MSWLF unit or lateral expansion shall be located over a designated sole source aquifer unless the owner or operator can demonstrate during the permit process of WAC 173-351-700 that the sole source aquifer is not vulnerable to potential ground water contamination from the active area. Vulnerability is defined as the propensity or likelihood of a sole source aquifer to become contaminated should the integrity of the engineering control (including liners) fail; it is a measure of the propensity to deteriorate the water quality of a sole source aquifer, and takes into account an assessment of the physical barriers, the physical movement of contaminants, the hydraulic properties of the subsurface lithology; the rate of a contaminant plume movement; the physical and chemical characteristics of contaminants; and it also includes an assessment of the likelihood and ease for contaminant removal or clean-up, or the arrest of contamination, so as to not impact any further portion of the designated sole source aquifer. The owner or operator must place the demonstration in the application for a permit under WAC 173-351-700 and be issued a solid waste permit by the jurisdictional health department. Such a vulnerability demonstration must include the submission of a hydrogeologic report as required in WAC 173-351-490 and additionally must meet the following performance criteria:

(i) Demonstrates the presence of confining units or other lithology that will prevent the migration of ground water contamination;

(ii) Addresses the fate and transport of contaminants, including interactions in the lithologic framework, hydrogeochemical facies, contaminant travel times;

(iii) Defines and summarizes the ground water budgets for the active area and the sole source aquifer including recharge and discharge areas and includes flow net diagrams;

(iv) Provides a contingency and ground water assessment plan for the immediate arrest of any ground water contamination and steps to assess the extent of contamination;

(v) Design specifications for the proposed ground and surface water monitoring systems;

(vi) Is prepared by a hydrogeologist or other professional ground water scientist in accordance with WAC 173-351-400(2); and

(vii) "Sole source aquifer" means an aquifer designated by the Environmental Protection Agency pursuant to Section 1424e of the Safe Drinking Water Act (PL 93-523).

(c) Drinking water supply wells. No new MSWLF unit or lateral expansion active area shall be located closer than one thousand feet (three hundred meters) to any drinking water supply well, in use and existing at the time of the purchase of the property containing the active area unless the owner or operator can demonstrate during the permit process of WAC 173-351-700 that the active area is no less than a ninety-day hydraulic travel time to the nearest down-gradient drinking water supply well in the first useable aquifer. The owner or operator must place the demonstration in the application for a permit under WAC 173-351-700 and be issued a solid waste permit by the jurisdictional health department. Such a demonstration must include:

(i) A hydrogeologic report required in WAC 173-351-490; and the necessary calculations for showing compliance with the ninety-day travel time; the ninety-day travel time shall be based on the peak or full pumping capacity of installed nearby wells and include potentiometric surface maps showing well capture zones and radius of influence;

(ii) Any currently available ground/surface water quality data for aquifers, springs, or streams in direct hydrologic contact with landfill's active area;

(iii) The waste management unit boundaries at facility closure;

(iv) Design specifications for the proposed ground and surface water monitoring systems; and

(v) A statement that the demonstration has been prepared by a hydrogeologist or qualified ground water scientist in accordance with 173-351-400(2).

(2) Surface water. No new MSWLF unit or lateral expansion active area shall be located within two hundred feet (sixty-one meters) measured horizontally from the ordinary high water mark, of a shoreline of the state as defined in RCW 90.58.030 (which includes some wetlands associated with waters of the state), nor any public land that is being used by a public water system for watershed control for municipal drinking water purposes in accordance with WAC 246-290-450.

See also wetlands in WAC 173-351-130(4). Local wetlands protection ordinances should be consulted to determine if greater setbacks are required.

(3) Land use. No new MSWLF unit or lateral expansion shall be located:

(a) In areas designated by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service or the department of wildlife as critical habitat for endangered or threatened species of plants, fish, or wildlife;

(b) So that the active area is any closer than one hundred feet (thirty meters) to the facility property line for land zoned as nonresidential or for unzoned lands, except that the active area shall be no closer than two hundred fifty feet (seventy-six meters) to the property line of adjacent land zoned as residential, existing at the time of the purchase of the property containing the active area.

(c) So as to be at variance with any locally-adopted land use plan or zoning requirement unless otherwise provided by local law or ordinance; and

(d) So that the active area is any closer than one thousand feet (three hundred meters) to any state or national park.

(4) Toxic air emissions. See WAC 173-351-200 (5)(a).

(5) Cover material. See WAC 173-351-200 (2)(a).

(6) Capacity. See WAC 173-351-010 (2)(c).

(7) Climatic factors. See WAC 173-351-300 (2)(b) for climatic factors.

(8) Natural soils. See WAC 173-351-300(2) for soil liner standards.



[Statutory Authority: Chapter 70.95 RCW and 40 CFR 258. 93-22-016, § 173-351-140, filed 10/26/93, effective 11/26/93.]




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173-351-200
Operating criteria.
(1) Procedures for excluding the receipt of dangerous waste.

(a) Owners or operators of all MSWLF units must implement a program at the facility for detecting and preventing the disposal of regulated dangerous wastes including polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB) waste as defined in chapter 173-303 WAC, the Dangerous waste regulations. This program must include, at a minimum:

(i) Random inspections of incoming loads unless the owner or operator takes other steps (for example, instituting source controls and restricting the type of waste received) to ensure that incoming loads do not contain regulated dangerous waste or PCB wastes;

(ii) Records of any inspections;

(iii) Training of facility personnel to recognize regulated dangerous waste and PCB wastes; and

(iv) Immediate notification of the department and the jurisdictional health department if a regulated dangerous waste or PCB waste is discovered at the facility.

(b) For purposes of this subsection:

(i) "Regulated dangerous waste" means a solid waste that is a dangerous waste as defined in WAC 173-303-070, Designation of dangerous waste, including asbestos not managed in accordance to 40 CFR Part 61, that is not excluded from regulation as a dangerous waste under WAC 173-303-071 or was not generated by an exempted small quantity generator as defined in WAC 173-303-070; and

(ii) "Random inspection" means:

(A) Discharging a random waste load onto a suitable surface. A suitable surface shall be chosen to avoid interference with operations so that sorted waste can be distinguished from other loads of uninspected waste, so as to avoid litter and to contain runoff;

(B) Viewing the contents prior to actual disposal of the waste; and

(C) Allowing the facility owner or operator to return excluded wastes to the hauler, arrange for disposal of excluded wastes at a facility permitted to manage dangerous waste, or take other measures to prevent disposal of the excluded wastes at the facility.

(2) Cover material requirements.

(a) Except as provided in (b) of this subsection, the owners or operators of all MSWLF units must cover disposed solid waste with six inches (fifteen centimeters) of earthen material, i.e., soils, at the end of each operating day, or at more frequent intervals if necessary, to control disease vectors, fires, odors, blowing litter, and scavenging.

(b) Alternative materials of an alternative thickness other than at least six inches (15 centimeters) of earthen material may be approved by the jurisdictional health department if the owner or operator demonstrates during the permit process of WAC 173-351-700 that the alternative material and thickness control disease vectors, fires, odors, blowing litter, provides adequate access for heavy vehicles, will not adversely affect gas or leachate composition and controls and scavenging without presenting a threat to human health and the environment.

(c) The jurisdictional health department may grant a temporary waiver not to exceed three months from the requirement of (a) and (b) of this subsection if the owner or operator demonstrates that there are extreme seasonal climatic conditions that make meeting such requirements impractical.

(3) Disease vector control.

(a) Owners or operators of all MSWLF units must prevent or control on-site populations of disease vectors using techniques appropriate for the protection of human health and the environment.

(b) For purposes of this subsection, "disease vectors" means any rodents, flies, mosquitoes, or other animals, including insects, capable of transmitting disease to humans.

(4) Explosive gases control.

(a) Owners or operators of all MSWLF units must ensure that:

(i) The concentration of methane gas generated by the facility does not exceed twenty-five percent of the lower explosive limit for methane in facility structures (excluding gas control or recovery system components);

(ii) The concentration of methane gas does not exceed the lower explosive limit for methane at the facility property boundary or beyond; and

(iii) The concentration of methane gases does not exceed one hundred parts per million by volume of methane in off-site structures.

(b) Owners or operators of all MSWLF units must implement a routine methane monitoring program to ensure that the standards of (a)(i) and (ii) of this subsection are met.

(i) The type and frequency of monitoring must be determined based on the following factors:

(A) Soil conditions;

(B) The hydrogeologic conditions surrounding the facility;

(C) The hydraulic conditions surrounding the facility; and

(D) The location of facility structures and property boundaries.

(ii) The minimum frequency of monitoring shall be quarterly.

Note: All gas monitoring wells shall be constructed and decommissioned to ensure protection of the ground water and to prevent ground water contamination and follow the requirements of chapter 173-160 WAC, Minimum standards for construction and maintenance of wells, unless otherwise approved by the jurisdictional health department.

(c) If methane gas levels exceeding the limits specified in subsection (4)(a)(i) or (ii) of this section are detected, the owner or operator must:

(i) Immediately take all necessary steps to ensure protection of human health including:

(A) Notifying the jurisdictional health department;

(B) Where subsection (4)(a)(ii) of this section is exceeded, monitoring of off-site structures for compliance with subsection (4)(a)(iii) of this section;

(C) Daily monitoring of methane gas levels unless otherwise authorized by the jurisdictional health department; and

(D) Evacuation of buildings affected by landfill gas shall be determined by the jurisdictional health department and fire department.

(ii) Within seven calendar days of detection, place in the operating record, the methane gas levels detected and a description of the steps taken to protect human health; and (continued)