Section 329IAC10-26-2. Design standards; nonmunicipal solid waste landfills

   On and after the effective date of this article, the fill area of new nonmunicipal solid waste landfills and horizontal expansions of the fill area to areas beyond that which previously have been approved for existing facilities, the following must be required:

(1) The following are requirements for nonmunicipal solid waste landfills, except for the alternative provisions of subdivision (2):

(A) Have a leachate collection system with the following specifications:

(i) A drainage layer overlying the entire base of the proposed fill area, with a minimum thickness of one (1) foot and a minimum hydraulic conductivity of not less than 1 × 10^-3 centimeters per second.

(ii) The base of the drainage layer must have a minimum slope of two percent (2%) toward the leachate collection lines.

(iii) The upper three (3) feet of material beneath the drainage layer and piping must be recompacted to achieve an equivalent hydraulic conductivity of not more than 1 × 10^-7 centimeters per second.

(iv) The system must be designed to limit the leachate level above the base of the landfill to a maximum of one (1) foot under the conditions that would be present after the final cover has been placed at the landfill.

(v) A piping system with a minimum slope of five-tenths percent (0.5%) and a minimum diameter of six (6) inches.

(vi) A maximum length of leachate collection lines that must not exceed the capabilities of available clean-out devices.

(vii) The design submitted for the leachate collection system must adequately address the following:

(AA) Prevention of crushing and clogging of the leachate collection system.

(BB) Protection of the liner and the leachate collection system from damage due to uplift from hydrostatic forces.

(CC) Phasing of construction and inspection procedures to provide for waste disposal capacity during periods of inclement weather.

(DD) Prevention of damage to the system due to freeze/thaw and wet/dry cycles.

(EE) Storage of collected leachate on-site prior to disposal in a manner adequate to prevent leachate releases to the environment.

(viii) Prior to the placement of waste in an area, a report must be submitted to the commissioner by a registered professional engineer, certifying that the leachate collection system in that area has been constructed according to the approved plans. The report must indicate the boundaries of the area being certified and must include the results of testing conducted.

(B) Place a barrier immediately beneath the base of the leachate collection system drainage layer and piping of at least ten (10) feet of material with an equivalent hydraulic conductivity of not more than 1 × 10^-6 centimeters per second.

(C) The system may be designed with a different minimum slope than specified in clause (A)(ii) and may be operated at a different leachate level than specified in clause (A)(iv) if it is demonstrated that a comparable level of leachate migration control is provided.

(2) This subdivision establishes alternative provisions for nonmunicipal solid waste landfills. The requirements of subdivision (1) need not be met if the proposed site meets the following criteria:

(A) Existence of a minimum fifty (50) foot barrier of material having an equivalent hydraulic conductivity no greater than 1 × 10^-6 centimeters per second between any locally useful aquifer and the solid waste.

(B) Demonstration that the ground water standard specified in 329 IAC 10-29 must not be exceeded in any locally useful aquifer or surface waters, except on-site retention ponds, without leachate collection. Consideration must be given to the following:

(i) Concentration and total amount of contaminants generated.

(ii) Specific geologic characteristics of the site, including secondary porosity features occurring in soil or rock, and cation exchange.

(iii) Ground water flow direction and predicted mechanisms of contaminant attenuation.

(C) Notwithstanding clauses (A) through (B), other alternative technologies for the design of a nonmunicipal solid waste landfill may be considered by the commissioner provided the alternative is demonstrated to provide at least the equivalent protection to human health and the environment as the standard in subdivision (1).

(Solid Waste Management Division; 329 IAC 10-26-2; filed Mar 14, 1996, 5:00 p.m.: 19 IR 1893; readopted filed Jan 10, 2001, 3:25 p.m.: 24 IR 1535; readopted filed May 14, 2007, 1:53 p.m.: 20070523-IR-329070138BFA; readopted filed Jul 29, 2013, 9:20 a.m.: 20130828-IR-329130179BFA)