It’s April. Do you know where your storm water is going?

April 10, 2017

By October 17, 2016, coal combustion residual (CCR) landfills subject to the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) CCR regulations published at 40 CFR 257, Subpart D, also known as the Federal CCR Rule, were required to prepare a Run-on and Run-off Control System Plan.  Your plan documents how you have designed and constructed your landfill to prevent storm water from running onto or off the active landfill.  But, what’s next?

Have you addressed run-on and run-off control system operation and maintenance?

Spring is a great time to review your storm water control plans and, more importantly, your storm water controls.  The snow is gone now and spring rains are on their way, so knowing that your storm water controls are working and water is going where you intend it to go should be part of your spring inspection routine.  Don’t want to waste money managing clean storm water with your leachate management system, or put your facility at risk by allowing unintended runoff from the landfill.  A few basic inspection tasks will help ensure you don’t.

A spring run-on and run-off control system inspection should include the following:

  • Erosion along intermediate and final cover areas
  • Sediment accumulation in diversion berms, ditches, and basins
  • Soil stockpiles are stabilized or have silt fence/silt sock along downslope side
  • Condition of erosion control best management practices (e.g., silt fence, sediment logs, erosion mat, etc.)
  • Effectiveness of best management practices in preventing off-site transport of sediment
  • Sparse vegetation or bare areas
  • Prevention of run-on into active CCR unit
  • Containing runoff in contact with CCR within the limits of waste to be treated as leachate

Don’t let spring rains catch you off guard. SCS Engineers can help you assess the effectiveness of your run-on and run-off control systems. For help conducting storm water inspections as well as studies to review leachate, contact water, and storm water minimization and reuse opportunities, or for questions about run-on and run-off control system inspections or more information about minimization and reuse studies, please contact:

Mike McLaughlin, PE, Senior Vice President
Eric Nelson, PE, Vice President
Steve Lamb, PE, Vice President
Kevin Yard, PE, Vice President

Or, contact your local SCS Engineers office.

 


 

Learn more about the author Eric Nelson:

Eric J. Nelson, PE, is a Vice President of SCS Engineers and our National Expert for Coal Combustion Residuals (CCR). He is an experienced engineer and hydrogeologist. His diverse experience includes solid waste landfill development, soil and groundwater remediation, and brownfield redevelopment.

Mr. Nelson has worked with utility clients to complete numerous projects for dry CCR landfills, CCR ponds, and general environmental monitoring and compliance. He has been involved with CCR landfill projects that include feasibility analyses and permitting of landfill expansions; hydrogeologic and geotechnical site investigations; site design and operating plans; soil borrow source identification and permitting; liner and final cover construction liner, cover, and storm water management repairs. He has worked with utility clients to evaluate, plan, permit and complete CCR pond repairs and closures.

Mr. Nelson’s environmental monitoring and compliance experience includes groundwater monitoring; oil containment design and construction; and Spill Prevention, Control, and Countermeasure (SPCC) planning. This diverse project experience has provided him the opportunity to work on challenging and innovative projects that have included design and permitting for wetland and stream mitigation, identifying and avoiding former underground mines during site design, and assessing the feasibility of installing a solar photovoltaic system on a closed CCR landfill.

Mr. Nelson’s additional areas of expertise include remedial action planning, cost estimating, bidding and construction documents, and construction quality assurance. He has worked with electric utilities, solid waste facility owners/operators, and private property owners and developers.

Posted by Diane Samuels at 3:00 am