Waste and Materials Management Study Group: What’s New?

September 15, 2017

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (WDNR) Waste and Materials Management Study Group (WMMSG) met August 16. Here are three key updates from the meeting.

Groundwater Monitoring
The 2014 guidance “Reducing or Terminating Groundwater Monitoring at Solid Waste Landfills” is under review. The Groundwater Monitoring subgroup completed recommendations for revision. The key proposed revisions include:

  • Option to revise sampling frequencies beyond annual sampling
  • Option to reduce the size of the monitoring well array
  • Option to reduce the number of required sampling parameters

The subgroup’s recommendations will be reviewed by WDNR staff, and then sent out for public comment before finalizing.

Alternative Landfill Caps
The Alternative Landfill Caps subgroup has developed a draft list of recommendations that include the following:

  • Develop a guidance document to outline the requirements for proposing and implementing an alternative final cover
  • Modify portions of NR 500 to revise the infiltration equivalency requirement and to provide more flexibility for alternative cover systems to allow for a longer delay in final cover system construction
  • Allow alternative closure phasing, sacrificial covering, and reclaiming airspace from settlement prior to final cover construction

The subgroup is making another round of edits to the recommendations before they are presented to WDNR staff for review and comment. Track updates on WDNR’s WMMSG web page.

Research, Development, and Demonstration (RD&D) Rule
The RD&D rule was also discussed at the last meeting, partly in relation to alternative capping options. To be consistent with federal rules, WDNR is considering revising the current Wisconsin RD&D rule (NR 514.10) to allow up to six renewals (up to 3 years each) of an RD&D Plan. This would extend the total RD&D test period to 21 years, an additional 9 years from the current 12 years allowed. With the RD&D rule reaching the 10-year mark, some sites are seeing the 12-year finish line on the horizon. WDNR cautions that the rulemaking process takes time.

More About the Waste and Materials Management Study Group
The study group provides the Waste and Materials Management Program with constructive feedback on policy and technical issues and works collaboratively with WDNR staff to find workable solutions. Find more information, meeting dates, agendas, and meeting minutes here.

For questions about how the study group impacts your solid waste operations, contact:

Tom Karwoski, PG, Vice President
Betsy Powers, PE, Senior Project Manager
Sherren Clark, PE, PG, Vice President

 

 

 

 

 

Posted by Diane Samuels at 6:00 am