§ 18.602. Design and construction standards.
(a)
Plans for the design and construction of sanitary landfill sites or modifications to existing sanitary landfill sites shall be prepared and signed by a registered professional engineer, and approved by the Director. The plans shall be in accordance with all applicable procedures and regulations for evaluating and designing sanitary landfill sites as promulgated by the Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene and the Maryland Department of Natural Resources or any other permitting agencies. Such plans shall be consistent with public health and welfare, State and Federal air and water quality standards, noise standards, and the Howard County general plan. The following design procedures shall be followed prior to submission of plans to the appropriate agencies for the issuance of an approved operating permit:
(1)
The types and quantities of all solid wastes expected to be generated in Howard County through the year 2,000 (as a minimum) and disposed of at the facility shall be determined by survey and analysis to form a basis for design.
(2)
Quantitative measurements of the solid wastes handled at the landfill site shall be provided for in the plans. This may be accomplished by planning for utilization of scales and topographic surveys of the site at various intervals of the landfill site life, or by other suitable means approved by the Director.
(b)
Site development plans shall include:
(1)
Initial and final topographies of contour intervals of 0.6 meters (two feet) or less.
(2)
Land use and zoning within 0.8 kilometers (one-half mile) of the site, including location of all residences, buildings, wells, watercourses, rock outcroppings, roads, and soil or rock borings. Topography and visual impact analysis shall also be developed for the site and surrounding area.
(3)
Location of all utilities within the site and within a 30.5-meter (100-foot) distance beyond its boundaries.
(4)
Narrative descriptions, with associated drawings, indicating site development and operation procedures.
(5)
Location of the sole access point to the Alpha Ridge landfill site from Marriottsville Road at a point as near as possible to Maryland Route I-70.
(c)
The hydrogeology of the site shall be evaluated in order to design landfill site development in a manner to protect groundwater resources. Unacceptable hydrogeologic conditions may be altered to render the site acceptable, but such alterations must be detailed and justified in the plans. Precipitation, evapotranspiration, and other climatological conditions shall be considered in site design.
(d)
The location, design, construction and operation of the working disposal area of the landfill site shall conform to the most stringent of applicable water quality standards established in accordance with Federal, State and local provisions. In order to achieve these standards, plans should include:
(1)
Current and projected use of water resources in the potential zone of influence of the landfill site.
(2)
Groundwater elevation and movement and proposed separation between the lowest point of the lowest cell and the predicted maximum water table elevation.
(3)
Potential interrelationship of the land disposal site, local aquifers and surface waters, based on historical records or other sources of information.
(4)
Background and initial quality of water resources within the land disposal site.
(5)
Proposed location of observation wells, sampling stations, and the testing and monitoring program which is planned for implementation.
(6)
Description of soil and other geologic material to a depth adequate to allow evaluation of the water quality protection provided by the soil and other geologic material.
(7)
Potential of leachate generation and proposed control systems, where necessary, for the protection of ground and surface water resources.
(e)
Characteristics of on-site soil shall be evaluated with respect to their effects on-site operations, such as vehicle maneuverability, and use as cover material. Plans shall specify cover material sources and soil classifications; surface grades and side slopes needed to promote maximum runoff, without excessive erosion, and to minimize infiltration; procedures to promote vegetative growth as promptly as possible to combat erosion and improve appearance of idle and completed areas; and information as to the character and attenuation characteristics of the soil to the depth of at least one and one-half meters (five feet) below the proposed or intended excavation operations, and the elevation of the groundwater table in that area.
(f)
An all-weather access road, negotiable by loaded refuse vehicles, shall be provided to the entrance of the landfill site. All access to the landfill site shall be through permanent gates or barricades which can be locked. Appropriate physical measures such as fencing, ditching or banking shall be planned to prevent indiscriminate access at all other locations. Temporary roads shall be provided for in the planning as needed to deliver wastes to the working face of the landfill operation.
(g)
The sanitary landfill site design shall provide that the operating area of the landfill not be closer than 76.2 meters (250 feet) from the site property line.
(h)
The design of the operating area of the landfill shall not encroach into the natural 100-year floodplain of any stream, tributary area, creek, river or natural watercourse. Therefore, where floodplains may exist on or bordering the proposed site, the effect of the proposed fill operation shall be investigated to assure no interference with stream flow at flood stages. Diversion channels of adequate size and grade based upon runoff estimates from the area surrounding and within the landfill site shall be provided in the plans in order to provide for surface water runoff control to minimize infiltration and erosion of cover material. Such diversion design shall also minimize the impacts of drainage off the landfill site on adjacent properties. Siltation or retention basins or other approved methods of retarding runoff shall be designed where necessary to avoid stream siltation or flooding problems due to excessive runoff. Design computations shall be prepared to determine the effect of landfill construction on the surface water flows adjacent to the site. All applicable State, Federal and local stormwater management regulations and standards shall be adhered to in the design plans.
(i)
Plans shall include an effective dust control program to protect public health and eliminate nuisance conditions. Air quality monitoring at site perimeter locations shall be provided on a quarterly basis to ensure compliance with appropriate Federal, State and local air quality provisions.
(j)
Plans shall assess the need for gas control and indicate the location and design of any vents, barriers, collection or other control measures to be provided. Air quality monitoring at site perimeter locations shall be provided on a quarterly basis to ensure compliance with appropriate Federal, State and local air quality provisions.
(k)
Plans shall include contingency programs for vector control and eradication in the event that a problem does occur.
(l)
Plans shall include an effective litter control program, both on-site and encompassing the immediate area surrounding the site. Portable litter collection fences shall be placed adjacent to and on the leeward side of the active fill and be directed toward prevention of litter being left or transmitted from the site to the surrounding area.
(m)
The plans shall include:
(1)
Arrangements whereby substitute equipment will be available to provide uninterrupted service during routine equipment maintenance periods or equipment breakdowns.
(2)
An equipment maintenance facility on-site, or appropriate contract arrangements to receive such service.
(n)
A manual, which shall be in accordance with the Maryland Occupational and Safety Health Act, describing safety precautions and procedures to be employed, shall be developed prior to landfill site operations.
(o)
Plans shall prescribe methods to be used in maintaining records and monitoring the environmental impact of the land disposal site, including air, water, noise, etc.
(p)
Landscaping shall be included in the plans to provide adequate buffer to screen the landfill activity from the surrounding area. Buffer and site layout shall be planned so as to ensure adherence to Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene regulations governing the control of noise pollution. On-site vegetation shall be cleared only as necessary, and a schedule providing for progressive clearance of trees shall be developed.
(q)
Plans shall describe the projected use of the completed land disposal site. In addition to maintenance programs and provisions, where necessary, for monitoring and controlling decomposition gases and leachate, the plans shall address the following ultimate use criteria:
(1)
Cultivated or open space area. If the completed landfill site is to be cultivated or retained as open space, the integrity of the final cover shall not be disturbed by agricultural cultivation or stabilization activities. In this regard, a sufficient depth of cover material to allow cultivation and to support vegetation shall be designed for in addition to that recommended for final cover.
(2)
Structures. If any enclosed structures are to be built within the landfill site, the Director shall review and approve their design and construction, including provision for protection against potential hazards of solid waste decomposition gases.
(C.B. 12, 1978)