Landfill - Land Application Site Stormwater Rule

The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) has issued its revised multi-sector industrial stormwater discharge general permit (MSGP). This permit will replace the existing industrial stormwater permit, which expired in October of 2002.

[Read a summary of the overall Minnesota permit, stormwater monitoring, and sector requirements]

All manufacturing, industrial and “industrial-like” sites that require a permit to discharge stormwater will be required to come into compliance with the revised permit, and to submit an application for permit coverage by either June 1, August 1 or October 1, depending on their industrial sector.

Click here to review a list affected industrial sectors and application deadlines for each sector

The revised Minnesota permit details requirements for 29 different industrial sectors. The requirements described below are for the Landfills and Land Application Sites Sector (Sector L). Sector L includes waste disposal at landfills and land application sites that receive or have received industrial waste, including sites subject to regulation under Subtitle D of RCRA. These requirements are in addition to permit requirements that apply to all sectors.

Review requirements that apply to all sectors

Inspections:
The facility must inspect all active operating landfills and land application sites at least once monthly, including areas of landfill that have not yet been finally stabilized; active land application areas, areas used for storage of material and wastes that are exposed to precipitation, stabilization, and structural control measures; leachate collection and treatment systems; and locations where equipment and waste trucks enter and exit the site. Inspections must nsure that sediment and erosion control measures are operating properly.

Erosion and Sediment Control:
The facility must implement sediment control practices on all down gradient perimeters before any upgradient land disturbing activities begin. These practices should remain in place until final stabilization has occurred. Sites must also provide temporary stabilization for the following: materials stockpiled for daily, intermediate, and final cover; inactive areas of the landfill; landfill areas that have gotten final covers but where vegetation has yet to establish itself; and land application sites where waste application has been completed but final vegetation has not yet been established.

Good Housekeeping:
The operation must provide protected storage areas for pesticides, herbicides, and fertilizers.

Preventive Maintenance:
Sites must maintain the following: all containers used for outdoor chemical and significant materials storage; all elements of leachate collection and treatment systems, to prevent commingling of leachate with stormwater; the integrity and effectiveness of any intermediate or final cover (including repairing the cover as necessary), to minimize the effects of settlement, sinking, and erosion.

Stormwater Monitoring Benchmarks:
All facilities are required to conduct visual and chemical (benchmark) monitoring. For benchmark monitoring, the benchmark concentrations or values depend on facility type:

Municipal Solid Waste Landfill(MSWLF) areas closed in accordance with 40 CFR 258.60:
TSS 100 mg/L

Any open or closed non-hazardous waste landfills and land application sites, which do not discharge to surface water(s), and where stormwater that has directly contacted solid waste:
TSS 100 mg/L
Total Iron 1.0 mg/L

Any landfill that discharges to surface water(s), and stormwater that has directly dontacted solid waste (pursuant to 40 CFR pt. 445, subp. B.):
TSS 100 mg/L
BOD 25 mg/L
Total Ammonia 34.8 mg/L
Total Zinc 0.234 mg/L
pH 6-9

Some landfills may also be subject to effluent limits under the MPCA permit.

Note: Benchmarks for iron, zinc and ammonia were derived based on the Aquatic Life Standards for these parameters in Minnesota Rules.

[Read more about use of Aquatic Life Standards to derive stormwater benchmarks]
[Read more about how benchmarks are used under the revised MPCA industrial permit]
[Read more about what a 100 mg/L benchmark for TSS relates to]


Looking for other sector information?
Click here for a link to all sector requirements

Caltha LLP provides expert consulting services to public and private sector clients across Minnesota to address Stormwater Permitting & Regulatory Support, Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plans (SWPPP), Stormwater Monitoring and Stormwater Training.

For further information contact Caltha LLP at
info@calthacompany.com
or
Caltha LLP Website