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DOCUMENTING THE U.S. LANDFILL/IMPOUNDMENT PERMIT: A GUIDE TO TECHNICAL RESOURCES
Citation:
Landreth*, R. E. DOCUMENTING THE U.S. LANDFILL/IMPOUNDMENT PERMIT: A GUIDE TO TECHNICAL RESOURCES. J. A. Hansen (ed.), Waste Management and Research. SAGE Publications, THOUSAND OAKS, CA, 8(1):307-312, (1990).
Impact/Purpose:
To provide a single source for references on permit requirements, with suggestions on how the resources can be used in the RCRA permitting process. And to address each step of the design and construction of a new facility.
Description:
Since 1976, beginning with the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA), the United States government has legislated standards for landfills and surface impoundments to make certain that when disposing of hazardous wstes, human health and the environment will be protected. Federal regulations (CFR) are implemented through permits issued by states or by the individual Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). These regulations have supplemented the primary legislation by establishing performance standards and minimum technology requirements. To provide a single source for references on permit requirements, the EPA has issued a reference guide* - a directory of literature resources - with suggestions on how the resources can be used in the RCRA permitting process. The objectives of the regulations are to protect human health and the environment and to address many approaches to designing, constructing, and operating landfills and surface impoundments. Accordingly an applicant for a permit must demonstrate that each facility will satisfy the regulations. The permitting process involves: (1) identifying and justifying the specific technical parameters needed to achieve the prevailing standards; (2) identifying and justifying the methodologies used to determine whether these technical parameters are within acceptable ranges; and (3) demonstrating, with the use of these methodologies, that each technical parameter falls within an acceptable range. The guide addresses each step of the design and construction of a new facility (foundations, dike integrity and slope stability, liner systems, cover systems, and run-on and run-off controls). Also the major technical parameters for each performance standard are evaluated. Users of the guide are then referred to those technical documents that would provide detailed help in selecting suitable methodologies and in determining acceptable ranges.
