Monitoring and inspection.

(a) During construction or installation, liners (except in the case of existing portions of piles exempt from § 264.251(a)) and cover systems ( e.g., membranes, sheets, or coatings) must be inspected for uniformity, damage, and imperfections ( e.g., holes, cracks, thin spots, or foreign materials). Immediately after construction or installation: (1) Synthetic liners and covers must be inspected to ensure tight seams and joints and the absence of tears, punctures, or blisters; and (2) Soil-based and admixed liners and covers must be inspected for imperfections including lenses, cracks, channels, root holes, or other structural non-uniformities that may cause an increase in the permeability of the liner or cover. (b) While a waste pile is in operation, it must be inspected weekly and after storms to detect evidence of any of the following: (1) Deterioration, malfunctions, or improper operation of run-on and run-off control systems; (2) Proper functioning of wind dispersal control systems, where present; and (3) The presence of leachate in and proper functioning of leachate collection and removal systems, where present. (c) An owner or operator required to have a leak detection system under § 264.251(c) must record the amount of liquids removed from each leak detection system sump at least once each week during the active life and closure period. [47 FR 32359, July 26, 1982, as amended at 50 FR 4514, Jan. 31, 1985; 50 FR 28748, July 15, 1985; 57 FR 3489, Jan. 29, 1992]