Groundwater Monitoring Systems

Section 845.630 Groundwater Monitoring Systems a)         Performance Standard. The owner or operator of a CCR surface impoundment must install a groundwater monitoring system that consists of a sufficient number of wells, installed at appropriate locations and depths, to yield groundwater samples that: 1) Accurately represent the quality of background groundwater that has not been affected by leakage from a CCR surface impoundment. A determination of background quality may include sampling of wells that are not hydraulically upgradient of the CCR management area where: A)        Hydrogeologic conditions do not allow the owner or operator of the CCR surface impoundment to determine what wells are hydraulically upgradient; or B)        Sampling at other wells will provide an indication of background groundwater quality that is demonstratively as representative or more representative than that provided by the upgradient wells; and 2)         Accurately represent the quality of groundwater passing the waste boundary of the CCR surface impoundment.  The downgradient monitoring system must be installed at the waste boundary that ensures detection of groundwater contamination.  All potential contaminant pathways must be monitored. b)         The number, spacing, and depths of monitoring system wells must be determined based upon site-specific technical information identified in the hydrogeologic site characterization conducted under Section 845.620. c)         The groundwater monitoring system must include a sufficient number of monitoring wells necessary to meet the performance standards specified in subsection (a) based on the site-specific information specified in subsection (b). The groundwater monitoring system must contain: 1)         A minimum of one upgradient and three downgradient monitoring wells; and 2)         Additional monitoring wells as necessary to accurately represent the quality of background groundwater that has not been affected by leakage from the CCR surface impoundment and the quality of groundwater passing the waste boundary of the CCR surface impoundment. d)         Multiunit Groundwater Monitoring System 1)         The owner or operator of multiple CCR surface impoundments may install a multiunit groundwater monitoring system instead of separate groundwater monitoring systems for each CCR surface impoundment. 2)         The multiunit groundwater monitoring system must be equally as capable of detecting monitored constituents at the waste boundary of the CCR surface impoundment as the individual groundwater monitoring system specified in subsections (a) through (c) for each CCR surface impoundment, based on the following factors: A)        Number, spacing, and orientation of each CCR surface impoundment; B)        Hydrogeologic setting; C)        Site history; and D)        Engineering design of the CCR surface impoundment. e)         Monitoring wells must be properly constructed in a manner consistent with the standards of 77 Ill. Adm. Code 920.170. 1)         The owner or operator must document and include in the facility's operating record the design, installation, development, and decommissioning of any monitoring wells, piezometers and other measurement, sampling, and analytical devices.  The qualified professional engineer must be given access to this documentation when completing the groundwater monitoring system certification required by subsection (g). 2)         The monitoring wells, piezometers, and other measurement, sampling, and analytical devices must be operated and maintained so that they perform to the design specifications throughout the life of the monitoring program. f)         The owner or operator of a new CCR surface impoundment must submit a construction permit application containing documentation showing that the groundwater monitoring system is designed to meet the requirements of this Section.  The owner or operator of all CCR surface impoundments must submit an operating permit application containing documentation showing that the groundwater monitoring system has been constructed to meet the requirements of this Section. g)         The owner or operator must obtain a certification from a qualified professional engineer stating that the groundwater monitoring system has been designed and constructed to meet the requirements of this Section.  If the groundwater monitoring system includes the minimum number of monitoring wells specified in subsection (c)(1), the certification must document the basis supporting this determination. The certification must be submitted to the Agency with the appropriate permit application.