General Class Permits

Section 256 Section 256.40  General Class Permits There shall be 3 types of general class permits available for issuance by the Department to a facility owner or operator as defined under subsections (a), (b) and (c).  In addition to completed application forms, a submittal for a general class permit shall include a location area map, a detailed plot plan of the facility and any additional information the applicant or Department deems necessary to fully describe the project. a)         A General Class A lawncare containment permit shall be available for issuance by the Department for a portable containment area for use with small pesticide application devices with a device capacity of less than or equal to 100 gallons of liquid product or 100 pounds of dry product.  The containment area shall measure at least 1.5 times the length and 1.5 times the width of the application device.  The design of the containment area shall be such that the contained volume shall be a minimum of 25 gallons of liquid or the volume of the application device, whichever is greater.  The containment area shall be constructed of impervious materials as required by the Act and shall be compatible with the materials applied by the device. The containment area design shall provide for the collection and reuse or disposal of the spills, wash waters and rinsates in accordance with Sections 256.70(a) and 256.80(b) of this Part.  This provision for the collection and reuse or disposal of spills, wash waters and rinsates, in the case of portable containment structures, does not specifically require the inclusion of a sump.  The use of underground structures, pits or piping for storage or transport of rinsates, wash water or recycled liquid is prohibited at a facility wishing to qualify for a General Class A lawncare containment permit.  This prohibition shall not include sumps or wet wells that are used for the transfer of spills, rinsates or wash waters provided these structures have a detention time of 72 hours or less.  Facility owners or operators desiring to construct and operate a containment area adhering to these requirements shall make application to the Department for a General Class A lawncare containment permit. b)         A General Class B lawncare containment permit shall be available for issuance by the Department for a non-portable containment area for use with small pesticide application device with a device capacity less than or equal to 100 gallons of liquid product or 100 pounds of dry product.  The containment area shall measure at least 1.5 times the length and 1.5 times the width of the application device.  The design of the containment area shall be such that the contained volume shall be a minimum of 25 gallons of liquid or the volume of the application device, whichever is greater. Notwithstanding the aforementioned volume requirement, if the containment area is not protected from contact with precipitation, the containment volume shall be not less than the volume generated by a 6-inch rain storm (a 25-year, 24-hour storm).  The containment volume requirements may be achieved with a curbed containment area and catch basin or in combination with above ground tanks connected to an automatic sump pump transfer system or by gravity flow where elevation or installation allows. The containment area shall be constructed of impervious materials as required by the Act and shall be compatible with the materials applied by the application device.  The containment area design shall provide for the collection and reuse or disposal of the spills, wash waters and rinsates in accordance with Sections 256.70(a) and 256.80(b) of this Part.  Collection and reuse or disposal of spills, wash waters and rinsates, in the case of non-portable containment structures, specifically requires the inclusion of a sump in the structure.  The use of underground structures, pits or piping for storage or transport of spills, rinsates, wash waters or recycled liquid is prohibited at a facility wishing to qualify for a General Class B lawncare containment permit.  This prohibition shall not include sumps or wet wells that are used for the transfer of spills, rinsates or wash waters provided these structures have a detention time of 72 hours or less. Facility owners or operators desiring to construct and operate a non-portable containment area adhering to these requirements shall make application to the Department for a General Class B lawncare containment permit. c)         A General Class C lawncare containment permit shall be available for issuance by the Department for a non-portable containment area for use with pesticide application devices with device capacities greater than 100 gallons of liquid product or 100 pounds of dry product.  The containment area shall measure at least 1.25 times the length and 1.25 times the width of the application vehicle or device.  Pesticide application devices of a lesser volume than that described in this subsection may also be used with a containment area permitted under this subsection.  The design of the containment area shall be such that the containment volume shall be a minimum of 120 gallons or 120% of the largest applicator tank volumes, whichever is greater.  Notwithstanding the aforementioned volume requirement, if the containment area is not protected from contact with precipitation, the containment volume shall be not less than the volume generated by a 6-inch rain storm (a 25-year, 24-hour storm). The containment volume requirements may be achieved with a curbed containment area and catch basin or in combination with above ground tanks connected to an automatic sump pump transfer system or by gravity flow where elevation or installation allows.  The containment area shall be constructed of impervious materials as required by the Act and shall be compatible with the materials applied by the applicator.  The containment area design shall provide for the collection and reuse or disposal of the spills, wash waters and rinsates in accordance with Sections 256.70(a) and 256.80(b) of this Part.  This provision for the collection and reuse or disposal of spills, wash waters and rinsates, in the case of non-portable containment structures, includes the  requirement of a sump in the containment area.  The use of underground structures, pits or piping for storage or transport of spills, rinsates, wash waters or recycled liquid is prohibited at a facility wishing to q1ualify for a General Class C lawncare containment permit.  This prohibition shall not include sumps or wet wells which are used for the transfer of spills, rinsates or wash waters provided these structures have a detention time of 72 hours or less.  Facility owners or operators desiring to construct and operate a containment area adhering to these requirements shall make application to the Department for a General Class C lawncare containment permit.