R 323.2223
R 323.2223 Discharge monitoring.
Cite as Mich. Admin. Code R 323.2223
Rule 2223. (1) Monitoring required by an authorization under this part shall be conducted
in a manner, at a frequency, and for a substance the department specifies, under rule or
permit, is necessary to assess compliance with these rules. Analytical methods used in the
monitoring shall be in compliance with R 323.2220(3). Monitoring of an indicator
parameter may be used in monitoring if the technique accurately reflects the effect of the
discharge. An indicator parameter shall be representative of the environmental fate of a
substance or substances in the discharge and shall be 1 of the following:
(a) A substance in the discharge.
(b) A decomposition material of a substance.
(c) A sampling parameter that can be directly correlated to the concen- tration of another
substance in the discharge.
(2) Groundwater monitoring shall include the collection of water quality and water level
data from a well or group of wells that are specifically designed to adequately assess the
impact of the discharge on groundwater as described in R 323.2224. The design of the
groundwater monitoring system shall be based on all of the following:
(a) The hydrogeologic report.
(b) Considerations of the local geology.
(c) Groundwater conditions specific to each site.
(d) The type of discharge.
(3) At the time of application for a permit under R 323.2218, an applicant shall propose,
for department approval, a groundwater sampling and analysis plan that establishes criteria
for collecting representative samples of groundwater. The plan shall contain all of the
following information:
(a) The number and location of wells to be included in the groundwater monitoring
system.
(b) For each well, the depth and screened interval for each monitor well. The screened
interval shall be referenced to United States geological survey data.
(c) Well construction materials and installation techniques.
(d) Sampling frequency.
(e) A list of substances to be sampled.
(f) Sampling procedure, including all of the following:
(i) The method and volume of water removed from each well during sampling.
(ii) Steps taken to prevent cross contamination between wells.
(iii) Sample handling and preservation methods.
(iv) Laboratory analysis method.
(v) Laboratory method detection level.
(vi) Quality assurance and quality control program.
(g) A description of the techniques used to present and evaluate groundwater quality
monitoring data.
(h) A description of the method used to collect static water levels and present groundwater
flow data. Static water level precision shall be to 0.01 foot.
(4) A discharger shall design, construct, and abandon a monitoring well as follows:
(a) A monitoring well shall be located at a depth where the screened interval will intercept
the path of any discharge from the site in the groundwater as required by the department as
specified by these rules.
(b) If the thickness of the aquifer receiving the discharge is more than 20 feet, then at least
1 hydraulically downgradient monitor well location shall contain a cluster well. The
separation and length of the screens shall be such that discrete groundwater potentiometric
surface data can be collected to determine vertical gradients within the aquifer.
(c) Monitor well construction and sampling equipment materials shall not influence the
sampling results for the substances sampled.
(d) A monitor well shall be designed to collect an adequate volume of water to allow
analysis for the complete set of substances determined by the department as indicative of
the discharge.
(e) Annular space between the bore hole and the well shall be grouted from the ground
surface to 2 feet above the well screen so as to prevent vertical leakage of the fluids between
the casing and the drill hole. When drilling through confining layers, a discharger shall
install double-cased wells to prevent the hydraulic connection of fluids between formations
above and below the confining layer.
(f) A well shall be protected against the introduction of contaminants by means of a
locking device or by another method approved by the department.
(g) Either a well shall be vented so that accurate static water levels may be collected or
else well caps shall be removed a sufficient amount of time before measurement so that
representative static water levels can be measured. Care shall be taken to prevent the
introduction of contaminants through vents.
(h) The well casing shall be protected against accidental damage and shall be adequately
marked to prevent accidental damage.
(i) A well shall be labeled so that the discharger's name, and address and the well number
can be determined through the life of the permit.
(j) If a monitoring well is to be permanently abandoned, a discharger shall follow the
plugging procedures in part 127 of Act No. 368 of the Public Acts of 1978, as amended,
being §§323.12701 to 323.12715 of the Michigan Compiled Laws.
(k) A discharger shall receive department approval before installing, replacing,
redeveloping, or abandoning a monitoring well that is part of the discharge monitoring
program.
(5) If necessary to measure compliance with a standard established under R
323.2222(7)(g), the department may specify, by rule or permit, the monitoring of media in
addition to groundwater.
(6) A monitoring program under this rule shall be evaluated by the department on the
basis of the threat the discharge poses to protected uses given all of the following factors:
(a) The substances in the discharge.
(b) The volume of the discharge.
(c) The amount of information related to predicting the impacts of a discharge developed
through the hydrogeological report prepared under R 323.2221.