§ 269a.42. Geology.
(a) Faults. Landfill, land treatment and surface impoundment facilities are deemed to be acceptable if located 1 mile or more from a major structural feature. A major structural feature is a fault mapped by the Pennsylvania Geologic Survey or the United States Geological Survey at a scale of 4 miles to the inch. If the proposed facility is within 1 mile of a major structural feature, the applicant shall provide information and analysis to allow the Department to assess the compatibility of the proposed facility design with the faults in the area.
(b) Bedrock depth. For surface impoundment, landfill and land treatment facilities, a depth to bedrock of 15 feet or more shall be considered acceptable. Where the construction of the proposed facility required excavation, the final depth to bedrock shall be considered. The applicant shall address lesser bedrock depths by providing information and analysis to allow the Department to assess the compatibility of the design and construction of the proposed facility with the bedrock depth.
(c) Slopes. Slopes less than 15% for surface impoundment, landfill and land treatment facilities shall be considered acceptable. The applicant shall address greater slopes by submitting information and analysis to allow the Department to assess the compatibility of the design and construction measures for the proposed facility that would minimize adverse effects.
(d) Landslide prone areas. If a facility site is in a landslide prone area or is adjacent to a landslide prone area, the applicant shall submit information and analyses to allow the Department to assess whether the design measures provide adequate protection from potential landslides.
(e) Oil and gas wells. Surface impoundment, landfill and land treatment facilities shall be considered acceptable if the applicant can establish that abandoned oil and gas wells and gas storage areas do not exist within the proposed facility site. The term ‘‘abandoned oil and gas wells and gas storage areas’’ has the same meaning as in the Oil and Gas Act (58 P. S. § § 601.101—601.605). If abandoned facilities exist, the applicant shall provide information and analysis to allow the Department to assess the probability and degree of subsurface discharges to be expected from the existence of abandoned oil and gas wells and gas storage areas within the facility site after wells are plugged.
(f) Carbonate areas. Where surface impoundment, landfill or land treatment and disposal facilities are proposed over areas underlain by carbonate bedrock, the applicant shall provide information and analysis to allow the Department to assess the prevalence of solution channels and the potential for sinkholes at the facility site.
(g) Hydrogeology. A surface impoundment, landfill or land treatment facility may not be located in an area underlain by coarse unconsolidated deposits, such as well sorted valley fill deposits and heavily fractured bedrock. If any other facility is to be located in an area underlain by coarse unconsolidated deposits the applicant shall provide information and analyses to allow the Department to further assess the facility site to determine the environmental impact of these subsurface conditions.
(h) Seismic risk zones. If a proposed treatment or disposal facility is within a 5-mile radius of earthquake epicenters as mapped by the Pennsylvania Geologic Survey or the United States Geological Survey, the applicant shall specify design measures necessary to withstand potential seismic events, and the Department will determine whether the proposed design measures provide adequate protection from potential earthquake damage.
Cross References This section cited in 25 Pa. Code § 269a.13 (relating to Phase II).
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