§ 290.301. Water quality monitoring.
(a) A water quality monitoring plan shall be submitted to the Department for approval prior to placement or storage of coal ash when required under this chapter.
(b) At a minimum, the water quality monitoring plan must include the following information:
(1) The location and design of downgradient and upgradient monitoring points.
(2) A minimum of 12 background samples from each monitoring point taken at monthly intervals prior to placement of coal ash, unless a greater number or frequency is required by the Department.
(3) The samples to be taken quarterly after approval from each monitoring point, unless a greater number or frequency is required by the Department.
(c) The person taking the samples and the laboratory performing the analysis required under this section shall employ the quality assurance/quality control procedures described in the EPA’s ‘‘Handbook for Analytical Quality Control in Water and Wastewater Laboratories’’ (EPA 600/4-79-019) or ‘‘Test Methods for Evaluating Solid Waste’’ (SW-846).
(d) The analytical methodologies used to meet the requirements of this section must be those in the most recent edition of the EPA’s ‘‘Test Methods for Evaluating Solid Waste’’ (SW-846), ‘‘Methods for Chemical Analysis of Water and Wastes’’ (EPA 600/4-79-020), ‘‘Standard Methods for Examination of Water and Wastewater,’’ prepared and published jointly by the American Public Health Association, American Waterworks Association, and Water Pollution Control Federation or a comparable method approved by the EPA or the Department. The laboratory making any chemical analysis for water quality monitoring must be in compliance with 27 Pa.C.S. Chapter 41 (relating to environmental laboratory accreditation).
(e) Samples shall be analyzed for pH (determined in the field and in the laboratory), temperature (determined in the field), specific conductance (at 25° C; determined in the field), alkalinity, acidity, sulfate, chloride, fluoride, nitrate, nitrite, ammonia, and total suspended solids without filtration.
(f) Samples shall be analyzed for total and dissolved aluminum, antimony, arsenic, barium, beryllium, boron, cadmium, calcium, chromium, cobalt, copper, iron, lead, magnesium, manganese, mercury, molybdenum, nickel, potassium, selenium, silver, sodium, thallium, vanadium, and zinc. In addition, the static water elevation for monitoring wells and the flow for springs, seeps and mine discharges must be measured.
(g) Additional parameters may be required by the Department based on conditions at the site and the specific characteristics of the coal ash being beneficially used.
(h) Water quality monitoring shall continue quarterly for a minimum of 5 years after final placement or storage of coal ash at the site, and annually thereafter from the end of year 5 through 10 years after final placement or storage of coal ash at the site. The Department may require more frequent or longer water quality monitoring if the results of water quality monitoring indicate that contamination may be occurring.
(i) Water quality monitoring data shall be submitted quarterly to and in the format required by the Department. Water quality monitoring data shall be submitted to the Department annually from the end of year 5 through 10 years after final placement or storage of coal ash at the site.
(j) The person required to develop and implement a water quality monitoring plan in accordance with § 290.101(d) (relating to general requirements for beneficial use) shall demonstrate attainment with applicable groundwater or surface water remediation standards as required in the event of groundwater or surface water degradation attributable to the placement of the coal ash. The applicable groundwater remediation standards are identified in § § 290.304 and 290.305 (relating to assessment plan; and abatement plan).
Cross References This section cited in 25 Pa. Code § 290.101 (relating to general requirements for beneficial use); and 25 Pa. Code § 290.307 (relating to interim water quality monitoring monitoring requirements).
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