Ala. Admin. Code r. 335-16-4-.02

Current through Register Vol. 43, No. 1, October 31, 2024

Section 335-16-4-.02 - Initial Investigation

(1) For sites at which a release or releases have been confirmed, or sites where contamination is suspected to exist, the owner or operator shall submit a report to the Department describing the release(s) with information that shall include:

(a) The actual or estimated timeframe(s) that the release(s) may have occurred;

(b) The type(s) of hazardous constituents released; and

(c) The approximate or actual amount of hazardous constituents released.

(2) The purpose of the Initial Investigation is to gather sufficient information about the site to allow the Department to prioritize the site.

(3) The Initial Investigation shall be performed according to the criteria established below, unless a Work Plan describing an alternate scope is approved by the Department.

(a) Owners or operators performing an Initial Investigation must obtain and provide information about the site and the nature of the release. At a minimum, an Initial Investigation shall include the following:

1. Characterization of surrounding population, e.g., urban, rural residential;

2. Results of a complete well inventory within a 1500 feet radius of the site and also the location of all other public water supply wells within a 1-mile radius. The inventory shall include the location, and where available, information on the depth, elevation, aquifer, screened zones, and ownership of each well;

3. Results of a receptor survey to include a description of any potential or real receptors of drycleaning-agent contamination. This description should include the hydrogeologic environment, the type and nature of geologic materials, location of surface waters, surrounding land and water users, and the location of all underground utilities, water lines, sewers or other conduits near the Site or within the suspected area of impact that could impact the migration of contaminants;

4. Groundwater samples collected from the first significant water-bearing zone likely to exhibit contamination should be analyzed to assess the groundwater impact at a minimum of one up-gradient and three down-gradient locations. In the event of the discovery of free-phase drycleaning agent, the Department shall be notified immediately. The product should be described to provide information regarding its likely fate-and-transport characteristics, and all proposed Initial Investigation sampling within or through this area postponed until:

(i) The site-specific hydrogeology is adequately characterized including the potential for hydraulic interconnection with lower aquifers;

(ii) The properties of the product are adequately characterized to allow for the area to be investigated using techniques that will not exacerbate the extent of contamination; and/or

(iii) The feasibility of interim free-phase recovery or remediation activities can be evaluated; and

5. Soil and vapor samples should be collected, as appropriate, in areas most likely to have been impacted by a drycleaning agent release.

(b) All monitoring wells must be constructed in a manner acceptable to the Department. Closure of wells shall be in accordance with acceptable well abandonment procedures.

(c) All temporary monitoring wells, soil borings, or direct-push technology borings used to collect grab groundwater samples must be properly closed using acceptable abandonment procedures.

(d) All selected media samples shall be analyzed for parameters which are appropriate to the nature of the drycleaning agents and their degradation products.

(e) Initial Investigations shall be performed and certified by a Board approved geologist or engineer.

(4) Following the Initial Investigation, the eligible entity shall submit the results, including the results of any other investigation(s), to the Department.

Ala. Admin. Code r. 335-16-4-.02

New Rule: Filed June 20, 2003; effective July 25, 2003.

Amended by Alabama Administrative Monthly Volume XL, Issue No. 05, February 28, 2022, eff. 4/14/2022.

Authors: Lawrence A. Norris, Clethes Stallworth, Ashley S. Powell

Statutory Authority:Code of Ala. 1975, § 22-30D-4.