Md. Code Regs. 26.21.04.07

Current through Register Vol. 51, No. 22, November 1, 2024

Section 26.21.04.07 - Monitoring

A. A person who proposes to use coal combustion byproducts in the reclamation of a noncoal surface mine shall submit a monitoring plan to the Department for review and approval.

B. The monitoring plan shall be prepared in accordance with the following requirements and include at least the following information:

(1) A description of a system for monitoring the quality of the waters of the State around and beneath the site, including:

(a) A description of the number, location, and types of monitoring wells and sampling stations;

(b) The methods of construction of the monitoring wells; and

(c) A monitoring well location map;

(2) A schedule for the frequency of the analyses;

(3) A description of sampling and analyses procedures;

(4) A list of parameters to be monitored;

(5) A schedule of reporting periods; and

(6) Other information as the Department may require.

C. Monitoring and Reporting Requirements.

(1) A permittee shall submit to the Department a report on water quality on at least a quarterly basis, or at such other times as outlined in the approved monitoring plan, containing summary and interpretative discussion of all analyses of the chemical quality of ground water from all of the monitoring wells and all of the surface water monitoring points specified in the approved monitoring plan.

(2) The quarterly report on water quality shall be submitted to the Department within 30 days of the close of each quarter unless an alternative schedule is specified in the approved monitoring plan.

(3) Sampling shall occur monthly unless an alternative schedule is included in the approved monitoring plan.

(4) A permittee shall arrange for a qualified ground water scientist to sample, or to oversee qualified environmental technicians who sample, the monitoring wells.

(5) The parameters to be measured and their Practical Quantitation Limits (PQL) are listed in Table I of this regulation. The Department may require and approve an alternative or additional list of parameters or an alternative PQL for any parameter.

(6) The sampling, sample handling, analyses and reporting of analytical parameters shall be performed in accordance with the approved monitoring plan.

(7) A permittee shall arrange for a qualified independent laboratory or which is otherwise acceptable to the Department to perform the analyses.

(8) A permittee shall arrange for a qualified ground water scientist or professional to evaluate the results and advise the permittee of any changes in water quality or any exceedance of a State or federal drinking water or ground water quality standard.

(9) A permittee shall include a complete copy of the laboratory data, and the qualified ground water scientist or professional's interpretive findings in each report.

(10) If analytical results from samples collected from any sources associated with a site or surrounding properties exceed a State or federal drinking water or ground water quality standard for the first time, a permittee shall notify the Department within 24 hours of receipt of the analytical data detecting the occurrence. Thereafter, if there is a significant increase above a State or federal drinking water or ground water quality standard, a permittee shall notify the Department within 24 hours of receipt of the analytical data detecting this occurrence.

(11) Upon detection of the exceedance of a State or federal drinking water or ground water quality standard for the first time, a permittee shall immediately resample each monitoring point in which the standard was exceeded to verify the initial detection. This resampling shall occur as soon as possible. If circumstances make immediate resampling impossible, the permittee shall notify the Department of the circumstances, and the Department may approve a longer period for resampling which shall be not later than 30 days following notification of a permittee of the initial exceedance.

(12) If the exceedance continues beyond the 30-day resampling period, a permittee shall submit a noncompliance report to the Department within 5 days, and notify the local health department of the exceedance. The Department may require a permittee to submit a clean up and containment plan or take such other action as it considers necessary to address the exceedance.

(13) All data for each monitoring well shall be summarized and presented in time series format. The data for each monitoring well shall be presented on a chart so that the water quality data for each parameter for each well can be observed simultaneously.

(14) All "J" values shall be reported. "J" values are analytical results that are below the PQL but can be estimated.

(15) Each report on water quality shall include a time series analysis of the data. The historical data from each monitoring well shall be presented in a tabular form in each report. The discussion shall emphasize historical trends in the data.

(16) Each report shall include a status report of the amount of coal combustion byproducts placed to date and within the last quarter, the status of reclamation within the permit area, and a summary of any complaints received within the last quarter.

(17) Each report shall include a TCLP analysis, or other test approved by the Department analyzing the chemical characteristics of the coal combustion byproducts.

(18) The Department may require that a permittee conduct surface water monitoring if streams, springs, or other surface water features are identified.

(19) Based on site conditions, the size and design of the project, and other considerations as determined by the Department, the Department may require other ground water and surface water monitoring requirements it considers necessary to protect public health and the environment.

D. Table I - Monitoring Parameters.

ELEMENTS AND INDICATOR PARAMETERS	PQL (ppm)
Total Antimony	0.0020
Total Arsenic	0.0040
Total Barium	0.0100
Total Beryllium	0.0020
Total Boron	0.013
Total Cadmium	0.0040
Total Chromium	0.0100
Total Calcium	0.08
Total Cobalt	0.0100
Total Copper	0.0100
Total Iron	0.0050
Total Lead	0.0020
Total Lithium	0.016
Total Nickel	0.0110
Total Magnesium	0.004
Total Manganese	0.0100
Total Mercury	0.0002
Total Molybdenum	0.016
Total Potassium	0.39
Total Selenium	0.0120
Total Silver	0.0100
Total Sodium	0.2
Total Thallium	0.0020
Total Vanadium	0.0100
Total Zinc	0.0100
PH 0.1	(SU)
Alkalinity	1
Hardness	0.5
Chloride	0.39
Specific conductance	1
Nitrate	0.06
Chemical oxygen demand	1
Turbidity	0.11 (NTU)
Ammonia	1
Total Sulfate	0.38
Total dissolved solids	10

Md. Code Regs. 26.21.04.07