Section R. 299.4429 - Type II landfill operation; daily and interim cover material and disease vector controlRule 429.
(1) Except as provided in subrule (2) of this rule, an owner or operator of a type II landfill unit shall cover disposed of solid waste with 6 inches of earthen material at the end of each operating day or at more frequent intervals, if necessary, to control disease vectors, fires, odors, blowing litter, and scavenging. If clay or other low-permeability material is used as daily cover, then the operator shall scrape back the previous day's cover to allow the free movement of liquids and gases through the landfill.(2) Alternative materials of an alternative thickness, other than at least 6 inches of earthen material, may be used as daily cover at a type II landfill if the alternative material is approved in the landfill operating license. The following alternative materials shall be approved by the director for use as daily cover if the owner or operator of the type II landfill demonstrates that the alternative material and thickness control disease vectors, fires, odors, blowing litter, and scavenging without presenting a threat to human health or the environment by submitting an operational plan for use of the material in accordance with subrule (3) of this rule: (a) The following manufactured products, designated as class a daily cover material: (ii) Flexible membrane liners.(iv) Spray on materials, such as foams and emulsions.(b) The following waste materials, designated as class b daily cover, if 95% of the material is retained on a no. 200 sieve:(iii) Ash from the combustion of coal or wood.(iv) Ground shingles and other roofing material that do not contain friable asbestos.(v) Alum sludge from the treatment of potable water at municipally owned water treatment facilities.(viii) Paper mill sludge.(c) The following waste materials, designated as class c daily cover, if the operational plan provides for documenting the waste is not hazardous, as defined in part 111 of the act, and does not contain hazardous constituents in concentrations exceeding criteria established by the director for daily cover: (i) Contaminated soil from a leaking underground storage tank containing petroleum products.(iii) Materials listed in paragraph (b) of this subrule which have less than 95% of the material retained on a no. 200 sieve.(iv) Other wastes approved by the director.(3) An application for an alternative daily cover material specified in subrule (2) of this rule shall include an operational plan for the use of the proposed material. The operational plan shall include all of the following information: (a) The thickness of cover to be used. Alternative materials shall be placed in 6-inch lifts or in a manner that forms a binding crust or matting over the waste.(b) The method of placement. Alternative daily cover material shall be placed in a manner that allows the free movement of liquids and gases.(c) For class C alternate daily cover materials specified in subrule (2) of this rule, procedures for testing the alternative material to ensure that it is not hazardous, as defined by part 111 of the act and does not exceed criteria established by the director for daily cover. Test results on class C daily cover shall be maintained in the operating log.(d) Documentation that the proposed cover material is either not flammable, or will be used in conjunction with nonflammable material to prevent the spread of fires within the landfill.(e) Documentation that the proposed cover material is not capable, upon compaction, of producing any emission that results in a violation of part 55 of the act.(f) The method of storage before use. Alternative material shall be stored in a manner that does not produce fugitive dust or create a nuisance.(4) The director may grant a temporary waiver from the requirements of subrules (1) and (2) of this rule if the owner or operator demonstrates that there are extreme seasonal climatic conditions that make meeting the requirements impractical.(5) If an approved daily cover does not meet the performance standards of this rule, then the owner and operator shall modify daily cover application, as necessary, to meet the standards.(6) To minimize nuisance conditions, the operator of a landfill shall place 1 foot of compacted cover, which may include the 6-inch daily cover, on the surface of any lift that will be exposed for a period of 3 months or more before additional lifts are constructed.(7) To minimize infiltration, the operator of a landfill may place interim cover on the surface of the landfill and manage runoff from the cover in accordance with R 299.4435. The extent of the interim cover shall be documented in the operating log at least quarterly and shall consist of either of the following:(a) Not less than 1 foot of low-permeability soil that has a unified soil classification of SC, ML, CL, CL/ML or CH, or another soil type that has a permeability of 1.0 x 10-5 cm/sec or less after compaction. Interim soil cover shall be compacted to the extent necessary to minimize infiltration and prevent leachate discharges through the soil, but need not be compacted to the standards specified in R 299.4913.(b) A flexible membrane liner.(8) All daily cover shall be continually maintained unless the removal of daily cover is authorized by the director based upon a demonstration under subrule (2) of this rule.(9) An owner and an operator of a unit shall prevent or control on-site populations of disease vectors using techniques appropriate for the protection of human health and the environment.Mich. Admin. Code R. 299.4429