N.J. Admin. Code § 7:14A-7.6

Current through Register Vol. 56, No. 11, June 3, 2024

Section 7:14A-7.6 - Ground Water Protection Program (GWPP)

(a) Each discharge to ground water permit, except those identified in 7:14A-7.3(c), (d) and (e), and those permitted by rule pursuant to 7:14A-7.5, shall include an approved Ground Water Protection Program to ensure that the discharge does not contravene the ground water quality standards at N.J.A.C. 7:9C and meets the monitoring requirements of this section and 7:14A-7.7.

(b) Unless an alternate program is approved in advance as indicated in (f) below, each Ground Water Protection Program shall include the following components:

1. A monitoring well system, consisting of monitoring wells located in each aquifer that may be impacted by the discharge. Unless the permittee demonstrates otherwise to the satisfaction of the Department, the monitoring well system shall consist of a minimum of one hydraulically upgradient well, and at least three hydraulically downgradient wells. The permittee shall demonstrate the adequacy of the monitoring well system by:

i. Submission of results of a physical or mathematical ground water flow and/or contaminant transport model demonstrating that the monitoring well system is capable of intercepting contaminant plumes emanating from each pollutant source;

ii. Submission of results of geophysical methods of analysis such as resistivity/conductivity methods that confirm wells are placed such that they are capable of intercepting contaminant plumes emanating from each pollution source; or

iii. Submission of results of an alternative method of adequacy testing, approved by the Department in writing;

2. Effluent quality monitoring;

3. A schedule of mechanical and structural testing to determine that the berms, dikes, liners, and wells, and any other engineered devices used as part of a treatment works will function as designed;

4. A list of ground water contaminants for which to monitor, analyze, and report, including the contaminants identified during the pollutant characterization performed in accordance with 7:14A-7.9(d)2; and

5. A schedule, including procedures and techniques for:

i. Sample collection;

ii. Sample preservation and shipment;

iii. Analytical procedures; and

iv. Chain of custody control.

(c) In addition to the requirements of (b) above, a Ground Water Protection Program shall contain additional treatment works, materials management, best management plans, discharge sampling, flow limitations, effluent limitations, monitoring wells, lysimeters, piezometers, alarms, hydraulic control devices and inspections as required to prevent contravention of the ground water quality standards in N.J.A.C. 7:9C.

(d) In each Ground Water Protection Program, the Department shall require one or more of the following monitoring programs:

1. A leak detection monitoring program, capable of detecting all discharges from any pollution source not designed to discharge pollutants but from which a discharge could occur as a result of a leak or other structural failure. The leak detection monitoring program shall include:

i. A monitoring well system that includes the components described at (b)1 above or leak detection devices such as piezometers, alarms, electrical leak detection or leak location systems, or leachate collection systems; and

ii. A statistical analysis of the monitoring well data collected in accordance with 7:14A-7.7, in order to determine whether or not there is statistically significant evidence of a leak from the pollutant source when monitoring is conducted pursuant to (b)1 above.

2. An attenuation monitoring program if any pollution source is known or expected to discharge pollutants. The attenuation monitoring program shall include:

i. The components described at (b) above; and

ii. A statistical analysis of the monitoring well data collected in accordance with 7:14A-7.7, in order to determine whether or not there is statistically significant evidence of a contravention of the ground water quality standards in N.J.A.C. 7:9C.

3. A non-point source monitoring program if there are an indeterminate number of pollution sources, or more than one discharge source. The non-point source monitoring program shall consist of:

i. The components described at (b) above; and

ii. A monitoring approach capable of evaluating whether ground water quality standards are contravened at the property boundary, or at another point of compliance as identified in the permit.

(e) When comparing data from monitoring wells, the data collected shall be subjected to the appropriate statistical analyses as described in 7:14A-7.7.

(f) If approved by the Department in writing, a permittee may implement an alternate Ground Water Protection Program that ensures compliance with the ground water quality standards of N.J.A.C. 7:9C and that meets the monitoring requirements of this section and 7:14A-7.7.

N.J. Admin. Code § 7:14A-7.6