WAC 173-350-240   Energy recovery and incineration facilities.  (1) Energy recovery and incineration facilities - Applicability.

     (a) These standards apply to all facilities designed to burn more than twelve tons of solid waste or refuse-derived fuel per day.

     (b) These standards do not apply to facilities that burn gases recovered at a landfill or solid waste digesters.

     (c) In accordance with RCW 70.95.305, the combustion of wood waste, wood derived fuel, and wastewater treatment sludge generated from the manufacturing of wood pulp or paper, for the purpose of energy recovery is subject solely to the requirements of (d)(i) through (iv) of this subsection and is exempt from solid waste handling permitting. An owner or operator that does not comply with the terms and conditions of (d)(i) through (iv) of this subsection is required to obtain a permit from the jurisdictional health department and shall comply with all other applicable requirements of this chapter. In addition, violations of the terms and conditions of (d)(i) through (iv) of this subsection may be subject to the penalty provisions of RCW 70.95.315.

     (d) Owners and operators of all categorically exempt energy recovery facilities shall:

     (i) Comply with the performance standards of WAC 173-350-040;

     (ii) Ensure that only fuels approved in writing by the agency with jurisdiction over the facility for air quality regulation are combusted;

     (iii) Allow department and jurisdictional health department representatives to inspect the facility at reasonable times for the purpose of determining compliance with this chapter; and

     (iv) Ensure that wastewater treatment sludge generated from the manufacturing of wood pulp or paper is combusted only in energy recovery units at the facility from which it originates.

     (2) Energy recovery and incineration facilities - Location standards. There are no specific location standards for energy recovery or incineration facilities subject to this chapter; however, energy recovery and incineration facilities must meet the requirements provided under WAC 173-350-040(5).

     (3) Energy recovery and incineration facilities - Design standards. There are no specific design standards for energy recovery or incineration facilities subject to this chapter; however, energy recovery and incineration facilities must meet the requirements provided under WAC 173-350-040(5).

     (4) Energy recovery and incineration facilities - Operating standards. The owner or operator of an energy recovery or incineration facility shall:

     (a) Operate the facility to:

     (i) Confine solid wastes prior to and after processing to specifically designed piles, surface impoundments, tanks or containers meeting the applicable standards of this chapter. Storage of wastes other than in the specifically designed storage compartments is prohibited. Equipment and space shall be provided in the storage and charging areas, and elsewhere as needed, to allow periodic cleaning as required to maintain the plant in a sanitary and clean condition;

     (ii) Handle solid wastes, including combustion residues, in a manner that complies with this chapter;

     (iii) Provide recyclable material collection at all facilities that accept municipal solid waste from the general public, self-haul residential, or commercial waste generators; and

     (iv) Ensure that dangerous waste is not disposed, treated, stored or otherwise handled, unless the requirements of chapter 173-303 WAC, Dangerous waste regulations, are met.

     (b) Inspect the facility to prevent malfunctions and deterioration, operator errors and discharges that may lead to the release of wastes to the environment or cause a threat to human health. The owner or operator shall conduct these inspections as needed, but at least weekly, unless an alternate schedule is approved by the jurisdictional health department as part of the permitting process.

     (c) Maintain daily operating records on the weights and types of wastes received, and number of vehicles delivering waste to the facility. Facility inspection reports shall be maintained in the operating record. Significant deviations from the plan of operation shall also be noted on the operating record. Records shall be maintained for a minimum of five years and shall be available upon request by the jurisdictional health department.

     (d) Prepare and submit a copy of an annual report to the jurisdictional health department and the department by April 1st of each year on forms supplied by the department. The annual report shall detail the facility's activities during the previous calendar year and shall include the following information:

     (i) Name and address of the facility;

     (ii) Calendar year covered by the report;

     (iii) Annual quantity of each type of solid waste received and incinerated, in tons if available;

     (iv) Annual quantity, type and destination of solid waste bypassed, in tons;

     (v) Annual quantity of ash disposed and disposal location, in tons; and

     (vi) Any additional information required by the jurisdictional health department as a condition of the permit.

     (e) Develop, keep and abide by a plan of operation approved as part of the permitting process. The plan shall describe the facility's operation and shall convey to site operating personnel the concept of operation intended by the designer. The plan of operation shall be available for inspection at the request of the jurisdictional health department. If necessary, the plan shall be modified with the approval, or at the direction of the jurisdictional health department. Each plan of operation shall include the following:

     (i) A description of the types of solid wastes to be handled at the facility;

     (ii) How solid wastes are to be handled on-site during the facility's active life, including alternative storage, and/or disposal plans for all situations that would result in overfilling of the storage facility;

     (iii) A description of how equipment, structures and other systems, including leachate collection and gas collection equipment, are to be inspected and maintained, including the frequency of inspection and inspection logs;

     (iv) Safety, fire and emergency plans including:

     (A) Actions to take if there is a fire or explosion;

     (B) Actions to take if leaks are detected;

     (C) Remedial action programs to be implemented in case of a release of hazardous substances to the environment;

     (D) Actions to take for other releases (e.g., failure of runoff containment system);

     (v) Forms used to record volumes or weights;

     (vi) Other such details to demonstrate that the facility will be operated in accordance with this chapter and as required by the jurisdictional health department.

     (5) Energy recovery and incineration facilities - Groundwater monitoring requirements. There are no specific groundwater monitoring requirements for energy recovery and incineration facilities subject to this chapter; however, energy recovery and incineration facilities must meet the requirements provided under WAC 173-350-040(5).

     (6) Energy recovery and incineration facilities - Closure requirements. The owner or operator of an energy recovery or incineration facility shall:

     (a) Notify the jurisdictional health department one hundred eighty days in advance of closure. At the time of closure all solid waste shall be removed to a facility that conforms with the applicable regulations for handling the waste.

     (b) Develop, keep and abide by a closure plan approved by the jurisdictional health department as part of the permitting process. At a minimum, the closure plan shall include the methods of removing waste.

     (7) Energy recovery and incineration facilities - Environmental impact statement required. In accordance with RCW 70.95.700, no solid waste energy recovery or incineration facility shall be operated prior to the completion of an environmental impact statement containing the considerations required under RCW 43.21C.030 (2)(c) and prepared pursuant to the procedures of chapter 43.21C RCW, State Environmental Policy Act.

     (8) Energy recovery and incineration facilities - Financial assurance requirements. There are no specific financial assurance requirements for energy recovery facilities and incineration facilities subject to this chapter; however, energy recovery and incineration facilities must meet the requirements provided under WAC 173-350-040(5).

     (9) Energy recovery and incineration facilities - Permit application contents. The owner or operator of an energy recovery or incineration facility shall obtain a solid waste permit from the jurisdictional health department. All applications for permits shall be in accordance with the procedures established in WAC 173-350-710. In addition to the requirements of WAC 173-350-710 and 173-350-715, each permit application shall contain:

     (a) Preliminary engineering reports/plans and specifications that address:

     (i) The design of the storage and handling facilities on-site for incoming waste as well as fly ash, bottom ash and any other wastes produced by air or water pollution controls; and

     (ii) The design of the incinerator or thermal treater, including charging or feeding systems, combustion air systems, combustion or reaction chambers, including heat recovery systems, ash handling systems, and air pollution and water pollution control systems. Instrumentation and monitoring systems design shall also be included.

     (b) A plan of operation that addresses the requirements of subsection (4) of this section; and

     (c) A closure plan meeting the requirements of subsection (6) of this section.



[Statutory Authority: Chapter 70.95 RCW. 03-03-043 (Order 99-24), § 173-350-240, filed 1/10/03, effective 2/10/03.]