WAC 173-350-320   Piles used for storage or treatment.  (1) Piles used for storage or treatment - Applicability.

     (a) This section is applicable to solid waste stored or treated in piles where putrescible waste piles that do not contain municipal solid waste are in place for more than three weeks, nonputrescible waste and contaminated soils and dredged material piles are in place for more than three months and municipal solid waste piles are in place for more than three days. This section is not applicable to:

     (i) Waste piles located at composting facilities subject to WAC 173-350-220 that are an integral part of the facility's operation;

     (ii) Piles of nonputrescible waste stored in enclosed buildings provided that no liquids or liquid waste are added to the pile; and

     (iii) Piles of waste tires or used tires subject to WAC 173-350-350.

     (b) In accordance with RCW 70.95.305, storage piles of wood waste used for fuel or as a raw material, wood derived fuel, and agricultural wastes on farms, are subject solely to the requirements of (c)(i) through (iii) of this subsection and are exempt from solid waste handling permitting. An owner or operator that does not comply with the terms and conditions of (c)(i) through (iii) 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 (c)(i) through (iii) of this subsection may be subject to the penalty provisions of RCW 70.95.315.

     (c) Owners and operators of all storage piles that are categorically exempt from solid waste handling permitting in accordance with (b) of this subsection shall:

     (i) Ensure that at least fifty percent of the material stored in the pile is used within one year and all material is used within three years;

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

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

     (d) In accordance with RCW 70.95.305, the storage of inert waste in piles is subject solely to the requirements of (e)(i) through (vi) of this subsection and are exempt from solid waste handling permitting. The storage of inert waste in piles at a facility with a total volume of two hundred fifty cubic yards or less is subject solely to the requirements of (e)(iv) of this subsection. An owner or operator that does not comply with the terms and conditions of (e)(i) through (vi) 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 (e)(i) through (vi) may be subject to the penalty provisions of RCW 70.95.315.

     (e) Owners and operators of all storage piles that are categorically exempt from solid waste handling permitting in accordance with (d) of this subsection shall:

     (i) Implement and abide by a procedure that is capable of detecting and preventing noninert wastes from being accepted or mixed with inert waste;

     (ii) Ensure that at least fifty percent of the material stored in the pile is used within one year and all the material is used within three years;

     (iii) Control public access and unauthorized vehicular traffic to prevent illegal dumping of wastes;

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

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

     (vi) Notify the department and jurisdictional health department thirty days prior to commencing operations of the intent to store inert waste in accordance with this section. Notification shall be in writing, and shall include:

     (A) Contact information for the owner or operator;

     (B) A general description and location of the facility; and

     (C) A description of the inert waste handled at the facility.

     (2) Piles used for storage or treatment - Location standards. There are no specific location standards for piles subject to this chapter; however, waste piles must meet the requirements provided under WAC 173-350-040(5).

     (3) Piles used for storage or treatment - Design standards.

     (a) The owner or operator of piles used for storage or treatment shall prepare engineering reports/plans and specifications, including a construction quality assurance plan, to address the design standards of this subsection. The maximum waste capacity, elevation and boundaries of the waste pile shall be provided. Piles shall be designed and constructed to:

     (i) Control public access;

     (ii) Comply with the uniform fire code as implemented through the local fire control agency;

     (iii) Minimize vector harborage to the extent practicable; and

     (iv) Provide all-weather approach roads and exits.

     (b) In addition to the requirements of (a) of this subsection, the owner or operator of piles of putrescible waste, contaminated soils or dredged material or waste determined by the jurisdictional health department to be likely to produce leachate posing a threat to human health or the environment shall prepare engineering reports/plans and specifications of the surface on which the pile(s) will be placed including an analysis of the surface under the stresses expected during operations, and the design of the surface water management systems including run-on prevention and runoff conveyance, storage, and treatment. The piles shall be designed and constructed to:

     (i) Place waste on a sealed surface, such as concrete or asphaltic concrete, to prevent soil and groundwater contamination. The surface shall be durable enough to withstand material handling practices. The jurisdictional health department may approve other types of surfaces, such as engineered soil, if the applicant can demonstrate that the proposed surface will prevent soil and groundwater contamination; and

     (ii) Control run-on and runoff from a twenty-five-year storm, as defined in WAC 173-350-100.

     (4) Piles used for storage or treatment - Operating standards. The owner or operator of piles used for storage or treatment shall:

     (a) Operate the facility to:

     (i) Control fugitive dust;

     (ii) Control access to the pile;

     (iii) Ensure that nonpermitted waste is not accepted at the facility;

     (iv) Control vector harborage and implement vector control as necessary;

     (v) Ensure that waste piles capable of attracting birds do not pose an aircraft safety hazard; and

     (vi) For piles of putrescible waste and contaminated soils or dredged material, control nuisance odors.

     (b) Inspect and maintain the facility to prevent malfunctions, deterioration, operator errors and discharges that may cause or lead to the release of wastes to the environment or a threat to human health. Inspections shall include the engineered surface on which the piles are placed, and the leachate and stormwater control systems. Inspections shall be as needed, but at least weekly, to ensure it is meeting the operational standards, 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 the types of waste received or removed from the facility. Facility inspection reports shall be maintained in the operating record. Significant deviations from the plan of operation shall be noted in the operating record. Records shall be kept for a minimum of five years and shall be available upon request by the jurisdictional health department;

     (d) Shall prepare and submit a copy of an annual report to the jurisdictional health department and the department by April 1st 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 and type of solid waste handled by the facility, including amounts received, amounts removed and the amount of waste remaining at the facility at year's end, in tons; and

     (iv) 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 the site operating personnel that 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 waste to be handled at the facility;

     (ii) A description of how solid wastes are to be handled on-site during the facility's life including:

     (A) The maximum amount of waste to be stored or treated in pile(s) at the facility;

     (B) Methods of adding and removing waste from the pile and equipment used;

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

     (iv) Safety and emergency plans;

     (v) Forms to record weights or volumes; and

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

     (f) Operate the facility in conformance with the following operating standards when storing or treating contaminated soils or dredged material:

     (i) Ensure that all soils and dredged material are sufficiently characterized:

     (A) Prior to storage or treatment so that contaminants not identified, or at concentrations greater than those provided in the approved plan of operation are not accepted or handled at the facility; and

     (B) Prior to removal to an offsite location so that all soils and dredged material that are not clean soils or dredged material are delivered to a facility that meets the requirements of chapter 70.95 RCW, Solid waste management -- Reduction and recycling;

     (ii) In addition to the daily operating records in (c) of this subsection, a record of the source of contaminated soils and dredged material received at the facility, contaminants and concentrations contained, and any documentation used to characterize soils and dredged material. Records shall be maintained of end uses, including the location of final placement, for any soils or dredged material removed from the facility that contain residual contaminants;

     (iii) In addition to the elements in (e) of this subsection, the plan of operation shall include:

     (A) A description of contaminants and concentrations in soils and dredged material that will be handled at the facility;

     (B) A sampling and analysis plan and other procedures used to characterize soils and dredged material; and

     (C) Forms used to record the source of contaminated soils or dredged material, contaminant concentrations and other documentation used to characterize soils and dredged material, and end uses and the location of final placement for any soils or dredged material removed from the facility that contain residual contaminants;

     (iv) Treatment of contaminated soils and dredged materials shall be performed using a process that reduces or eliminates contaminants and harmful characteristics. Contaminated soils and dredged materials shall not be diluted to meet treatment goals or as a substitute for disposal, except for incidental dilution of minor contaminants.

     (5) Piles used for storage or treatment - Groundwater monitoring requirements. There are no specific groundwater monitoring requirements for piles used for storage and treatment subject to this chapter; however, waste piles must meet the requirements provided under WAC 173-350-040(5).

     (6) Piles used for storage or treatment - Closure requirements. The owner or operator of piles used for storage or treatment shall:

     (a) Notify the jurisdictional health department sixty days in advance of closure. All waste shall be removed from the pile at closure 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. As a minimum, the closure plan shall include the methods of removing waste.

     (7) Piles used for storage or treatment - Financial assurance requirements. There are no specific financial assurance requirements for piles used for storage or treatment subject to this regulation chapter; however, waste piles must meet the requirements provided under WAC 173-350-040(5).

     (8) Piles used for storage or treatment - Permit application contents. The owner or operator of piles used for storage or treatment shall obtain a permit from the jurisdictional health department.

     All applications for permits shall be submitted 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 application for a permit shall contain:

     (a) The design of fire control features;

     (b) Engineering reports/plans and specifications that address the design standards of subsection (3) of this section;

     (c) A plan of operation meeting the requirements of subsection (4) of this section; and

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

     (9) Piles used for storage or treatment - Construction records. The owner or operator of piles used for storage or treatment shall provide copies of the construction record drawings for engineered facilities at the site and a report documenting facility construction, including the results of observations and testing carried out as part of the construction quality assurance plan, to the jurisdictional health department and the department. Facilities shall not commence operation until the jurisdictional health department has determined that the construction was completed in accordance with the approved engineering report/plans and specifications and has approved the construction documentation in writing.



[Statutory Authority: Chapter 70.95 RCW. 03-03-043 (Order 99-24), § 173-350-320, filed 1/10/03, effective 2/10/03.]