Section 236.410. Environmental monitoring

(a) At the time a license application is submitted, the applicant shall have conducted a preoperational monitoring program to establish background radiation levels and to provide basic environmental data on the site characteristics. The applicant shall obtain information about the ecology, meteorology, climate, hydrology, geology, geochemistry and seismology of the site. For those characteristics that are subject to seasonal variation, data shall cover at least a 12-month period.

(b) During disposal facility construction and operation, the licensee shall maintain an onsite and offsite environmental monitoring program. Measurements and observations shall be made and recorded to provide data to evaluate the potential health and environmental impacts from all significant pathways during the construction and the operation of the facility and to enable the evaluation of long term effects and the need for mitigating measures. The monitoring system shall be capable of providing early warning of releases of waste from the disposal units.

(c) After the disposal site is closed, the custodial agency responsible for postoperational surveillance of the disposal site shall maintain a monitoring system based on the operating history and the closure and stabilization of the disposal site. The monitoring system shall be capable of providing early warning of releases of waste from the disposal units.

Notation

Cross References

This section cited in 25 Pa. Code § 236.315 (relating to recoverability); and 25 Pa. Code § 236.409 (relating to monitoring plan).