Section 277.246. Attenuating soil base

(a) If the operator is not required to design, construct, operate and maintain a liner system by § 277.251 (relating to scope and requirements), no construction/demolition waste may be disposed at a construction/demolition waste landfill unless:

(1) At least 4 feet of attenuating soil exists or has been placed on the entire disposal area, or 1 foot of attenuating soil exists or has been placed for every 4 feet of waste approved by the Department in the permit, whichever is greater.

(2) At least 4 vertical feet separate the seasonal high water table, perched water table or bedrock from the lowest area where waste is deposited. Soil mottling may indicate the presence of a seasonal high water table.

(3) Drainage systems may be utilized to maintain a 4 foot isolation distance between the bottom of the subbase of the liner system and the seasonal high water table. The operator may not use a drainage system if the system is likely to adversely affect the quality or quantity of water provided by a public or private water supply, even if a replacement supply is available under § 277.245 (relating to water supply replacement). The drainage system shall be limited to drain tile, piping and french drains.

(4) At least 8 vertical feet separate the regional groundwater table from the lowest area where waste is deposited. The regional groundwater table may not be artificially manipulated.

(b) The attenuating soil required by this section shall meet the following requirements:

(1) The soil shall fall within the United States Department of Agricultural textural classes of sandy loam, loam, sandy clay loam and silt loam.

(2) At least 40% by weight of the fragments in the soil shall be capable of passing through a 2 millimeter No. 10 mesh sieve.

(3) The combustible or coal content of the soil may not exceed 12% by weight.

(4) The soil may not include boulders or stones as classified by the latest edition of United States Department of Agriculture Handbook 18 (Soil Survey Manual).

Notation

Cross References

This section cited in 25 Pa. Code § 277.117 (relating to soils description).