Section 485. Operations manual requirements for solid waste management facilities

A. Solid waste disposal facilities. An operations manual shall be prepared and maintained in the operating record. The operations manual shall include a certification page signed by a responsible official. This signature shall certify the manual meets the requirements of this chapter. This manual shall be reviewed and recertified annually (by December 31 of each calendar year) to ensure consistency with current operations and regulatory requirements, and shall be made available for review by the department upon request. The operations manual for disposal facility operation shall contain at least the following plans:

1. An operations plan that at a minimum includes:

a. Explanation of how the design and construction plans will be implemented from the initial phase of operation until closure;

b. Municipalities, industries, and collection and transportation agencies served;

c. Waste types and quantities to be disposed;

d. Detailed instructions to the site operator regarding all aspects of site operation in order to ensure that the operational requirements of Part III (9VAC20-81-100 et seq.) of this chapter are achieved. References to specifications on the plan sheet shall be pointed out as well as additional instructions included, where appropriate. At a minimum, the plan specifications shall include:

(1) Daily operations including a discussion of the timetable for development, waste types accepted or excluded, inspection of incoming waste, typical waste handling techniques, hours of operation, traffic routing, drainage and erosion control, windy, wet and cold weather operations, fire protection equipment, manpower, methods for handling of any unusual waste types, methods for vector, dust and odor control, daily cleanup, direction of filling, salvaging, recordkeeping, parking for visitors and employees, monitoring, maintenance, closure of filled areas, gas and leachate control methods, backup equipment with names and telephone numbers where equipment may be obtained, and other special design features;

(2) Development of subsequent phases; and

(3) Site closing information consisting of a discussion of those actions necessary to prepare the site for long-term care and final use in the implementation of the closure plan.

2. An inspection plan that at a minimum includes:

a. A schedule for inspecting all applicable major aspects of facility operations necessary to ensure compliance with the requirements of Part III (9VAC20-81-100 et seq.) of this chapter.

b. The frequency of inspection based on the rate of potential equipment deterioration or malfunction and the probability of an adverse incident occurring if the deterioration or malfunction goes undetected between inspections. The plan shall establish the minimum frequencies for inspections required in 9VAC20-81-140. This plan shall identify areas of the facility subject to spills such as loading and unloading areas and areas in which significant adverse environmental or health consequences may result if breakdown occurs.

c. A schedule for inspecting monitoring, safety, and emergency equipment; security devices; and process operating and structural equipment.

d. The types of potential problems that may be observed during the inspection and any maintenance activities required as a result of the inspection.

3. A health and safety plan that includes description of measures to protect the facility and other personnel from injury and is consistent with the requirements of 29 CFR Part 1910.

4. An unauthorized waste control plan that includes, at a minimum, the methods to be used by the operator to prevent unauthorized disposal of hazardous wastes, bulk liquids, or other wastes not authorized for management or disposal in the facility in order to meet the requirements of 9VAC20-81-140.

5. An emergency contingency plan that includes:

a. Delineation of procedures for responding to fire, explosions, or any unplanned sudden or nonsudden releases of harmful constituents to the air, soil, or surface water;

b. Description of the actions facility personnel shall take in the event of various emergency situations;

c. Description of arrangements made with the local police and fire department that allow for immediate entry into the facility by their authorized representatives should the need arise, such as in the case of personnel responding to an emergency situation; and

d. A list of names, addresses, and phone numbers (office and home) of all persons qualified to act as emergency coordinator for the facility. This list shall be kept up to date. Where more than one person is listed, one shall be named as primary emergency coordinator and the others shall be listed in the order in which they will assume responsibility as alternates.

6. A landscaping plan that shall:

a. Delineate existing site vegetation to be retained;

b. Discuss methods to be employed in order to ensure protection of vegetation to be retained during the clearing, grading and construction phases of the project and the supplemental vegetation to be planted; and

c. Provide information relating to vegetation type, location and purpose, such as for buffer, screening or aesthetics, and schedules for planting, shall accompany the plan.

B. Other solid waste management facilities. An operations manual shall be prepared and maintained in the operating record. The Operations Manual shall include a certification page signed by a responsible official. This signature shall certify the manual meets the requirements of this chapter. This manual shall be reviewed and re-certified annually (by December 31 of each calendar year) to ensure consistency with current operations and regulatory requirements and shall be made available to the department upon request. The manual for facility operation shall contain at least the following plans:

1. An operations plan that at a minimum includes:

a. An explanation of how the design and construction plans will be implemented from the initial phase of operation until closure.

b. Detailed instructions to the site operator regarding all aspects of site operation in order to ensure that the applicable operational requirements of Part IV (9VAC20-81-300 et seq.) are achieved. Daily operations including a discussion of the timetable for development, waste types accepted or excluded, typical waste handling techniques, hours of operation, traffic routing, drainage and erosion control, windy, wet and cold weather operations, fire protection equipment, manpower, methods for handling of any unusual waste types, methods for vector, dust and odor control, daily cleanup, salvaging, record keeping, parking for visitors and employees, monitoring, backup equipment with names and telephone numbers where equipment may be obtained, and other special design features. The daily operations section of the operations manual may be developed as a removable section to improve accessibility for the site operator.

c. Development of subsequent phases of the facility, if applicable.

d. Site closing information consisting of a discussion of those actions necessary to prepare the site for long-term care and final use in the implementation of the closure plan.

2. An inspection plan that at a minimum includes:

a. A schedule for inspecting all applicable major aspects of facility operations necessary to ensure compliance with the requirements of Part IV (9VAC20-81-300 et seq.) of this chapter.

b. The frequency of inspection shall be based on the rate of potential equipment deterioration or malfunction and the probability of an adverse incident occurring if the deterioration or malfunction goes undetected between inspections. The plan shall establish the minimum frequencies for inspections required in 9VAC20-81-340. This plan shall identify areas of the facility subject to spills such as loading and unloading areas and areas in which significant adverse environmental or health consequences may result if breakdown occurs.

c. A schedule for inspecting monitoring, safety, and emergency equipment; security devices; and process operating and structural equipment.

d. The types of potential problems that may be observed during the inspection and any maintenance activities required as a result of the inspection.

3. A health and safety plan that includes description of measures to protect the facility and other personnel from injury and is consistent with the requirements of 29 CFR Part 1910.

4. An unauthorized waste control plan that includes, at a minimum, the methods to be used by the operator to prevent unauthorized disposal of hazardous wastes, bulk liquids, or other wastes not authorized for management or disposal in the facility in order to meet the applicable requirements of 9VAC20-81-340.

5. An emergency contingency plan that includes:

a. Delineation of procedures for responding to fire, explosions, or any unplanned sudden or nonsudden releases of harmful constituents to the air, soil, or surface water;

b. Description of the actions facility personnel shall take in the event of various emergency situations;

c. Description of arrangements made with the local police and fire department that allow for immediate entry into the facility by their authorized representatives should the need arise, such as in the case of personnel responding to an emergency situation; and

d. A list of names, addresses and phone numbers (office and home) of all persons qualified to act as emergency coordinator for the facility. This list shall be kept up to date. Where more than one person is listed, one shall be named as primary emergency coordinator and the others shall be listed in the order in which they will assume responsibility as alternates.

C. CCR surface impoundments. Operating plans meeting the requirements of 9VAC20-81-800 shall be prepared, implemented, and placed in the facility's operating record.

Historical Notes

Derived from Volume 27, Issue 12, eff. March 16, 2011; amended, Virginia Register Volume 27, Issue 22, eff. August 3, 2011; Volume 32, Issue 09, eff. January 27, 2016.

Statutory Authority

§ 10.1-1402 of the Code of Virginia; 42 USC § 6941 et seq.; 40 CFR Parts 257 and 258.