The requirements of this rule shall be consolidated in a
development and operations plan (DOPs) pursuant to subrule 113.8(4) and the
emergency response and remedial action plan (ERRAP) pursuant to subrule
113.8(5), as applicable.
(1)
Prohibited operations and activities. For the purposes of this
subrule, "regulated hazardous waste" means a solid waste that is a hazardous
waste, as defined in Iowa Code section
455B411..
a.
Waste screening for prohibited
materials. Owners or operators of all MSWLF units must implement a
program at the
facility for detecting and preventing the disposal of regulated
hazardous wastes, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB) wastes and other prohibited
wastes listed in paragraph 113.8(1)
"b." This program must
include, at a minimum:
(1) Random inspections
of incoming loads unless the owner or operator takes other steps to ensure that
incoming loads do not contain regulated hazardous wastes, PCB wastes or other
prohibited wastes listed in paragraph 113.8(1)"b";
(2) Records of any inspections;
(3) Training of facility personnel to
recognize regulated hazardous wastes, PCB wastes and other prohibited wastes
listed in paragraph 113.8(1)"b"; and
(4) Notification of the EPA regional
administrator if regulated hazardous wastes or PCB wastes are discovered at the
facility.
b.
Materials prohibited from disposal. The following wastes shall
not be accepted for disposal by an MSWLF. Some wastes may be banned from
disposal via the multiple categories listed below.
(1) Hazardous waste, whether it is a chemical
compound specifically listed by EPA as a regulated hazardous waste or a
characteristic hazardous waste pursuant to the characteristics below:
1. Ignitable in that the waste has a flash
point (i.e., it will ignite) at a temperature of less than 140 degrees
Fahrenheit.
2. Corrosive in that
the waste has a pH less than 2 or greater than 12.5.
3. Reactive in that the waste is normally
unstable; reacts violently with water; forms an explosive mixture with water;
contains quantities of cyanide or sulfur that could be released into the air in
sufficient quantity to be a danger to human health; or can easily be detonated
or exploded.
4. Toxicity
characteristic leaching procedure (TCLP) (EPA Method 1311) toxic, in that a
TCLP listed chemical constituent exceeds the EPA assigned concentration
standard in 40 CFR Part
261 or the department assigned concentration standard
in Table I of rule
567-1137.
(455B). Waste from a residential building that is contaminated by lead-based
paint (i.e., the waste fails the TCLP test for lead only) may be disposed of in
an MSWLF unit. The purpose of this exclusion is to help prevent the exposure of
children to lead-based paint. Therefore, the meaning of "residential building"
in regard to this TCLP exclusion shall be interpreted broadly and include any
building which children or parents may utilize as a residence (temporarily or
permanently). Such residential buildings include, but are not limited to,
single-family homes, apartment buildings, townhomes, condominiums, public
housing, military barracks, nursing homes, hotels, motels, bunkhouses, and
campground cabins.
(2)
Polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) wastes with a concentration equal to or greater
than 50 parts per million (ppm).
(3) Free liquids, liquid waste and
containerized liquids. For purposes of this subparagraph, "liquid waste" means
any waste material that is determined to contain "free liquids" as defined by
Method 9095B (Paint Filter Liquids Test), as described in Test Methods for
Evaluating Solid Wastes, Physical/Chemical Methods (EPA Pub. No. SW-846). For
the purposes of this subparagraph, "gas condensate" means the liquid generated
as a result of the gas recovery process(es) at the MSWLF unit. However, free
liquids and containerized liquids may be placed in MSWLF units if:
1. The containerized liquid is household
waste other than septic waste. The container must be a small container similar
in size to that normally found in household waste;
2. The waste is leachate or gas condensate
derived from the MSWLF unit, whether it is a new or existing MSWLF unit or
lateral expansion, and is designed with a composite liner and leachate
collection system as described in paragraph 113.7(5)"a." The
owner or operator must demonstrate compliance with this subparagraph and place
the demonstration in the operating record; or
3. The MSWLF unit is a research, development
and demonstration (RD&D) project in which the department has authorized the
addition of liquids and meets the applicable requirements of subrule
113.4(10).
(4) Septage,
which is the raw material, liquids and pumpings from a septic system, unless
treated pursuant to 567-Chapter 68.
(5) Appliances as defined pursuant to
567-Chapter 118, unless there is documentation that the appliance has been
demanufactured pursuant to 567-Chapter 118.
(6) Radioactive waste, excluding luminous
timepieces and other items using very small amounts of tritium.
(7) Infectious waste, unless managed and
disposed of pursuant to 567-Chapter 109.
(8) Hot loads, meaning solid waste that is
smoking, smoldering, emitting flames or hot gases, or otherwise indicating that
the solid waste is in the process of combustion or close to igniting. Ash that
has not been fully quenched or cooled is considered a hot load. Such wastes may
be accepted at the gate, but shall be segregated and completely extinguished
and cooled in a manner as safe and responsible as practical before
disposal.
(9) Asbestos-containing
material (ACM) waste with greater than 1 percent asbestos, unless managed and
disposed of pursuant to 567-Chapter 109.
(10) Petroleum-contaminated soil, unless
managed and remediated pursuant to 567-Chapter 120.
(11) Grit and bar screenings, and grease
skimmings, unless managed and disposed of pursuant to 567-Chapter
109.
(12) Waste tires, unless each
tire is processed into pieces no longer than 18 inches on any side. The
department encourages the recycling of all waste tires, even if processed to
disposal standards.
(13) Yard
waste, except in the following circumstances:
1. When the yard waste is collected for
disposal as a result of a severe storm and the yard waste originates in an area
declared to be a disaster area in a declaration issued by the President of the
United States or the governor.
2.
When the yard waste is collected for disposal to control, eradicate, or prevent
the spread of insect pests, tree and plant diseases, or invasive plant
species.
3. When the yard waste is
disposed of in a sanitary landfill that operates a methane collection system
that produces energy. A methane collection system that burns landfill gas
without using the energy for a purpose other than reducing the amount of
methane released is not considered to be a system that produces
energy.
(14) Lead-acid
batteries.
(15) Waste oil and
materials containing free-flowing waste oil. Materials contaminated with waste
oil may be disposed of if no free-flowing oil is retained in the material, and
the material is not a hazardous waste.
(16) Baled solid waste, unless the waste is
baled on site after the waste has been visually inspected for prohibited
materials.
c.
Open burning and fire hazards. No open burning of any type
shall be allowed within the permitted boundary of an MSWLF facility. The
fueling of vehicles and equipment, and any other activity that may produce
sparks or flame, shall be conducted at least 50 feet away from the working
face.
d.
Scavenging and
salvaging. Scavenging shall not be allowed at the MSWLF facility.
However, salvaging by MSWLF operators may be allowed.
e.
Animal feeding and
grazing. Feeding animals MSW shall not be allowed at an MSWLF
facility. The grazing of domestic animals on fully vegetated areas of the MSWLF
facility not used for disposal, including closed MSWLF units, may be allowed by
the department so long as the animals do not cause damage or interfere with
operations, inspections, environmental monitoring and other required
activities. Large, hoofed animals (including but not limited to buffalo,
cattle, llamas, pigs, and horses) shall not be allowed on closed MSWLF
units.
(2)
Disposal operations and activities. All MSWLFs shall comply
with the following requirements.
a.
Survey controls and monuments. Survey controls and monuments
shall be maintained as follows.
(1) The
property boundary, the permitted boundary and the boundaries of all MSWLF units
shall be surveyed and marked by a professional land surveyor at least once
prior to closure.
(2) Prior to
waste placement, all new MSWLF unit boundaries shall be surveyed and marked by
a professional engineer.
(3) Survey
monuments shall be established to check vertical elevations and the progression
of fill sequencing. The survey monuments shall be established and maintained by
a professional land surveyor.
(4)
All survey stakes and monuments shall be clearly marked.
(5) A professional engineer shall biennially
inspect all survey monuments and replace missing or damaged survey
monuments.
b.
First lift. The first lift and initial placement of MSW over a
new MSWLF unit liner and leachate collection system shall comply with the
following requirements.
(1) Waste shall not be
placed in the new MSWLF unit until the QC&A officer has submitted a signed
and sealed final report to the department pursuant to paragraph
113.7(6)"d" and that report has been approved by the
department.
(2) Construction and
earth-moving equipment shall not operate directly on the liner and leachate
management system. Waste disposal operations shall begin at the edge of the new
MSWLF unit by pushing MSW out over the liner and leachate collection system.
Compactors and other similarly heavy equipment shall not operate directly on
the leachate collection system until a minimum of 4 feet of waste has been
mounded over the top of the leachate collection system.
(3) Construction and demolition debris and
materials clearly capable of spearing through the leachate collection system
and liner shall not be placed in the first 4 feet of waste over the top of the
leachate collection system. The first 4 feet of waste shall consist of select
waste that is unlikely to damage the liner and performance of the leachate
collection system.
(4) The owner or
operator must place documentation in the operating record and submit a copy to
the department that adequate cover material was placed over the top of the
leachate collection system in the MSWLF unit or that freeze/thaw effects had no
adverse impact on the compacted clay component of the liner.
c.
Fill
sequencing. The rate and phasing of disposal operations shall comply
with the following requirements.
(1) The fill
sequencing shall be planned and conducted in a manner and at a rate that do not
cause a slope failure, lead to extreme differential settlement, or damage the
liner and leachate collection system.
(2) The fill sequencing shall be planned and
conducted in a manner compliant with the run-on and runoff requirements of
subrule 113.7(8) and surface water requirements of rule
567-113.10(455B).
d.
Working face. The working face shall comply with the following
requirements.
(1) The working face shall be no
larger than necessary to accommodate the rate of disposal in a safe and
efficient manner.
(2) The working
face shall not be so steep as to cause heavy equipment and solid waste
collection vehicles to roll over or otherwise lose control.
(3) Litter control devices of sufficient size
to help prevent blowing litter shall be utilized at the working face. The
operation of the working face shall attempt to minimize blowing
litter.
(4) The operation of the
working face shall prevent the harborage of vectors and attempt to minimize the
attraction of vectors.
(5)
Employees at the working face shall be trained to visually recognize universal
symbols, markings and indications of prohibited wastes pursuant to paragraph
113.8(1)"b."
e.
Special wastes. Special
wastes shall be managed and disposed of pursuant to 567-Chapter 109.
f.
Cover material and alternative
cover material. Pursuant to 567-Chapter 108, alternative cover
material of an alternative thickness (e.g., tarps, spray covers) may be
authorized if the
owner or
operator demonstrates to the approval of the
department that the alternative material and thickness control vectors, fires,
odors, blowing litter, and scavenging without presenting a threat to human
health and the environment. Cover material or alternative cover material shall
be available for use during all seasons in all types of weather. Cover material
and alternative cover material shall be utilized as follows unless otherwise
approved by the department pursuant to 567-Chapter 108:
(1) Daily cover. Six inches of cover material
or an approved depth or application of alternative cover material shall be
placed and maintained over waste in the active portion at the end of each
operating day, or at more frequent intervals if necessary, to control vectors,
fires, odors, blowing litter, and scavenging.
(2) Intermediate cover. At least 1 foot of
compacted cover material or an approved depth or application of alternative
cover material shall be placed and maintained over waste in the active portion
that has not or will not receive more waste for at least 30 days. At least 2
feet of compacted cover material or alternative cover material shall be placed
and maintained over waste in the active portion that has not or will not
receive waste for at least 180 days. Such active portions shall be graded to
manage run-on and runoff pursuant to subrule 113.7(8). Such active portions
shall be seeded if they will not receive waste for a full growing
season.
(3) Scarification of cover.
To help prevent leachate seeps by aiding the downward flow of leachate, cover
material or alternative cover material, which prevents the downward flow of
leachate and is at least 5 feet from the outer edge of the MSWLF unit, shall be
scarified prior to use of that area as a working face. Cover material or
alternative cover material that does not impede the downward flow of leachate,
as approved by the department, does not require scarification. Scarification
may be as simple as the spearing or breaking up of a small area of the cover.
Areas of intermediate cover may require removal of some of the cover material
or alternative cover material to aid the downward flow of leachate.
(4) Final cover. Final cover over an MSWLF
unit that is to be closed shall be constructed and maintained according to the
closure and postclosure requirements of rules
567-11312.
(455B) and 567-113.13(455B).
g.
Leachate seeps. Leachate
seeps shall be contained and plugged upon being identified. Leachate seeps
shall not be allowed to reach waters of the state. Soils outside of the MSWLF
unit that are contaminated by a leachate seep shall be excavated and then
disposed of within the MSWLF unit. Such soils may be used for daily cover
material.
h.
Leachate
recirculation. The department must approve an MSWLF unit for leachate
recirculation. The primary goal of the leachate recirculation system is to help
stabilize the waste in a more rapid, but controlled, manner. The leachate
recirculation system shall not contaminate waters of the state, contribute to
erosion, damage cover material, harm vegetation, or spray persons at the MSWLF
facility. Leachate recirculation shall be limited to MSWLF units constructed
with a composite liner.
i.
Differential settlement. Areas of differential settlement
sufficient to interfere with runoff and run-on shall be brought back up to the
contours of the surrounding active portion. Differential settlement shall not
be allowed to cause ponding of water on the active portion.
(3)
Facility operations and
activities. All MSWLFs shall comply with the following requirements.
a.
Controlled access. Owners
or operators of all MSWLF units must control public access and prevent
unauthorized vehicular traffic and illegal dumping of wastes by using
artificial barriers, natural barriers, or both, as appropriate to protect human
health and the environment.
b.
Scales and weights. A scale certified by the Iowa department
of agriculture and land stewardship shall weigh all solid waste collection
vehicles and solid waste transport vehicles. The owner or operator shall
maintain a record of the weight of waste disposed of.
c.
All-weather access to
disposal. A disposal area shall be accessible during all weather
conditions.
d.
Salvaged and
processed materials. Salvaged and processed materials (e.g., scrap
metal, compost, mulch, aggregate, tire chips) shall be managed and stored in an
orderly manner that does not create a nuisance or encourage the attraction or
harborage of vectors.
e.
Vector control. Owners or operators must prevent or control
the on-site populations of vectors using techniques appropriate for the
protection of human health and the environment.
f.
Litter control. The
operator shall take steps to minimize the production of litter and the release
of windblown litter off site of the facility. All windblown litter off site of
the facility shall be collected daily unless prevented by unsafe working
conditions. On-site litter shall be collected daily unless prevented by working
conditions. A dated record of unsafe conditions that prevented litter
collection activities shall be maintained by the facility.
g.
Dust. The operator shall
take steps to minimize the production of dust so that unsafe or nuisance
conditions are prevented. Leachate shall not be used for dust control
purposes.
h.
Mud.
The operator shall take steps to minimize the tracking of mud by vehicles
exiting the facility so that slick or unsafe conditions are
prevented.
i.
Leachate and
wastewater treatment. The leachate management system shall be managed
and maintained pursuant to the requirements of paragraph
113.7(5)"b." Leachate collection pipes shall be cleaned and
inspected as necessary, but not less than once every three years. Leachate and
wastewater shall be treated as necessary to meet the pretreatment limits, if
any, imposed by an agreement between the MSWLF and a publicly owned wastewater
treatment works (POTW) or by the effluent discharge limits established by an
NPDES permit. Documentation of the POTW agreement or NPDES permit must be
submitted to the department. All leachate and wastewater treatment systems
shall conform to department wastewater design standards.
j.
Financial assurance.
Financial assurance shall be maintained pursuant to rule
567-113.14(455B).
(4)
Development and operations plan (DOPs). An MSWLF unit shall
maintain a development and operations plan (DOPs). At a minimum, the DOPs shall
detail how the
facility will operate and how compliance with the requirements
of rule
567-1138.
(455B) will be maintained. The DOPs shall contain at least the following
components.
a. A title page and table of
contents.
b. Telephone number of
the official responsible for the operation of the facility and an emergency
contact person if different.
c.
Service area of the facility and political jurisdictions included in that
area.
d. Days and hours of
operation of the facility.
e.
Details of how the site will comply with the prohibited operations and activity
requirements of subrule 113.8(1) and any related permit conditions.
f. Details of how the site will comply with
the disposal operation and activity requirements of subrule 113.8(2) and any
related permit conditions.
g.
Details of how the site will comply with the facility operations and activity
requirements of subrule 113.8(3), any related permit conditions, and any
leachate and wastewater treatment requirements.
(5)
Emergency response and remedial
action plan (ERRAP). All MSWLFs shall develop, submit to the
department for approval, and maintain on site an ERRAP.
a.
ERRAP submittal
requirements. An updated ERRAP shall be submitted to the department
with any permit modification or renewal request that incorporates facility
changes that impact the ERRAP.
b.
Content. The ERRAP is intended to be a quick reference during
an emergency. The content of the ERRAP shall be concise and readily usable as a
reference manual by
facility managers and operators during emergency
conditions. The ERRAP shall contain and address at least the following
components, unless
facility conditions render the specific issue as not
applicable. To facilitate department review, the rationale for exclusion of any
issues that are not applicable must be provided either in the body of the plan
or as a supplement. Additional ERRAP requirements unique to the
facility shall
be addressed as applicable.
(1) Facility
information.
1. Permitted agency.
2. DNR permit number.
3. Responsible official and contact
information.
4. Certified operator
and contact information.
5.
Facility description.
6. Site and
environs map.
(2)
Regulatory requirements.
1. Iowa Code section
455B.306(6)"d" criteria citation.
2. Reference to provisions of the
permit.
(3) Emergency
conditions, response activities and remedial action.
1. Failure of utilities.
* Short-term (48 hours or less).
* Long-term (over 48 hours).
2. Evacuation procedures during emergency
conditions.
3. Weather-related
events.
* Tornado and wind events.
* Snow and ice.
* Intense rainstorms, mud, and erosion.
* Lightning strikes.
* Flooding.
* Event and postevent conditions.
4. Fire and explosions.
* Waste materials.
* Buildings and site.
* Equipment.
* Fuels.
* Utilities.
* Facilities.
* Working area.
* Hot loads.
* Waste gases.
* Explosive devices.
5. Regulated waste spills and releases.
* Waste materials.
* Leachate.
* Waste gases.
* Waste stockpiles and storage facilities.
* Waste transport systems.
* Litter and airborne particulate.
* Site drainage system.
* Off-site releases.
6. Hazardous material spills and releases.
* Load-check control points.
* Mixed waste deliveries.
* Fuels.
* Waste gases.
* Site drainage systems.
* Off-site releases.
7. Mass movement of land and waste.
* Earthquakes.
* Slope failure.
* Waste shifts.
* Waste subsidence.
8. Emergency and release notification and
reporting.
* Federal agencies.
* State agencies.
* County and city agencies including emergency management
services.
* News media.
* Public and private facilities with special populations
within five miles.
* Reporting requirements and forms.
9. Emergency waste management procedures.
* Communications.
* Temporary discontinuation of services-short-term and
long-term.
* Facilities access and rerouting.
* Waste acceptance.
* Wastes in process.
10. Primary emergency equipment inventory.
* Major equipment.
* Fire hydrants and water sources.
* Off-site equipment resources.
11. Emergency aid.
* Responder contacts.
* Medical services.
* Contracts and agreements.
12. ERRAP training requirements.
* Training providers.
* Employee orientation.
* Annual training updates.
* Training completion and record keeping.
13. Reference tables, figures and maps.
(6)
MSWLF operator certification. Sanitary landfill operators
shall be trained, tested, and certified by a department-approved certification
program.
a. A sanitary landfill operator shall
be on duty during all hours of operation of a sanitary landfill, consistent
with the respective certification.
b. To become a certified operator, an
individual shall complete a basic operator training course that has been
approved by the department or an alternative, equivalent training approved by
the department and shall pass a departmental examination as specified by this
subrule. An operator certified by another state may have reciprocity subject to
approval by the department.
c. A
sanitary landfill operator certification is valid until June 30 of the
following even-numbered year.
d.
The required basic
operator training course for a certified sanitary landfill
operator shall have at least 25 contact hours and shall address the following
areas, at a minimum:
(1) Description of types
of wastes.
(2) Interpreting and
using engineering plans.
(3)
Construction surveying techniques.
(4) Waste decomposition processes.
(5) Geology and hydrology.
(6) Landfill design.
(7) Landfill operation.
(8) Environmental monitoring.
(9) Applicable laws and
regulations.
(10) Permitting
processes.
(11) Leachate control
and treatment.
e.
Alternate basic operator training must be approved by the department. The
applicant shall be responsible for submitting any documentation the department
may require to evaluate the equivalency of alternate training.
f. Fees.
(1)
The examination fee for each examination is $20.
(2) The initial certification fee is $8 for
each one-half year of a two-year period from the date of issuance to June 30 of
the next even-numbered year.
(3)
The certification renewal is $24.
(4) The penalty fee is
$12.
g. Examinations.
(1) The operator certification examinations
shall be based on the basic operator training course curriculum.
(2) All individuals wishing to take the
examination required to become a certified operator of a sanitary landfill
shall complete the Operator Certification Examination Application, Form
542-1354. A listing of dates and locations of examinations is available from
the department upon request. The application form requires the applicant to
indicate the basic operator training course taken. Evidence of training course
completion must be submitted with the application for certification. The
completed application and the application fee shall be sent to the department
and addressed to the central office in Des Moines. Application for examination
must be received by the department at least 30 days prior to the date of
examination.
(3) A properly
completed application for examination shall be valid for one year from the date
the application is approved by the department.
(4) Upon failure of the first examination,
the applicant may be reexamined at the next scheduled examination. Upon failure
of the second examination, the applicant shall be required to wait a period of
180 days between each subsequent examination.
(5) Upon each reexamination when a valid
application is on file, the applicant shall submit to the department the
examination fee at least ten days prior to the date of examination.
(6) Failure to successfully complete the
examination within one year from the date of approval of the application shall
invalidate the application.
(7)
Completed examinations will be retained by the department for a period of one
year after which they will be destroyed.
(8) Oral examinations may be given at the
discretion of the department.
h. Certification.
(1) All operators who passed the operator
certification examination by July 1, 1991, are exempt from taking the required
operator training course. Beginning July 1, 1991, all operators are required to
take the basic operator training course and pass the examination in order to
become certified.
(2) Application
for certification must be received by the department within 30 days of the date
the applicant receives notification of successful completion of the
examination. All applications for certification shall be made on a form
provided by the department and shall be accompanied by the certification
fee.
(3) Applications for
certification by examination which are received more than 30 days but less than
60 days after notification of successful completion of the examination shall be
accompanied by the certification fee and the penalty fee. Applicants who do not
apply for certification within 60 days of notice of successful completion of
the examination will not be certified on the basis of that
examination.
(4) For applicants who
have been certified under other state mandatory certification programs, the
equivalency of which has been previously reviewed and accepted by the
department, certification without examination will be recommended.
(5) For applicants who have been certified
under voluntary certification programs in other states, certification will be
considered. The applicant must have successfully completed a basic operator
training course and an examination generally equivalent to the Iowa
examination. The department may require the applicant to successfully complete
the Iowa examination.
(6)
Applicants who seek Iowa certification pursuant to subparagraphs
113.8(6)"h"(4) and (5) shall submit an application for
examination accompanied by a letter requesting certification pursuant to those
subparagraphs. Application for certification pursuant to those subparagraphs
shall be received by the department in accordance with subparagraphs
113.8(6)"h"(2) and (3).
i. Renewals. All certificates shall expire
every two years, on even-numbered years, and must be renewed every two years to
maintain certification. Application and fee are due prior to expiration of
certification.
(1) Late application for
renewal of a certificate may be made, provided that such late application shall
be received by the department or postmarked within 30 days of the expiration of
the certificate. Such late application shall be on forms provided by the
department and accompanied by the penalty fee and the certification renewal
fee.
(2) If a certificate holder
fails to apply for renewal within 30 days following expiration of the
certificate, the right to renew the certificate automatically terminates.
Certification may be allowed at any time following such termination, provided
that the applicant successfully completes an examination. The applicant must
then apply for certification in accordance with paragraph
113.8(6)"h."
(3)
An operator shall not continue to operate a sanitary landfill after expiration
of a certificate without renewal thereof.
(4) Continuing education must be earned
during the two-year certification period. All certified operators must earn ten
contact hours per certificate during each two-year period. The two-year period
will begin upon issuance of certification.
(5) Only those operators fulfilling the
continuing education requirements before the end of each two-year period will
be allowed to renew their certificates. The certificates of operators not
fulfilling the continuing education requirements shall be void upon expiration,
unless an extension is granted.
(6)
All activities for which continuing education credit will be granted must be
related to the subject matter of the particular certificate to which the credit
is being applied.
(7) The
department may, in individual cases involving hardship or extenuating
circumstances, grant an extension of time of up to three months within which
the applicant may fulfill the minimum continuing education requirements.
Hardship or extenuating circumstances include documented health-related
confinement or other circumstances beyond the control of the certified operator
which prevent attendance at the required activities. All requests for
extensions must be made 60 days prior to expiration of certification.
(8) The certified operator is
responsible for notifying the department of the continuing education credits
earned during the period. The continuing education credits earned during the
period shall be shown on the application for renewal.
(9) A certified operator shall be deemed to
have complied with the continuing education requirements of this subrule during
periods that the operator serves honorably on active duty in the military
service; or for periods that the operator is a resident of another state or
district having a continuing education requirement for operators and meets all
the requirements of that state or district for practice there; or for periods
that the person is a government employee working as an operator and is assigned
to duty outside the United States; or for other periods of active practice and
absence from the state approved by the department.
j. Discipline of certified operators.
(1) Disciplinary action may be taken on any
of the following grounds:
1. Failure to use
reasonable care or judgment or to apply knowledge or ability in performing the
duties of a certified operator. Duties of certified operators include
compliance with rules and permit conditions applicable to landfill
operation.
2. Failure to submit
required records of operation or other reports required under applicable
permits or rules of the department, including failure to submit complete
records or reports.
3. Knowingly
making any false statement, representation, or certification on any
application, record, report or document required to be maintained or submitted
under any applicable permit or rule of the department.
(2) Disciplinary sanctions allowable are:
1. Revocation of a certificate.
2. Probation under specified conditions
relevant to the specific grounds for disciplinary action. Additional education
or training or reexamination may be required as a condition of
probation.
(3) The
procedure for discipline is as follows:
1. The
department shall initiate disciplinary action. The commission may direct that
the department investigate any alleged factual situation that may be grounds
for disciplinary action under subparagraph 113.8(6)"j"(1) and
report the results of the investigation to the commission.
2. A disciplinary action may be prosecuted by
the department.
3. Written notice
shall be given to an operator against whom disciplinary action is being
considered. The notice shall state the informal and formal procedures available
for determining the matter. The operator shall be given 20 days to present any
relevant facts and indicate the operator's position in the matter and to
indicate whether informal resolution of the matter may be reached.
4. An operator who receives notice shall
communicate verbally, in writing, or in person with the department, and efforts
shall be made to clarify the respective positions of the operator and
department.
5. The applicant's
failure to communicate facts and positions relevant to the matter by the
required date may be considered when determining appropriate disciplinary
action.
6. If agreement as to
appropriate disciplinary sanction, if any, can be reached with the operator and
the commission concurs, a written stipulation and settlement between the
department and the operator shall be entered into. The stipulation and
settlement shall recite the basic facts and violations alleged, any facts
brought forth by the operator, and the reasons for the particular sanctions
imposed.
7. If an agreement as to
appropriate disciplinary action, if any, cannot be reached, the department may
initiate formal hearing procedures. Notice and formal hearing shall be in
accordance with 567-Chapter 7 related to contested and certain other cases
pertaining to license discipline.
k. Revocation of certificates. Upon
revocation of a certificate, application for certification may be allowed after
two years from the date of revocation. Any such applicant must successfully
complete an examination and be certified in the same manner as a new applicant.
l. Temporary certification. A
temporary operator of a sanitary landfill may be designated for a period of six
months when an existing certified operator is no longer available to the
facility. The facility must make application to the department, explain why a
temporary certification is needed, identify the temporary operator, and
identify the efforts which will be made to obtain a certified operator. A
temporary operator designation shall not be approved for greater than a
six-month period except for extenuating circumstances. In any event, not more
than one six-month extension to the temporary operator designation may be
granted. Approval of a temporary operator designation may be rescinded for
cause as set forth in paragraph 113.8(6)"j." All MSWLFs shall
have at least one MSWLF operator trained, tested and certified by a
department-approved program.