All permit by rule facilities shall keep any records that are required by these rules and a copy of its permit by rule authorization at the facility or at another location approved by the Department. Notwithstanding any other provision of this rule, and provided they are not excluded pursuant to part (b) 2 of this paragraph, the following classes of activities shall be deemed to have a permit by rule if the conditions listed are met:
(i) A processing facility, if:
(I) The operator complies with the notification requirement of part 2 of this subparagraph;
(II) The facility is constructed, operated, maintained, and closed in such a manner as to minimize:
I. The propagation, harborage, or attraction of flies, rodents, or other disease vectors;
II. The potential for explosions or uncontrolled fires;
III. The potential for releases of solid wastes or solid waste constituents to the environment except in a manner authorized by state and local air pollution control, water pollution control, and/or waste management agencies; and
IV. The potential for harm to the public through unauthorized or uncontrolled access;
(III) The facility has an artificial or natural barrier which completely surrounds the facility and a means to control entry, at all times, through the gate or other entrances to the facility;
(IV) The facility, if open to the public, has clearly visible and legible signs at the points of public access which indicate the hours of operation, the general types of waste materials that either will or will not be accepted, emergency telephone numbers, schedule of charges (if applicable), and other necessary information;
(V) Trained personnel are always present during operating hours to operate the facility;
(VI) The facility has adequate sanitary facilities, emergency communications (e.g., telephone), and shelter available for personnel;
(VII) The facility's access road(s) and parking area(s) are constructed so as to be accessible in all weather conditions;
(VIII) Except for composting facilities utilizing landscaping and land clearing wastes only, all waste handling (including loading and unloading) at the facility is conducted on paved surfaces;
(IX) There is no storage of solid wastes at the facility except in the containers, bins, lined pits or on paved surfaces, designated for such storage;
(X) Except for incinerators or energy recovery units, there is no burning of solid wastes at the facility;
(XI) There is no scavenging of solid wastes at the facility and any salvaging is conducted at safe, designated areas and times;
(XII) Wind dispersal of solid wastes at or from the facility is adequately controlled, including the daily collection and proper disposal of windblown litter and other loose, unconfined solid wastes;
(XIII) All liquids which either drain from solid wastes or are created by washdown of equipment at the facility go to either (1) a wastewater treatment facility permitted to receive such wastewaters under Tennessee Code Annotated Sections 69-3-101 et seq. (Tennessee Water Quality Control Act), or (2) other methods approved by the Commissioner.
(XIV) The facility receives no special wastes unless:
I. Such receipt has been specifically approved in writing by the Department, and
II. Special procedures and/or equipment are utilized to adequately confine and segregate the special wastes;
(XV) The operator can demonstrate, at the request of the Commissioner, that alternative arrangements (e.g., contracts with other facilities) for the proper processing or disposal of the solid wastes his facility handles are available in the event his facility can not operate;
(XVI) The facility has properly maintained and located fire suppression equipment (e.g., fire extinguishers, water hoses) continuously available in sufficient quantities to control accidental fires that may occur;
(XVII) All waste residues resulting from processing activities at the facility are managed in accordance with this rule chapter or rule chapter 1200-01-11 (Hazardous Waste Management), whichever is applicable, and/or with any other applicable state or federal regulations governing waste management;
(XVIII)The facility is finally closed by removal of all solid wastes and solid waste residues for proper disposal. The operator must notify the Division Director in writing of his completion of closure of the facility. Such notification must include a certification by the operator that the facility has been closed by removal of all the solid waste and residues. Within 21 days of the receipt of such notice the Division Director shall inspect the facility to verify that closure has been completed. Within 10 days of such verification, the Commissioner shall approve the closure in writing to the operator. Closure shall not be considered final and complete until such approval has been made.
(XIX) New solid waste processing facilities shall not be located in wetlands, unless the owner or operator makes the applicable demonstrations to the Commissioner as referenced at rule
1200-01-07-.04(2)(p).
(XX) The facility must not be located in a 100-year floodplain unless it is demonstrated to the satisfaction of the Commissioner that:
I. Location in the floodplain will not restrict the flow of the 100-year flood nor reduce the temporary water storage capacity of the floodplain.
II. The facility is designed, constructed, operated, and maintained to prevent washout of any solid waste.
(XXI) The facility does not:
I. Cause or contribute to the taking of any endangered or threatened species of plants, fish, or wildlife; or
II. Result in the destruction or adverse modification of the critical habitat of endangered or threatened species.
(XXII) The owner/operator may not store solid waste until the processing equipment has been installed on-site and is ready for use.
(XXIII) The owner/operator of a solid waste processing facility which has a solid waste storage capacity of 1000 cubic yards or greater shall file with the Commissioner a performance bond or equivalent cash or securities, payable to the State of Tennessee. Such financial assurance is intended to ensure that adequate financial resources are available to the Commissioner to insure the proper operation, closure, and post closure care of the facility. The types of financial assurance instruments that are acceptable are those specified in 1200-01-07-.03(3)(d). Such financial assurance shall meet the criteria set forth in T.C.A. §
68-211-116(a) and at rule
1200-01-07-.03(3)(b).
(XXIV) The owners or operators proposing a new solid waste processing facility that handles putrescible wastes located within 10,000 feet (3,048 meters) of any airport runway end used by turbojet aircraft or within 5,000 feet (1,524 meters) of any airport runway end used only by piston-type aircraft must include in the permit-by-rule notification a demonstration that the facility does not pose a bird hazard to aircraft. The owners or operators proposing a new solid waste processing facility that handles putrescible wastes located within a five-mile radius of any airport runway end used by turbojet or piston-type aircraft must notify the affected airport and the appropriate Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) office.
(ii) A coal ash fill area, if:
(I) The coal ash disposed of is not hazardous as defined in rule
1200-01-11-.02(1)(c) of the
Hazardous Waste Management Regulations.
(II) The coal ash disposed of is fly ash, bottom ash, or boiler slag resulting primarily from the combustion of fossil fuel.
(III) Disposal is limited to:
I. Coal ash in engineered structures for the following projects: a highway overpass, levee, runway, or foundation backfill.
II. Such other similar uses as the Commissioner may approve in writing. Financial assurance may be required by the Commissioner if deemed appropriate for these case-by-case projects.
(IV) The operator complies with the notification requirement of part 2 of this subparagraph;
(V) The fill area is constructed, operated, maintained, and closed in such a manner as to minimize:
I. The potential for harmful release of solid wastes or solid waste constituents to the environment; and
II. The potential for harm to the public through unauthorized or uncontrolled access;
(VI) The fill area, until development is complete, must have an artificial or natural barrier to control access of unauthorized entry.
(VII) There must be equipment available that is capable of spreading and compacting the coal ash, and capable of handling the earthwork required during the periods that coal ash is received at the fill area.
(VIII) The coal-ash fill project is designed with:
I. A geologic buffer of at least three feet with a maximum saturated conductivity of 1 x 10-6 centimeters per second between the base of the fill and the seasonal high water table of the uppermost unconfined aquifer or the top of the formation of a confined aquifer, or such other protection as approved by the Commissioner taking into account site specific coal ash and soil characteristics, ambient groundwater quality, and projected flows in and around the site; and
II. A ground water monitoring program approved by the department that reports sampling results to the department at least once each year. If sampling results indicate that the fill area has caused the ground water protection standards to be exceeded, the owner or operator of the facility shall commence an assessment monitoring program in accordance with regulations adopted by the board and carry-out all corrective measures specified by the Commissioner.
(IX) At the completion of the coal-ash fill project, and no later than 90 days after operations have ceased, the final cover must meet the requirement of at least 24 inches of compacted soil on the coal-ash project area, except for those areas covered by structures, asphalt, concrete (including concrete containing coal ash), or other similar barriers to water infiltration. The upper six inches of this cover shall be able to support the growth of suitable vegetation.
(X) The final surface of the coal-ash fill area is graded and/or provided with drainage facilities in a manner that:
I. Minimizes erosion of cover material (e.g., no steep slopes);
II. Promotes drainage of precipitation falling on the area (e.g., prevents pooling);
III. Provides a surface drainage system which is consistent with the surrounding area and in no way significantly adversely affects proper drainage from these adjacent lands; and
IV. The operator must take other erosion control measures (e.g., temporary mulching or seeding, silt barriers) as necessary to control erosion of the site.
(XI) Dust Control - The operator must take dust control measures as necessary to prevent dust from creating a nuisance or safety hazard to adjacent landowners or to persons engaged in supervising, operating, and using the site. The use of any oils or other chemicals (other than water) for dust suppression must be approved in writing beforehand by the Department.
(XII) Prior to excavation, all bore holes drilled or dug during subsurface investigation of the site, piezometers, and abandoned wells which are either in or within 100 feet of the areas to be filled must be backfilled with a bentonite slurry or other sealant approved by the Commissioner to an elevation at least ten feet greater than the elevation of the lowest point of the fill base (including any liner), or to the ground surface if the site will be excavated less than ten feet below grade.
(XIII) The fill area must not be located in a 100-year floodplain unless it is demonstrated to the satisfaction of the Commissioner that:
I. Location in the floodplain will not restrict the flow of the 100-year flood, nor reduce the temporary water storage capacity of the floodplain.
II. The fill area is designed, constructed, operated, and maintained to prevent washout of any solid waste.
(XIV) There must be installed on-site a permanent benchmark (e.g., a concrete marker) of known elevation.
(XV) New coal ash fill areas and lateral expansions shall not be located in wetlands, unless the owner or operator makes the applicable demonstrations to the Commissioner as referenced at rule
1200-01-07-.04(2)(p).
(XVI) A fill area must not be located in highly developed karst terrain (i.e., sink holes and caves).
(XVII) The coal-ash fill project does not:
I. Cause or contribute to the taking of any endangered or threatened species of plants, fish, or wildlife; or
II. Result in the destruction or adverse modification of the critical habitat of endangered or threatened species.
(XVIII) Notice in Deed to Property - Except for coal ash fills on federal, state or local government owned right-of-ways, the operator must ensure that, within 90 days of meeting final cover requirements and prior to the sale or lease of the coal ash fill area property, there is recorded, a notation on the deed to the property or on some other instrument which is normally examined during a title search that will in perpetuity notify any person conducting a title search that coal ash has been placed on the property.