SECTION 252:517-15-8. Alternative closure requirements

(a)   The owner or operator of a CCR landfill, CCR surface impoundment, or any lateral expansion of a CCR unit that is subject to closure pursuant to OAC 252:517-15-6(a), (b)(1), or (d) may continue to receive CCR in the unit provided the owner or operator meets the requirements of either paragraph (a) or (b) of this Section.

(1)   No alternative CCR disposal capacity.

(A)   Notwithstanding the provisions of OAC 252:517-15-6(a), (b)(1), or (d), a CCR unit may continue to receive CCR if the owner or operator of the CCR unit certifies that the CCR must continue to be managed in that CCR unit due to the absence of alternative disposal capacity both on-site and off-site of the facility. To qualify under this paragraph (a)(1), the owner or operator of the CCR unit must document that all of the following conditions have been met and approved by the DEQ:

(B)   No alternative disposal capacity is available on-site or off-site. An increase in costs or the inconvenience of existing capacity is not sufficient to support qualification under this Section;

(C)   The owner or operator has made, and continues to make, efforts to obtain additional capacity. Qualification under this Subsection lasts only as long as no alternative capacity is available. Once alternative capacity is identified, the owner or operator must arrange to use such capacity as soon as feasible;

(D)   The owner or operator must remain in compliance with all other requirements of this Chapter, including the requirement to conduct any necessary corrective action; and

(E)   The owner or operator must prepare an annual progress report documenting the continued lack of alternative capacity and the progress towards the development of alternative CCR disposal capacity.

(2)   Once alternative capacity is available, the CCR unit must cease receiving CCR and initiate closure following the timeframes in OAC 252:517-15-7(e) and (f).

(3)   If no alternative capacity is identified within five years after the initial certification, the CCR unit must cease receiving CCR and close in accordance with the timeframes in OAC 252:517-15-7(e) and (f).

(b)   Permanent cessation of a coal fired boiler(s) by a date certain.

(1)   Notwithstanding the provisions of OAC 252:517-15-6(a), (b)(1), and (d), a CCR unit may continue to receive CCR if the owner or operator certifies that the facility will cease operation of the coal-fired boilers within the timeframes specified in paragraphs (b)(2) through (4) of this Section, but in the interim period (prior to closure of the coal-fired boiler), the facility must continue to use the CCR unit due to the absence of alternative disposal capacity both on-site and off-site of the facility. To qualify under this paragraph (b)(1), the owner or operator of the CCR unit must document that all of the following conditions have been met and approved by the DEQ:

(A)   No alternative disposal capacity is available on-site or off-site. An increase in costs or the inconvenience of existing capacity is not sufficient to support qualification under this Section.

(B)   The owner or operator must remain in compliance with all other requirements of this Chapter, including the requirement to conduct any necessary corrective action; and

(C)   The owner or operator must prepare an annual progress report documenting the continued lack of alternative capacity and the progress towards the closure of the coal-fired boiler.

(2)   For a CCR surface impoundment that is 40 acres or smaller, the coal-fired boiler must cease operation and the CCR surface impoundment must have completed closure no later than October 17, 2023.

(3)   For a CCR surface impoundment that is larger than 40 acres, the coal-fired boiler must cease operation, and the CCR surface impoundment must complete closure no later than October 17, 2028.

(4)   For a CCR landfill, the coal-fired boiler must cease operation, and the CCR landfill must complete closure no later than April 19, 2021.

(c)   Required notices and progress reports. An owner or operator of a CCR unit that closes in accordance with paragraphs (a) or (b) of this Section must complete the notices and progress reports specified in paragraphs (c)(1) through (3) of this Section.

(1)   Within six months of becoming subject to closure pursuant to OAC 252:517-15-6(a), (b)(1), or (d), the owner or operator must prepare, submit to DEQ and place in the facility's operating record a notification of intent to comply with the alternative closure requirements of this Section. The notification must describe why the CCR unit qualifies for the alternative closure provisions under either paragraph (a) or (b) of this Section, in addition to providing the documentation and certifications required by paragraph (a) or (b) of this Section.

(2)   The owner or operator must prepare the periodic progress reports required by paragraphs (a)(1)(D) or (b)(1)(C), in addition to describing any problems encountered and a description of the actions taken to resolve the problems. The annual progress reports must be completed according to the following schedule:

(A)   The first annual progress report must be prepared no later than 13 months after completing the notification of intent to comply with the alternative closure requirements required by paragraph (c)(1) of this Section.

(B)   The second annual progress report must be prepared no later than 12 months after completing the first annual progress report. Additional annual progress reports must be prepared within 12 months of completing the previous annual progress report.

(C)   The owner or operator must submit the progress reports required in (A) and (B) above to the DEQ for approval.

(D)   The owner or operator has completed the progress reports specified in paragraph (c)(2) of this Section when the reports are placed in the facility's operating record as required by OAC 252:517-19-1(i)(10).

(3)   An owner or operator of a CCR unit must also prepare the notification of intent to close a CCR unit as required by OAC 252:517-15-7(g).

(d)   Recordkeeping. The owner or operator of the CCR unit must comply with the recordkeeping requirements specified in OAC 252:517-19-1(i), the notification requirements specified in OAC 252:517-19-2(i), and the Internet requirements specified in OAC 252:517-19-3(i)

[Source: Added at 33 Ok Reg 1469, eff 9-15-16]