Section 845.290  Construction Quality Assurance Program

a)         The following must be constructed according to a Construction Quality Assurance (CQA) program:

1)       The construction of a new CCR surface impoundment, or the lateral expansion of an existing CCR surface impoundment;

2)       The retrofit of an existing CCR surface impoundment;

3)       Installation of a groundwater collection system and discharge system;

4)       Installation of the groundwater monitoring system; and

5)       Installation of the final cover system.

b)         The CQA program must meet the following requirements:

1)         The owner or operator of the CCR surface impoundment must designate a CQA officer who is a qualified professional engineer.

2)         At the end of each week of construction, until construction is complete, a summary report must be prepared either by the CQA officer or under the supervision of the CQA officer.  The report must include descriptions of the weather, locations where construction occurred during the previous week, materials used, results of testing, inspection reports, and procedures used to perform the inspections.  The CQA officer must review and approve the report.  The owner or operator of the CCR surface impoundment must place the weekly reports in the facility's operating record (see Section 845.800(d)(3)).

3)         The CQA officer must certify the following, when applicable:

A)        The bedding material contains no undesirable objects;

B)        The final closure plan or corrective action plan approved by the construction permit has been followed;

C)        The anchor trench and backfill are constructed to prevent damage to a geosynthetic membrane;

D)        All tears, rips, punctures, and other damage are repaired;

E)        All geosynthetic membrane seams are properly constructed and tested in accordance with the manufacturer's specifications;

F)         Any groundwater collection system is constructed to intersect the water table;

G)        Any groundwater collection system is properly constructed to slope toward extraction points, and the extraction equipment is properly designed and installed;

H)        Appropriate operation and maintenance plans for the groundwater collection system and extraction and discharge equipment are provided;

I)         Proper filter material consisting of uniform granular fill, to avoid clogging, is used in construction;

J)         The filter material, as placed, possesses structural strength adequate to support the maximum loads imposed by the overlying materials and equipment used at the facility;

K)        CCR stabilization; and

L)        Site restoration, if any.

4)         The CQA officer must supervise and be responsible for all inspections, testing and other activities required to be implemented as part of the CQA program under this Section.

5)         The CQA officer must be present to provide supervision and assume responsibility for performing all inspections of the following activities, when applicable:

A)        Compaction of the subgrade and foundation to design parameters;

B)        Application of final cover, including installation of the geomembrane; and

C)        Installation of the groundwater collection system and discharge system.

6)         If the CQA officer is unable to be present as required by subsection (b)(5), the CQA officer must provide the following in writing:

A)        The reasons for his or her absence;

B)        A designation of a person who must exercise professional judgment in carrying out the duties of the CQA officer-in-absentia; and

C)        A signed statement that the CQA officer assumes full responsibility for all inspections performed and reports prepared by the designated CQA officer-in-absentia during the absence of the CQA officer.

7)         The CQA program must ensure, at a minimum, that construction materials and operations meet design specifications.