Md. Code Regs. 26.11.42.09

Current through Register Vol. 51, No. 24, December 2, 2024

Section 26.11.42.09 - Monitoring Requirements and Corrective Actions

A. Surface Emissions Monitoring Requirements. The owner or operator of a MSW landfill shall conduct instantaneous and integrated surface emissions monitoring of the landfill surface on a quarterly basis in accordance with the procedures specified in Regulation .11F of this chapter. All the following requirements shall apply to surface monitoring:

(1) Instantaneous Surface Emissions Monitoring. Any reading equal to or exceeding a limit specified in Regulation .04B(3)(b), .06B(3), or .07A(1) of this chapter shall be recorded as an exceedance and the following actions shall be taken:

(a) The owner or operator of an MSW landfill shall:

(i) Record the date, location, and value of each test, including re-tests, with the location of the grids, the gas collection system, and the tests clearly mark and identify on a topographic map of the MSW landfill which is drawn to scale; and

(ii) Retain and submit to the Department in accordance with the provisions of Regulation .10 of this chapter, a copy of the documentation required under §A(1)(a)(i) of this regulation.

(b) The owner or operator shall take corrective action such as, but not limited to, cover maintenance, cover repair, or well vacuum adjustments;

(c) The owner or operator shall re-monitor the location within 10 calendar days of the measured exceedance and comply with all the following requirements:

(i) If after the initial monitoring of the location a second exceedance is detected, additional corrective action shall be taken, and the location shall be re-monitored again no later than 10 calendar days after detecting the second exceedance;

(ii) If after the re-monitoring in A(1)(c)(i) of this regulation a third exceedance is detected, the owner or owner or operator shall install a new or replacement well or collection device and demonstrate compliance no later than 120 calendar days after detecting the third exceedance;

(iii) If after the re-monitoring in A(1)(c)(i) of this regulation a location has demonstrated no subsequent exceedance, that location shall be re-monitored 1 month from the initial exceedance;

(iv) If the 1-month re-monitoring in A(1)(c)(iii) of this regulation shows a concentration less than 500 ppmv methane (for compliance with Regulation.07A(1) of this chapter), or less than 200 ppmv methane (for compliance with Regulations .04B(3)(b) or .06B(3) of this chapter), no further monitoring of that location is required until the next quarterly monitoring period;

(v) If the 1-month re-monitoring in A(1)(c)(iii) of this regulation shows an exceedance, the owner or operator shall install a new or replacement well or collection device no later than 120 days after detecting the third exceedance;

(vi) For any location where the monitored methane concentration had a third exceedance within a quarterly period, and there is no gas collection and control system, the owner or operator shall design and install a system following Regulations .05 - .11; and

(vii) An alternative remedy to the exceedance, such as upgrading the blower, header pipes or control device, and a corresponding timeline for installation may be submitted for approval to the Department in accordance with requirements of Regulation .08 of this chapter.

(d) The owner or operator of a closed or inactive MSW landfill, or of any closed or inactive areas on an active MSW landfill, that has no monitored exceedances of the limit specified in Regulation .07A(1) of this chapter after four consecutive quarterly instantaneous surface monitoring periods may shift to annual instantaneous surface monitoring; and

(e) Any exceedances of the limit specified in Regulation .07A(1) of this chapter as detected during any compliance inspections or annual instantaneous surface monitoring that cannot be remediated within 10 calendar days will result in a return to quarterly instantaneous surface monitoring of the MSW landfill.

(2) Integrated Surface Emissions Monitoring: Any reading exceeding the limit specified in Regulation .07A(2) of this chapter shall be recorded as an exceedance and the following actions shall be taken:

(a) The owner or operator shall:

(i) Record the date, location, and the average surface concentration measured as methane for each test, including re-tests, with the location of the grids, the gas collection system, and each test clearly marked and identified on a topographic map of the MSW landfill which is drawn to scale; and

(ii) Retain, and submit to the Department in accordance with the provisions of Regulation .10 of this chapter, a copy of the documentation required under §A(2)(a)(i) of this regulation.

(b) Within 10 calendar days of a measured exceedance, the owner or operator shall take corrective action such as, but not limited to:

(i) Cover maintenance or repair; or

(ii) Well vacuum adjustments.

(c) The owner or operator who takes corrective action as required under §A(2)(b) of this regulation shall re-monitor the grid and comply with the requirements under §A(1)(c) of this regulation when an exceedance of Regulation .07A(2) of this chapter is recorded for the grid.

(d) Any closed or inactive MSW landfill, or any closed or inactive areas on an active MSW landfill that has no monitored exceedances of the limit specified in Regulation .07A(2) of this chapter after four consecutive quarterly integrated surface emissions monitoring periods may shift to annual integrated surface emissions monitoring; and

(e) An owner or operator of a MSW landfill that has shifted to annual integrated surface monitoring under §A(2)(d) of this regulation shall return to quarterly integrated surface emissions monitoring upon the occurrence of any exceedances of the limits specified in Regulation .07A(2) of this chapter detected during the annual integrated surface emissions monitoring or during any compliance inspection.

B. Gas Control System Equipment Monitoring. The owner or operator shall monitor the gas control system.

(1) For enclosed combustors (including enclosed flares), the following equipment shall be installed, calibrated, maintained, and operated according to the manufacturer's specifications:

(a) A temperature monitoring device equipped with a continuous recorder which has an accuracy of plus or minus (±) 1 percent of the temperature being measured expressed in degrees Celsius or Fahrenheit; and

(b) A device which records the gas flow to the control device(s) and bypass of the control device. The owner or operator shall:

(i) Install, calibrate, and maintain a gas flow rate measuring device that records the flow to the control device at least every 15 minutes;

(ii) Secure the bypass line valve in the closed position with a car-seal or a lock-and-key type configuration; and

(iii) Perform a visual inspection of the seal or closure mechanism at least once every month to ensure that the valve is maintained in the closed position and that the gas flow is not diverted through the bypass line.

(c) A temperature monitoring device is not required for boilers and process heaters with a design heat input capacity of 44 megawatts (150 MMBtu/hr) or greater.

(2) For open flares, the following equipment shall be installed, calibrated, maintained, and operated according to the manufacturer's specifications:

(a) A heat sensing device, such as an ultraviolet beam sensor or thermocouple, at the pilot light or the flame itself to indicate the continuous presence of a flame; and

(b) A device which records the gas flow to the flare and bypass if applicable. The owner or operator shall:

(i) Install, calibrate, and maintain a gas flow rate measuring device that records the flow to the control device at least every 15 minutes;

(ii) Secure the bypass line valve in the closed position with a car-seal or a lock-and-key type configuration; and

(3) For a gas control device other than an enclosed flare, the owner or operator shall demonstrate compliance by providing and complying with the following information and instructions:

(a) A description of the operation of the gas control device;

(b) Operating parameters that would indicate proper performance;

(c) Appropriate monitoring procedures; and

(d) The manufacturer's instructions and specifications.

(4) The owner or operator subject to §B(3) of this regulation shall maintain, operate, and monitor the device in accordance with written manufacturer instructions and specifications.

(5) The owner or operator subject to §B(3) of this regulation may submit alternative compliance procedures to the Department for approval in accordance with the provisions in Regulation .08 of this chapter.

(6) Notwithstanding §B(3) and (4) of this regulation, the Department may specify additional monitoring procedures for a gas control device other than an enclosed flare, and the owner or operator shall comply with any such requirement.

(7) Components containing landfill gas and under positive pressure shall be monitored quarterly for leaks.

(a) Any component leak of 500 ppmv or greater shall be tagged and repaired within 10 calendar days.

(b) Any component leak of 250 ppmv or greater shall be recorded in accordance with the provisions in Regulation .10B(1)(s) of this chapter.

(c) Quarterly component leak testing at a MSW landfill having a landfill gas-to-energy facility shall be conducted prior to scheduled maintenance or planned outage periods.

(8) The owner or operator shall measure gauge pressure in the gas collection header applied to each individual well on a monthly basis.

(a) If a positive pressure exists, other than as provided in Regulation .05C of this chapter, action shall be initiated to correct the positive pressure within 5 days.

(b) Any attempted corrective action shall not cause exceedances of other operational or performance standards.

(9) For a gas treatment system, the following equipment shall be installed, calibrated, maintained, and operated according to the manufacturer's specifications:

(a) A device which records the gas flow to the treatment system and bypass if applicable.

(b) The owner or operator shall:

(i) Install, calibrate, and maintain a gas flow rate measuring device that records the flow to the treatment system at least every 15 minutes;

(ii) Secure the bypass line valve in the closed position with a car-seal or a lock-and-key type configuration; and

C. Wellhead Monitoring. The owner or operator shall monitor each individual wellhead monthly to determine and record the gauge pressure, temperature, and nitrogen or oxygen content of gas emissions, and follow the procedures listed as applicable.

(1) If there is any positive pressure reading other than as provided in Regulation .05D and E, the owner or operator shall take the following actions and shall not cause exceedances of other operational or performance standards from any attempted corrective measure:

(a) Initiate corrective action within 5 calendar days of the positive pressure measurement;

(b) If negative pressure cannot be achieved without excess air infiltration within 15 calendar days of the first measurement of positive pressure, the owner or operator shall conduct a root cause analysis and correct the exceedance as soon as practicable, but no later than 60 days after positive pressure was first measured and submit reports in accordance with the reporting requirements of Regulation .10B and .10C(3) of this chapter;

(c) If corrective actions cannot be fully implemented within 60 days following the positive pressure measurement for which the root cause analysis was required, the owner or operator shall also conduct a corrective action analysis and develop an implementation schedule to complete the corrective action(s) as soon as practicable, but no more than 120 days following the positive pressure measurement and submit reports in accordance with the requirements of Regulation .10B, .10C(3) and .10C(4); and

(d) If corrective action is expected to take longer than 120 days to complete after the initial exceedance, the owner or operator shall submit the root cause analysis, corrective action analysis, and corresponding implementation timeline to the Department for approval in accordance with the requirements of Regulation .10C(10) and .10C(14) of this chapter.

(2) If a well exceeds the operating parameter for temperature, action shall be initiated to correct the exceedance within 5 days.

(3) The owner or operator shall not cause exceedances of other operational or performance standards from any attempted corrective measure and shall comply with all the following requirements:

(a) If a landfill gas temperature less than 62.8°C (145°F), or as established in Regulation .07B, cannot be achieved within 15 days of the first measurement of landfill gas temperature greater than 62.8°C (145°F), the owner or operator shall conduct a root cause analysis and correct the exceedance as soon as practicable, but no later than 60 days after a landfill gas temperature greater than 62.8°C (145°F) was first measured;

(b) If corrective actions cannot be fully implemented within 60 days following the temperature measurement for which the root cause analysis was required, the owner or operator shall also conduct a corrective action analysis and develop an implementation schedule to complete the corrective action(s) as soon as practicable, but no more than 120 days following the measurement of landfill gas temperature greater than 62.8°C (145°F) and submit records in accordance with the provisions of Regulation .10B and .10C(3);

(c) If corrective action is expected to take longer than 120 days to complete after the initial exceedance, the owner or operator shall submit the root cause analysis, corrective action analysis, and corresponding implementation timeline to the Department for approval, in accordance with the provisions of Regulation .10C(10) and .10C(14) of this chapter and §C(1)(c) of this regulation;

(d) If a landfill gas temperature measured at either the wellhead or at any point in the well is greater than or equal to 76.7°C (170°F) and the carbon monoxide concentration measured, according to the procedures in Regulation .11H of this chapter, is greater than or equal to 1,000 ppmv the corrective action(s) for the wellhead temperature standard 62.8°C (145°F) shall be completed within 15 days; and

(e) If a higher operating temperature has not been approved by the Department, the enhanced monitoring specified in Regulation .11I of this chapter is required at each well with a measurement of landfill gas temperature greater than 62.8°C (145°F).

(4) The owner or operator subject to the requirements in §C(3)(b) of this regulation shall submit the items listed in Regulation .10C(3)(c) to the Department as part of the next semi-annual report.

(5) The owner or operator subject to the requirements in §C(3)(a)-(c) of this regulation shall keep records in accordance with the provisions of Regulation .10B of this chapter.

(6) The owner or operator shall monitor each wellhead and record all nitrogen levels at or above 20 percent and all oxygen levels at or above 5 percent according to Regulation .10B(1)(e) and .10C(3) following the procedures of Regulation .11H of this chapter.

D. Requirements for Monitoring Systems - Malfunction, Repair and Other Activities.

(1) The monitoring requirements in the regulation apply at all times except for periods of monitoring system malfunctions, repairs associated with monitoring system malfunctions, and required monitoring system quality assurance or quality control activities.

(2) Any sudden, infrequent, not reasonably preventable failure of the monitoring system to provide valid data shall be considered a monitoring system malfunction.

(3) For purposes of this regulation, monitoring system failures that are caused in part by poor maintenance or careless operation are not malfunctions.

(4) Monitoring system repairs completed in response to monitoring system malfunctions to return the monitoring system to operation shall be completed as expeditiously as possible.

Md. Code Regs. 26.11.42.09

Regulation .09 adopted effective 50:11 Md. R. 446, eff. 6/12/2023; amended effective 51:15 Md. R. 711, eff. 8/5/2024.