Current through Register Vol. 54, No.43, October 26, 2024
Section 271.821 - Application for general permit(a) A person or municipality may apply to the Department for the issuance of a general permit for a category of beneficial use of municipal waste or for a category of processing of municipal waste when processing is necessary to prepare the waste for beneficial use.(b) An application for the issuance of a general permit shall be submitted on a form prepared by the Department and shall contain the following: (1) A description of the waste to be covered by the general permit, including the physical and chemical characteristics of the waste. The chemical description shall contain an analysis meeting the requirements of § 271.611 (relating to chemical analysis of waste) for a sufficient number of samples of the waste to represent accurately the range of physical properties and chemical characteristics of the waste.(2) A description of the proposed type of beneficial use or processing activity to be covered by the general permit.(3) For beneficial use general permits, proposed concentration limits for contaminants in the waste which is to be beneficially used, and a rationale for those limits.(4) For general permits that involve beneficial use of a processed or unprocessed waste, a detailed demonstration of the efficacy of the waste for the proposed beneficial use, which shall include: (i) If the waste is to be used as a substitute for a commercial product, a demonstration that the waste is capable of performing the desired functions of the commercial product, and that the waste meets or exceeds applicable ASTM, Department of Transportation or other applicable National, State, local or industry standards or specifications for the material for which the waste is being substituted.(ii) If the waste is to be used as a raw material for a product with commercial value, a demonstration that the waste will contribute significant properties or materials to the end product, and that the waste meets or exceeds applicable ASTM, Department of Transportation or other applicable National, State, local or industry standards or specifications for the material for which the waste is being substituted.(iii) If the waste is to be used in general roadway application or highway construction, a demonstration that approval has been granted by the Department of Transportation Product Evaluation Board, if applicable, for the use of the waste for the intended application.(iv) If the waste is to be used as a construction material, soil substitute, soil additive or antiskid material, or is to be otherwise placed directly onto the land, an evaluation of the potential for adverse public health and environmental impacts from the proposed use of the municipal waste. The evaluation shall identify the particular constituents of the waste which present the potential for adverse public health and environmental impacts, and the potential pathways of human exposure to those constituents, including exposure through groundwater, surface water, air and the food chain. This requirement does not apply to general permits for the land application of sewage sludge. The Department may waive or modify this requirement in writing.(v) If the waste is to be used without reclamation as a construction material, soil additive, soil substitute or antiskid material or is to be otherwise placed directly onto the land, a demonstration that the leaching analysis of the municipal waste to be beneficially used is no greater than 25 times the primary maximum contaminant level (MCL) for metals and other cations and the primary MCL for contaminants other than metals and cations.(5) If wastes are blended for use, a demonstration that each waste results in a beneficial contribution to the use of the mixed waste and that the consistency of the blend will be maintained. The applicant shall specify the quantities and proportions of all materials included in the blended waste and the mixture shall meet appropriate standards for use.(6) For a mixture of sewage sludge and residual waste, a demonstration that the following requirements are met in addition to the other requirements of this subchapter: (i) The person who prepares the sewage sludge has one of the following: (A) A permit for operation of the facility issued by the Department under the procedures and requirements of Chapter 91 or 92 (relating to general provisions; and National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System) or this chapter, as applicable.(B) A permit for operation of the facility in which the sewage sludge is prepared, that is issued or modified by the State in which the facility is located or by the EPA, from which the Department may determine that the sewage sludge and residual waste mixture to be land applied will meet the standards in 40 CFR Part 503 (relating to standards for the use or disposal of sewage sludge).(ii) The requirements of the following sections are met: §§ 271.902(g), 271.904-271.907, 271.911, 271.913-271.919 and 271.931-271.933.(c) Except as provided in subsection (d), an application for the issuance of a general permit under this subchapter shall be accompanied by a nonrefundable fee in the form of a check payable to the "Commonwealth of Pennsylvania" for $1,000.(d) An application for issuance of a general permit that involves the mixture of residual waste and municipal waste under this subchapter shall be accompanied by a nonrefundable fee in the form of a check payable to the "Commonwealth of Pennsylvania" for $2,000.(e) The Department may not waive bonding and insurance requirements in Subchapter D (relating to financial assurances requirements) for composting facilities, construction/demolition waste processing facilities, facilities that process municipal waste to produce refuse derived fuel and for other general permit activities if the waste managed is potentially harmful or large quantities of waste are stored.(f) An applicant for a general permit shall provide written notice to each municipality in which the applicant intends to operate under a general permit, if a location is known. Proof of this notice, including a copy of the notice and certified or registered mail returned receipt, shall be submitted to the Department.The provisions of this §271.821 adopted January 24, 1997, effective 1/25/1997, 27 Pa.B. 521; amended December 22, 2000, effective 12/23/2000, 30 Pa.B. 6685. This section cited in 25 Pa. Code § 271.5 (relating to public records and confidential information); 25 Pa. Code § 271.801 (relating to scope); 25 Pa. Code § 271.811 (relating to authorization for general permit); 25 Pa. Code § 271.824 (relating to approval or denial of an application); 25 Pa. Code § 271.832 (relating to waiver and modification of requirements); and 25 Pa. Code § 271.841 (relating to inclusion in a general permit).