Obtaining Permits and Constructing Impoundments

1. Obtaining Permits and Constructing Impoundments January 11, 2010

2. Obtaining Permits and Constructing Impoundments • What is the key? • We need to GET IT RIGHT!! • PLAN AHEAD • Look at your schedules – plan in advance as much as possible for permitting and construction • These permits take time – make sure you allow for that • Plan for construction during “construction season” • Involve your Engineer in the Planning Process • Can identify environmental challenges early in the process and allow for appropriate planning • Can help you determine where the best location to allow for • efficient pumping of water from one well pad to another • Can help you determine if the location is appropriate for impoundment location

3. Obtaining Permits and Constructing Impoundments • Permit Application • What Should it Look Like? • Complete the application form, but • only the appropriate sections • Don’t forget your Act 14 County & • Municipal Notices • Don’t forget your PHMC submission, • but only proof of submission is • required, not the PHMC response • PNDI must be included • ESCGP-1 Permit should be included, • along with any modification approvals • Proof of title/flowage easement – for • most applications the title for the • property should be sufficient for the • submission

4. Obtaining Permits and Constructing Impoundments • Permit Application – What Should it Look Like? • Don’t forget your photos and orientation map

5. Obtaining Permits and Constructing Impoundments • Permit Application • What Should it Look Like? • All drawings must be signed and • sealed by a Professional Engineer • Cross-sections must be site specific • Take a close look to see if there will • be any impacts from failure of the • impoundment • Provide the construction information • If construction is underway, say so • What types of water you are storing? • Subbase – if your existing site soils • are appropriate soils, compact them • Leak detection zone – this is only • required if you are not installing • groundwater monitoring wells

6. Obtaining Permits and Constructing Impoundments • Permit Application • What Should it Look Like? • What qualifies as a leak detection zone? • Obviously a double-liner with a zone • between liners will classify as leak • detection • Complicated to design • Complicated to install • Can be as simple as an underdrain below the single liner that daylights outside the impoundment • Monitor for flow • Perform laboratory analysis • on flow if you get any

7. Obtaining Permits and Constructing Impoundments • Permit Application • What Should it Look Like? • The liner must be a minimum of • 30-mils • All HDPE liners and PVC liners will • meet the permeability requirements • Will stormwater be able to get in to • the impoundment or not? • Will you have fence around your • impoundment? • The construction supervision plan • should be attached if you have not • begun construction • If construction is complete, attach the • Construction Certification Report in • lieu of the supervision plan

8. Obtaining Permits and Constructing Impoundments • Permit Application • What Should it Look Like? • Groundwater Monitoring Wells are only required if you are not using • a leak detection zone • Only 3 wells are required: • 1 upgradient well and 2 downgradient wells • Well Construction: • Should be drilled approximately 10 feet into groundwater to account for seasonal variations • PVC pipe with approximately the bottom 10 feet slotted screen • Backfill hole with sand to approximately 2 feet above the slooted portion of the pipe • Approximately 2 feet of hydrated bentonite chips or pellets • Cement or bentonite crumbles to surface

9. Obtaining Permits and Constructing Impoundments • Construction Practices and Oversight • Make sure that during construction • the PADEP guidance document • is followed. This means inspections • need to be done by you or your • consultant. • Particle size should be • <6 inches • If you hit rock, stockpile the • boulders or crush to make • usable materials

10. Obtaining Permits and Constructing Impoundments • Construction Practices and Oversight • Lift size should be <9 inches of • loose lift thickness (non-compacted • lift thickness).

11. Obtaining Permits and Constructing Impoundments • Construction Practices and Oversight • Make sure that the toe of the • embankment is being keyed • in to the existing soil in the • appropriate manner

12. Obtaining Permits and Constructing Impoundments • Construction Practices and Oversight • If you hit a spring make sure you install an underdrain – this is extremely important to the stability of your embankment. • What about liner installation? • If you are using a nonwoven • geotextile under your liner, • have someone there to • watch installation.

13. Obtaining Permits and Constructing Impoundments • Construction Practices and Oversight • Why use geotextile? It can serve 2 purposes: • Geotextile can serve as a pathway to help remove any naturally occurring gas that may get trapped under the liner • Serves as a cushion • between the liner and • the soil to prevent • holes due to rocks, etc.

14. Obtaining Permits and Constructing Impoundments • Construction Practices and Oversight • What about liner installation? • Having someone oversee liner installation is essential to the integrity of your liner. • What kind of liner is best to • use?

15. Obtaining Permits and Constructing Impoundments • Construction Practices and Oversight • Don’t forget your Construction Certification Report

16. Obtaining Permits and Constructing Impoundments What is important to take away today? We need to GET IT RIGHT! • QUESTIONS?