§620.450. Alternative Groundwater Quality Standards

a)         Groundwater Quality Restoration Standards

 

1)         Any chemical constituent in groundwater within a groundwater management zone is subject to this Section.

 

2)         Except as provided in subsections (a)(3) or (a)(4), the standards as specified in Sections 620.410, 620.420, 620.430, and 620.440 apply to any chemical constituent in groundwater within a groundwater management zone.

 

3)         Prior to completion of a corrective action described in Section 620.250(a), the standards as specified in Sections 620.410, 620.420, 620.430, and 620.440 are not applicable to such released chemical constituent, provided that the initiated action proceeds in a timely and appropriate manner.

 

4)         After completion of a corrective action as described in Section 620.250(a), the standard for such released chemical constituent is:

 

A)        The standard as set forth in Section 620.410, 620.420, 620.430, or 620.440, if the concentration as determined by groundwater monitoring of such constituent is less than or equal to the standard for the appropriate class set forth in those Sections; or

 

B)        The concentration as determined by groundwater monitoring, if such concentration exceeds the standard for the appropriate class set forth in Section 620.410, 620.420, 620.430, or 620.440 for such constituent, and:

 

i)          To the extent practicable, the exceedence has been minimized and beneficial use, as appropriate for the class of groundwater, has been returned; and

 

ii)         Any threat to public health or the environment has been minimized.

 

5)         The Agency shall develop and maintain a listing of concentrations derived pursuant to subsection (a)(4)(B).  This list shall be made available to the public and be updated periodically, but no less frequently than semi-annually.  This listing shall be published in the Environmental Register.

 

b)         Coal Reclamation Groundwater Quality Standards

 

1)         Any inorganic chemical constituent or pH in groundwater, within an underground coal mine, or within the cumulative impact area of groundwater for which the hydrologic balance has been disturbed from a permitted coal mine area pursuant to the Surface Coal Mining Land Conservation and Reclamation Act [225 ILCS 720] and 62 Ill. Adm. Code 1700 through 1850, is subject to this Section.

 

2)         Prior to completion of reclamation at a coal mine, the standards as specified in Sections 620.410(a) and (e), 620.420(a) and (e), 620.430 and 620.440 are not applicable to inorganic constituents and pH.

 

3)         After completion of reclamation at a coal mine, the standards as specified in Sections 620.410(a) and (e), 620.420(a), 620.430, and 620.440 are applicable to inorganic constituents and pH, except:

 

A)        The concentration of total dissolved solids (TDS) must not exceed:

 

i)          The post-reclamation concentration or 3000 mg/L, whichever is less, for groundwater within the permitted area; or

 

ii)         The post-reclamation concentration of TDS must not exceed the post-reclamation concentration or 5000 mg/L, whichever is less, for groundwater in underground coal mines and in permitted areas reclaimed after surface coal mining if the Illinois Department of Mines and Minerals and the Agency have determined that no significant resource groundwater existed prior to mining (62 Ill. Adm. Code 1780.21(f) and (g)); and

 

B)        For chloride, iron, manganese and sulfate, the post-reclamation concentration within the permitted area must not be exceeded.

 

C)        For pH, the post-reclamation concentration within the permitted area must not be exceeded within Class I:  Potable Resource Groundwater as specified in Section 620.210(a)(4).

 

D)        For 1,3-dinitrobenzene, 2,4-dinitrotoluene, 2,6-dinitrotoluene, HMX (high melting explosive, octogen), nitrobenzene, RDX (royal demolition explosive, cyclonite), 1,3,5-trinitrobenzene, and 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT), the post-reclamation concentration within the permitted area must not be exceeded.

 

4)         A refuse disposal area (not contained within the area from which overburden has been removed) is subject to the inorganic chemical constituent and pH requirements of:

 

A)        35 Ill. Adm. Code 302.Subparts B and C, except due to natural causes, for such area that was placed into operation after February 1, 1983, and before the effective date of this Part, provided that the groundwater is a present or a potential source of water for public or food processing;

 

B)        Section 620.440(c) for such area that was placed into operation prior to February 1, 1983, and has remained in continuous operation since that date; or

 

C)        Subpart D of this Part for such area that is placed into operation on or after the effective date of this Part.

 

5)         For a refuse disposal area (not contained within the area from which overburden has been removed) that was placed into operation prior to February 1, 1983, and is modified after that date to include additional area, this Section applies to the area that meets the requirements of subsection (b)(4)(C) and the following applies to the additional area:

 

A)        35 Ill. Adm. Code 302.Subparts B and C, except due to natural causes, for such additional refuse disposal area that was placed into operation after February 1, 1983, and before the effective date of this Part, provided that the groundwater is a present or a potential source of water for public or food processing; and

 

B)        Subpart D for such additional area that was placed into operation on or after the effective date of this Part.

 

6)         A coal preparation plant (not located in an area from which overburden has been removed) which contains slurry material, sludge or other precipitated process material, is subject to the inorganic chemical constituent and pH requirements of:

 

A)        35 Ill. Adm. Code 302.Subparts B and C, except due to natural causes, for such plant that was placed into operation after February 1, 1983 and before the effective date of this Part, provided that the groundwater is a present or a potential source of water for public or food processing;

 

B)        Section 620.440(c) for such plant that was placed into operation prior to February 1, 1983, and has remained in continuous operation since that date; or

 

C)        Subpart D for such plant that is placed into operation on or after the effective date of this Part.

 

7)         For a coal preparation plant (not located in an area from which overburden has been removed) which contains slurry material, sludge or other precipitated process material, that was placed into operation prior to February 1, 1983, and is modified after that date to include additional area, this Section applies to the area that meets the requirements of subsection (b)(6)(C) and the following applies to the additional area:

 

A)        35 Ill. Adm. Code 302.Subparts B and C, except due to natural causes, for such additional area that was placed into operation after February 1, 1983, and before the effective date of this Part, provided that the groundwater is a present or a potential source of water for public or food processing; and

 

B)        Subpart D for such additional area that was placed into operation on or after the effective date of this Part.

 

c)         Groundwater Quality Standards for Certain Groundwater Subject to a No Further Remediation Letter under Part 740.  While a No Further Remediation Letter is in effect for a region formerly encompassed by a groundwater management zone established under 35 Ill. Adm. Code 740.530, the groundwater quality standards for "contaminants of concern", as defined in 35 Ill. Adm. Code 740.120, within such area shall be the groundwater objectives achieved as documented in the approved Remedial Action Completion Report.

 

(Source:  Amended at 36 Ill. Reg. 15206, effective October 5, 2012)