Agencies
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Supplemental Instructions to Technical Forms
General
Early Action
Site Investigation
Corrective Action
Miscellaneous Provisions
Other Topics
General
Signatures and Certifications
For a site classification utilizing Method One or Method Two, can a Licensed Professional Geologist certify that a site is closed and request a No Further Remediation Letter?
Yes, if either the site is classified as No Further Action or the site is classified as Low Priority and, upon completion of the Low Priority Groundwater Monitoring Plan, there is no confirmed exceedance of applicable indicator contaminant remediation objectives during the three-year groundwater monitoring period.
When is submittal of the Property Owner Summary required?
Reports documenting the completion of corrective action at a site must contain a form addressing site ownership—namely, the Property Owner Summary. Any time a request is made for issuance of a No Further Remediation Letter such as with a Corrective Action Completion Report, 45-Day Report (if compliance is demonstrated at the early action stage), or Groundwater Monitoring Report, a completed and signed Property Owner Summary is required.
If the property owner is a different party than the owner or operator of the UST system, it is highly recommended that any institutional controls, land use limitations, and engineered barriers proposed as part of the Corrective Action Plan be agreed upon before making such proposal, as the property owner must sign the Property Owner Summary, accepting the terms and conditions identified in the report, before issuance of a No Further Remediation Letter.
When the Illinois EPA requests notification of field activities, how is such a request documented, and what are possible sanctions for failure to notify?
The Illinois EPA anticipates requesting notification of field activities in a plan approval (or approval with modification) letter. Notification can be made by telephone, facsimile, electronic mail, or another method specific by the Illinois EPA. Failure to provide this notification may result in referral to the Illinois EPA's Division of Legal Counsel for enforcement action.
Early Action
Early action provisions are prescriptive for sampling the tank area and piping runs but not the pump island. What sampling requirements apply to the pump island?
The sampling requirements prescribed for piping runs apply all the way to the dispenser. There are no additional sampling requirements for the pump island beyond those that apply to the piping below the pump island.
When is a plan or budget required for free product removal activities?
Effective March 1, 2006, if free product removal activities will be conducted more than 45 days after the confirmation of the presence of free product, the tank owner or operator must submit to the Illinois EPA a Free Product Removal Plan and, if seeking payment from the UST Fund, a budget. The Illinois EPA will prioritize the review of such a plan and budget to avoid delays in free product removal.
For a High Priority Corrective Action Plan approved prior to March 1, 2006, that addresses free product removal (and for which budget allocations were made), must a separate Free Product Removal Plan and Budget now be submitted?
If a free product removal plan and budget were submitted and approved as a part of a High Priority Corrective Action Plan prior to March 1, 2006, a separate Free Product Removal Plan and Budget will likely not be required. Please note that, under the new rules, the Free Product Removal Plan and Budget must be submitted with the Free Product Removal Report, which must be submitted within 45 days after confirmation of the presence of free product. Therefore, in many cases it will be difficult to meet the deadline for the submission of the Free Product Removal Plan and Budget if they are submitted as a part of the Corrective Action Plan.
If I have free product in one or more monitoring wells at a site that all measure less than 1/8 of an inch in depth, can I use 35 Illinois Administrative Code 742 (TACO)?
Provided all applicable TACO requirements (35 Ill. Adm. Code 742.300, 742.305, etc.) are met, the presence of free product at levels measuring less than 1/8 of an inch in depth would not necessarily limit the use of TACO. However, in order to exclude from consideration an exposure route, it is required, in part, that the concentrations of any organic contaminants of concern remaining in the soil be less than the soil saturation concentration (Csat). If there is any free product remaining at the site (even at a depth less than 1/8 of an inch), it might be difficult to meet this requirement since the presence of free product is indicative of levels of contaminants greater than Csat.
If closure is achieved after completion of early action activities, can a Licensed Professional Geologist (L.P.G.) certify closure in the Early Action Tier 1 Remediation Objectives Compliance Report?
Yes, an L.P.G. can certify to any report, including an Early Action Tier 1 Remediation Objectives Compliance Report, with the exception of a Corrective Action Completion Report (CACR). A Licensed Professional Engineer must provide certification to the CACR.
Site Investigation
Is a plan and budget required for a Stage 1 site investigation?
Yes, the plan and budget for a Stage 1 site investigation consists of a certification form that is certified by an L.P.E. or L.P.G. and signed by the owner or operator pursuant to 35 Ill. Adm. Code Part 734.315(b). The certification states that the Stage 1 site investigation will be conducted in accordance with Part 734 and the costs of the Stage 1 site investigation will not exceed the amounts set forth in 35 Ill. Adm. Code 734.Subpart H, Appendix D, and Appendix E. The certification is intended to meet the requirements for a plan and budget for the Stage 1 site investigation as required by 35 Ill. Adm. Code 734.315 and 734.310. The certification is included in the 45-Day Report form and the stand-alone Stage 1 Site Investigation Certification.
When completing the Site Investigation Plan for Stage 2, how should I submit the actual costs of work performed during Stage 1?
The actual costs for conducting the Stage 1 site investigation should be submitted on budget forms, and separate budget forms should be submitted for the proposed costs of the next stage of site investigation. Likewise, budget forms of actual costs of the Stage 2 and/or 3 site investigation, if applicable, should be included with the next submittal to the Illinois EPA.
Will the Illinois EPA reject for payment from the UST Fund costs incurred during the Stage 1 site investigation?
Stage 1 site investigation costs will be subject to Illinois EPA review, and approval or rejection, like other costs. For example, costs will be rejected if they are ineligible or exceed the maximum payment amounts in 35 Ill. Adm. Code 734.Subpart H.
If analytical data from early action or Stage 1 sampling indicates that contamination appears to have migrated off-site, can I skip the Stage 2 investigation and proceed to Stage 3 site investigation?
A Stage 2 site investigation can be skipped if the Stage 1 site investigation adequately defines the extent of on-site contamination. If delineation of the extent of contamination requires the collection of samples on- and off-site, then a combined Stages 2 and 3 site investigation plan may be submitted.
The various combinations of stages that may be encountered are depicted in the Site Investigation Process flowchart.
When defining the vertical extent of contamination, should drilling stop at the water table?
Generally, drilling should stop at the water table. However, the need to drill below the water table will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis. If there is need to drill below the water table, justification to do so should be provided.
Are 1½-inch-diameter, direct-push, temporary wells allowed during site investigation?
Yes. They may be used to determine the rate and extent of soil and groundwater contamination exceeding the most stringent Tier 1 remediation objective. However, hydraulic conductivity testing needs to be performed using a two-inch conventional (hollow-stem auger) monitoring well, or a pre-pack monitoring well installed with an auger tool.
Is there a minimum time limit to allow a groundwater monitoring well to recharge to demonstrate whether or not groundwater is present?
No. A groundwater monitoring well screened in glacial till will take longer to recharge than a well screened in sand. There are a number of factors that affect recharge of a groundwater monitoring well, such as hydraulic conductivity and transmissivity. The environmental professional must demonstrate that recharge does not occur based upon site-specific data and his/her experience.
Is it acceptable to collect soil samples below the water table?
Soil contamination in the saturated zone is considered a groundwater issue. If there is need to collect a sample below the water table, justification to do so should be provided. A soil sample collected below the water table is usually needed only when the environmental professional is trying to evaluate groundwater conditions in order to develop a groundwater remediation plan.
If a soil boring is clean and a groundwater monitoring well is installed in close proximity to the clean soil boring, is soil sampling of the groundwater monitoring well boring required?
Generally, no. Analytical results from the soil boring in close proximity to the groundwater monitoring well will usually suffice to document the absence of contaminant levels exceeding the most stringent Tier 1 soil remediation objectives.
Can a soil sample for analysis of the five parameters needed for a site-specific Tier 2 remediation objective be collected during Stage 1 or 2 of the site investigation?
Yes, a soil sample may be collected for this purpose at any time during site investigation, as well as during corrective action.
How many samples are required to satisfy the requirements of 35 Ill. Adm. Code 732.408 or 734.410?
The five site-specific soil parameters can be determined from one soil sample. If an environmental professional wants to collect more than one sample to run a geotechnical test, an explanation of the rationale for more than one sample should be included in a plan.
From what area of the site should sample collection for analysis of the five parameters needed to calculate Tier 2 remediation objectives be conducted?
Sampling should be performed at an undisturbed, uncontaminated location.
Appendix C, Table F of Part 742 lists three ASTM methods for surface sampling and one ASTM method for subsurface sampling for soil bulk density. Which should be used?
The ASTM method for subsurface sampling location (ASTM – D 2937 – 94 drive cylinder method) should be used.
Can Tier 2 remediation objectives be proposed in a Site Investigation Completion Report?
Site investigation regulations require that the extent of contamination be defined to the most stringent Tier 1 remediation objectives. However, the collection of a soil sample and the subsequent laboratory analyses to determine site-specific parameters pursuant to 35 Ill. Adm. Code 732.408 or 734.410 may be performed prior to submittal of the SICR. The Tier 2 remediation objectives should be submitted in a CAP and/or CACR.
Corrective Action
If the release being remediated is located in an area with an Illinois EPA-approved groundwater ordinance, must the ordinance be used?
It is not required that the groundwater ordinance be used, but costs associated with groundwater remediation will not be eligible for payment from the Fund if the ordinance can be used as an institutional control for the release being remediated.
Miscellaneous Provisions
If an NFR Letter has already been issued for a release, can the owner or operator come back into the Leaking UST Program to address MTBE?
If the Illinois EPA has already issued an NFR Letter for a release, the owner or operator may come back into the Leaking UST Program (electing to include MTBE as an indicator contaminant) to remediate the MTBE contamination if the release caused off-site groundwater MTBE contamination exceeding 70 ppb. Such an election is effective upon receipt by the Illinois EPA and cannot be withdrawn once made.
Given the new rules and the fact that costs for remediation of groundwater contamination will not be paid from the Fund if the site is located in an ordinanced area, what then becomes the most stringent soil remediation objective?
For the purposes of defining the extent of contamination, the applicable soil remediation objectives continue to be the most stringent Tier 1 soil remediation objectives. For the purposes of corrective action, the applicable soil remediation objectives will depend upon whether the site is being remediated to residential or industrial/commercial standards and whether engineered barriers and institutional controls are utilized.
In the past, my consulting firm has always calculated Tier 2 remediation objectives using the default DF of 20. Since 35 Ill. Adm. Code 732.408 and 734.410 require the collection of five site-specific parameters, is the tank owner or operator required to calculate a site-specific DF?
Yes. Since K is one of the five site-specific parameters that must be collected for a Tier 2 evaluation if payment from the UST Fund for corrective action costs is sought (35 Ill. Adm. Code 732.408 and 734.410), DF must be also calculated when the Soil Component of the Groundwater Ingestion Exposure Route is evaluated. If the calculated DF (with site-specific parameters) is less than 20, the 20 default must be used. If the calculated DF is greater than 20, the calculated value must be used.
In accordance with 35 Ill. Adm. Code 742.Appendix C.Table A, DF may be calculated using equation S22:
Where
K = hydraulic conductivity (m/yr), a site-specific parameter
i = hydraulic gradient (m/m), a site-specific parameter
d = mixing zone depth (m), 2 meters or calculated value (equation S25)
I = infiltration rate (m/yr), 0.3
L = source length parallel to groundwater flow (m), a site-specific parameter
How does one gain access to the SWAP database?
Parties may gain access to the Illinois EPA's SWAP database (the SWAP ArcIMS Mapping Tool) by contacting the Illinois EPA's Division of Public Water Supplies:
Carolyn Wright
Illinois Environmental Protection Agency
1021 North Grand Avenue East
P.O. Box 19276
Springfield, Illinois 62794-9276
217-558-5101 (Phone)
217-782-9290 (Fax)
When might the Illinois EPA require additional investigation insofar as the water supply well survey?
Additional investigation (e.g., drive-by and door-to-door) may be required if, for example, only some of the residents obtain potable water from the public water supply.
What steps should be taken if wells are identified that are not on the SWAP database?
Contact the assigned Leaking UST Section project manager, who will forward the information to the appropriate Bureau of Water staff.
The SWAP database oftentimes does not include setback zone information. Can a setback of 200 feet be assumed?
Yes, all active ISGS potable wells have a minimum setback of 200 feet. Other wells, such as underground injection wells and groundwater monitoring wells, do not have a minimum setback established and are not part of a potable water well survey. Community water supply wells have a 200-foot minimum setback zone for wells the Illinois EPA has determined use a confined aquifer, and a 400-foot minimum setback zone for wells the Illinois EPA has determined use an unconfined aquifer.
By performing the following steps within the SWAP database, you can obtain additional information (including minimum setback zone) about specific wells:
- Make "CWS Wells" the active layer, and check "CWS Wells" under Water Use/Source Water Protection Area.
- Refresh the map.
- Choose "select" from the toolbar, then click on the map in the location to be queried. The Query/Selection Results will display a list of wells in the area and other information such as well ID number, well status, and the minimum setback zone.
Please note that, if there is a maximum setback zone, then its boundary applies just like that of a minimum setback zone boundary. When searching the SWAP database, the maximum setback zone, if one has been adopted, will be highlighted so long as you have checked "Adopted Maximum Setback Zones" under Water Use/Source Water Protection Area.
For additional information about community water supply wells contact the Bureau of Water, Groundwater Section at (217) 785-4787.
OTHER TOPICS
Pursuant to the Illinois Pollution Control Board's February 2, 2006, order in the case of Freedom Oil Company v. Illinois Environmental Protection Agency, PCB 03-54, PCB 03-56, PCB 03-105, PCB 03-179, and PCB 04-2 (consolidated), releases from underground storage tanks taken out of operation before January 2, 1974, are not subject to mandatory corrective action under the Leaking UST Program unless the Office of the State Fire Marshal (OSFM) issues an order under Section 57.5(g) of the Environmental Protection Act based on a current or potential threat to human health and the environment.
Does the pre-1974 tank owner or operator have the option to elect (or not) to proceed?
No. There is no such election provision for pre-1974 tank owners or operators. However, they may submit the Pre-1974 UST Notification form to notify the Illinois EPA that the release was from a pre-1974 tank and that an order for removal has not been issued by the OSFM. The owner or operator can then decide whether to perform corrective action under the Leaking UST Program regulations.
Can the pre-1974 tank owner or operator choose to perform corrective action and obtain an NFR Letter for a pre-1974 tank release?
Yes. The tank owner or operator may do so by submitting the proper documentation to the Leaking UST Program or Site Remediation Program.
Is a 35 Ill. Adm. Code 731 release from a pre-1974 tank regulated?
Yes. The petroleum UST regulations apply to the release. However, the tank owner or operator may submit the Election to Proceed under 35 Ill. Adm. Code 734 and Pre-1974 UST Notification forms to notify the Illinois EPA that the release was from a pre-1974 tank and that an order for removal has not been issued by the OSFM. The owner or operator can then decide whether to perform corrective action under the Leaking UST Program regulations.
Are pre-1974 USTs eligible to access the UST Fund?
OSFM makes determinations on eligibility. Please call OSFM at 217-785-5878 for more information.
Updated July 2007