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Study Guide and Regulations

Introduction

The purpose of this study guide is to explain the testing process and to give preparation guidance for the Solid Waste Site Operator Certification exam and the Special Waste Endorsement Exam. You are given 3 hours to complete the Solid Waste Site Operator exam (131 multiple choice questions) and 1 hour for the special waste exam (30 multiple choice questions). Questions are drawn from the Laws and Regulations listed below and a few questions were based on general knowledge of landfill operations.

Solid Waste Site Operator Certification Exam Topics
Regulation or Law:   Specific Topics
Illinois Environmental Protection Act - Title V - Land Pollution & Refuse Disposal Title V, XII, 415 ILCS 5 Sections 21(O) - Sanitary LF Operations

21.6(b) - Liquid Used Oil

22.22(c) - Landscape Wastes

22.23(f)(2) - Batteries

22.28(b) - White Goods

42(b)(4) - Civil Penalties

55(b)(1) - Used Tires

56.1(a) - PIMW
Consumer Electronics Recycling Act (CERA) 415 ILCS 151 Sec. 1-83. Landfill Bans
General Math & Knowledge of Landfill Operations   Slope ratio, topography, elevations, cubic feet and cubic yards, daily landfill operations, asbestos regulatory authority
TITLE 35 IAC - SUBTITLE G: WASTE DISPOSAL
Prior Conduct Certifications (Chief Operator) Title 35 IAC, Part 745 Scope and Applicability; Prohibitions
General Provisions & Definitions Title 35 IAC, Part 810 Definitions
Standards for New Solid Waste Landfills Title 35 IAC, Part 811 See Specific Items Listed Below
Title 35 IAC - SUBPART A - GENERAL STANDARDS FOR ALL LANDFILLS
Prior Conduct Certification (Chief Operator)
 811.102 Flow restrictions, historic sites, endangered species
Location Standards
 811.102 Flow restrictions, historic sites, endangered species
Location Standards
 811.102 Flow restrictions, historic sites, endangered species
Surface Water Drainage 811.103(a)(4) 25-year, 24-hour rainfall event, flow velocities, commingled runoff
Compaction 811.105 Frequencies and control monuments
Daily Cover 811.106 General Knowledge
    General Knowledge
Operating Standards 811.107 Phasing, working face, equipment, utilities, maintenance, burning, dust, noise, vectors, fire, litter mud
Salvaging 811.108 Management Principles
Boundary Controls 811.109 Sign Information
Closure and Written Closure Plan 811.110(a-d) General Conditions of Closure and Closure Plan
SUBPART C - PUTRESCIBLE and CHEMICAL WASTE LANDFILLS  
Facility Location
 811.302 Distance considerations
Foundation Construction 811.305 Materials, Placement
Liner System 811.306 Dimensions, earth liners & geomembrane, general considerations, slurry trenches & cutoff walls
Leachate Drainage System 811.307 Design features, thickness
Leachate Collection System 811.308 General features & operations
Leachate Treatment and Disposal 811.309 Standards for treatment, storage, discharge, recycling and monitoring
Landfill Gas Management System 811.311 Frequencies, distances, numbers and parameters
    Requirements for installation, system standards, and collection
Landfill Gas Processing and Disposal 811.312 Discharge conditions
Intermediate Cover 811.313 Purpose and general standards
Final Cover System 811.314 Purpose, permeability considerations, and standards
Plugging and Sealing of Drill Holes 811.316 General knowledge and standards
Groundwater Impact Assessment 811.317(a) Purposes and transport model approval
Design, Construction and Operation of Groundwater Monitoring Systems 811.318(a,b,e) Purpose, records, design and sample collection standards
Groundwater Monitoring Programs 811.319(a) Monitoring and sampling schedules
Waste Placement 811.321 Location considerations, phasing and initial placement
Final Slope and Stabilization 811.322 Slope purposes, vegetation, and structure restrictions
Load Checking Program 811.323 Purpose, frequency, records, responsibilities, and appropriate responses
Construction Quality Assurance Programs 811.502 & 811.503 CQA Responsibilities
Financial Assurance 811.700 Scope, closure cost estimates, revisions, Trust Fund evaluations and notifications, mechanisms and timeliness
Upgrading Financial Assurance 811.701 Reasons
Closure Care Cost Estimates 811.704 Revisions and estimates
Revision of Cost Estimate 811.705 Reasons
Trust Fund 811.706 Frequency of change and notifications
Approval by Unit of Local Government 812.105  

SPECIAL WASTE EXAM TOPICS (Non-Hazardous)

TITLE 35 IAC, PART 811, SUBPART D - MANAGEMENT OF SPECIAL WASTE AT LANDFILLS		  
Notice to Generators and Transporters
 811.402 Sign Information
Special Waste Manifests
 811.403 All manifest information, distribution requirements
Identification Record 811.404 Profile sheet requirements, re-certification purpose and pertinent information
Record Keeping Requirements 811.405 General requirements
Procedures for Excluding Regulated Hazardous Wastes 811.406 Load Checking Program

Definitions

The following terms are defined in Part 810 - Section 103 "Definitions." Any of the below could be on the exam.		  
Act   Groundwater
Admixtures   Household Waste
    All manifest information, distribution requirements
Agency   Landfill
Applicant   Leachate
Aquifer   Lift
Bedrock   Malodor
Beneficially Usable Waste   Lateral Expansion
Board   Municipal Solid Waste landfill Unit (MSWLF unit)
Borrow Area   National Pollutant discharge Elimination System (NPDES)
Chemical Waste   Potentially Infections Medical Waste (PIMW) - See Section 3 of Act
Coal Combustion power generating facilities   Putrescible Waste
Contaminated Leaachate   Publically Owned Treatment Works (POTW)
Design Period   Salvaging
Disposal   Scavenging
Disturbed Areas   Settlement
Earth Liners   Significant Modification
Facility   Solid Waste
Gas Collection System   Special Waste
Gas Condensate   Uppermost Aquifer
Gas Venting System   Waste Pile
Geomembranes   Waste Stabilization
Geotextiles   Working Face