06- 096 C.M.R. ch. 405, § 3 - Standards For Ground And Surface Water Data Evaluation And Reporting

Validation of the data from the sampling of the monitoring network is required to ensure that the data is reliable and provides a valid analysis of the ground and surface water quality in the vicinity of the solid waste facility. The results of the data validation procedures must be included in the monitoring reports for the solid waste facility to verify the accuracy and precision of the reported results, and account for anomalous results.

A. Data Validation. Unless otherwise approved by the Department, the following data validation methods must be conducted and the results included in the monitoring report.

(1) Verification that the chain of custody for each sample is continuous.

(2) Verification that all sample holding times were met.

(3) Calculation and tabulation of the ratio between Total Dissolved Solids and Specific Conductance. All samples for which this ratio falls outside the range of 0.55-0.75 must be identified in the report.

(4) Calculation and tabulation of the relative percent difference for all duplicate samples using the formula: [|S-D|/{S+D/2}](100) where S=sample value and D=duplicate value. Relative percent difference should be calculated only where both sample and duplicate values are greater than 5 times the practical quantitation limit of the analyte. All samples for which the relative percent difference exceeds 10% must be identified in the report.

(5) Beginning with the fifth analysis for each parameter, identification and tabulation of all results which fall outside of the historical range for the given sample point. This includes ground water elevations and field parameters.

(6) Identification of all parameters present in equipment blanks.

(7) Identification of all parameters present in trip blanks.

(8) Identification of all wells whose depths have changed since their construction.

B. Statistical Analyses. Statistical analyses of data from each monitoring well must be performed annually and the results included in the facility's annual report. Statistical tests may be used to compare upgradient water quality or identification of an intra-well trend. Statistical tests shall conform to July 1992 Addendum To Interim Final Guidance for Statistical Analysis of Ground Water Monitoring at RCRA Facilities (US EPA Office of Solid Waste Permits and State Programs Division) and meet the performance standards of 40 CFR 258.53(h) [i] as amended up to July 1, 2014. The performance standards are provided as set forth in Appendix E of this chapter. At any time during operational or post-closure monitoring, the Department may require the owner/operator of a facility to perform statistical analyses.

Statistical analyses will be used to:

(1) Identify any statistically significant trends in parameter concentrations in ground water as a function of time; and

(2) Identify any statistically significant differences in ground water quality between downgradient sample locations and corresponding upgradient or background sample locations.

C. Reporting Requirements. Reports on ground and surface water quality must be submitted within 30 days of the date the laboratory analyses are reported, and before the next sampling event occurs. Reports may be filed in either paper or electronic format. Unless reporting under (6), below, reporting requirements for paper submission of ground and surface water monitoring must include the information listed in (1) through (5). Unless reporting under (6), below, reporting requirements for electronic submission of ground and surface water monitoring must include the initial submittal of the historical information listed in (1) and (3); subsequent submissions must include the information listed in (3) and (4). If reports are submitted in electronic format, the data validation required in (2), below, is not required; however, paper copies of the information listed in (5) must be kept at the facility and be available to Department staff upon request.

(1) A map of the facility showing the licensed facility site and waste handling area boundaries, the current waste handling area boundary and the location of each monitoring point. Illegible plans will not be accepted.

(2) Results of the data validation.

(3) Tabulation of current and historical data, including field parameters and ground water elevation data.

(4) Identification of the elevation reference datum.

(5) Identification of all ground water analytical results exceeding MCLs and/or MEGs. Copies of the laboratory data sheets, chain of custody sheets and field data sheets must be available for staff inspection, if requested, for two years after a sampling event. Field data sheets must include:

(a) Date and time each sample was collected, and the sampler's signature;

(b) Temperature and weather conditions;

(c) Purge volumes, pumping rates and purge stabilization data for each monitoring well;

(d) Presence or absence of color, odor or surface sheen on water samples;

(e) Well depth measured during last annual inspection;

(f) As-built well depth;

(g) Results of the routine well inspection, maintenance and testing;

(h) Instrument calibration data;

(i) Static water level (pre-purge) and depth to water at the time of sampling;

(j) Identification of the reference point for depth measurements; and

(k) For surface water, an estimate of the rate of flow.

(6) Alternative Reporting Requirements. At a solid waste facility where ground water and/or surface water is being monitored through a detection monitoring program, the Department will consider a request to implement a self-certification program in place of the submission of all water quality monitoring reports except the annual report for the solid waste facility.

(a) To be eligible for this alternative, the following conditions must be met and maintained for each well proposed to be part of the program:

(i) sufficient data must be available for a statistical analysis to be performed if necessary;

(ii) there must have been no exceedences of MCLs or MEGs of any parameter within the last 3 years; and

(iii) there must have been no statistically significant change in any parameter which indicates deterioration of water quality within the last 3 years.

(b) The alternative reporting program must include:

(i) A written certification, prepared by a qualified professional, must be submitted within 30 days of the date the lab analyses are reported. The certification must state that the wells in the program were sampled in accordance with the solid waste facility's approved water quality monitoring program and that the results were reviewed and found to be consistent with prior results.

(ii) The information listed in paragraph (5), above, must be kept at the solid waste facility and be available to staff of the Department upon request.

Notes

06- 096 C.M.R. ch. 405, § 3