25159.18
. Any person who applies to the department for a hazardous
waste facilities permit, or for the renewal or revision of a
hazardous waste facilities permit, for the discharge of hazardous
wastes into an injection well, including any proposed injection well,
shall submit a hydrogeological assessment report to the department
and to the appropriate regional board six months before making that
application. A qualified person shall be responsible for the
preparation of the report and shall certify its completeness and
accuracy. The department shall not approve the report unless the
department finds that the report is current, accurate, and complete,
and that no hazardous waste constituents have migrated from the
portion of the injection well located above the injection zone or
have migrated from the injection zone. The report shall be
accompanied by the fee established pursuant to Section 25159.19. The
report shall contain, for each injection well, including any proposed
injection well, any information required by the department, and all
of the following information:
(a) A description of the injection well, including all of the
following:
(1) Physical characteristics.
(2) A log of construction activities, including dates and methods
used.
(3) A description of materials used in the injection well,
including tubing, casing, packers, seals, and grout.
(4) Design specifications and a drawing of the well as completed.
(5) An analysis of the chemical and physical compatibility of the
materials used with the wastes injected.
(6) Annulus fluid composition, level, and pressure at the time of
well completion through the present time.
(b) A description of both of the following:
(1) The volume, temperature, pH, and radiological characteristics,
and composition of hazardous waste constituents placed in the well,
based on a statistically significant representative chemical analysis
of each specific hazardous waste type, so that any variations in
hazardous waste constituents over time are documented.
(2) The pressure and rate at which fluid is injected into the
well.
(c) A map showing the distances, within the facility, to the
nearest surface water bodies and springs, and the distances, within
three miles from the facility's perimeter, to the nearest surface
water bodies and springs.
(d) Tabular data from each surface water body and spring shown on
the map specified in subdivision (c), within one mile from the
facility's perimeter, which indicate its flow and a representative
water analysis. The report shall include an evaluation and
characterization of seasonal changes and, if substantive changes
occur from season to season, the tabular data shall reflect these
seasonal changes.
(e) A map showing the location of all existing and abandoned
wells, dry holes, mines, and quarries within the facility and within
three miles of the facility's perimeter. The report shall include,
for each well shown on the map, a description of the present use of
the well, a representative water analysis from any existing wells,
any known physical characteristics, and a determination as to whether
the well, if abandoned, has been closed in accordance with standards
at least as stringent as those set forth in the Department of Water
Resources Bulletin No. 74-81, or, if the well is an oil or gas well,
in accordance with standards at least as stringent as the regulations
of the Division of Oil and Gas. The report also shall include, when
possible, the water well driller's report or well log.
(f) A map showing the structural geology and stratigraphy within
three miles of the facility's perimeter that can influence the
direction of the groundwater flow or the movement of the discharged
wastes. The report shall include a description of folds, domes,
basins, faults, seismic activity, fractures, and joint patterns, and
a geologic cross section and general description of the subsurface
rock units, including stratigraphic position, lithology, thickness,
and areal distribution.
(g) An analysis for all of the following:
(1) The vertical and lateral extent of any water-bearing strata
that could be affected by leakage from the injection well.
(2) The vertical and lateral extent of any strata through which
the well is drilled.
(3) The vertical and lateral limits of the confining beds above,
below, and adjacent to, the injection well.
(h) The analysis specified in subdivision (g) shall include all of
the following:
(1) A map and cross section of all hydrogeologic units.
(2) Maps showing contours of equal elevation of the water surface
for perched water, unconfined water, and confined groundwater
required to be analyzed by this subdivision.
(3) An estimate of the flow, and flow direction, of the water in
all water-bearing formations shown on both the maps and the
subsurface geologic cross sections.
(4) An estimate of the transmissivity, permeability, porosity, and
storage coefficient for each perched zone of water and water-bearing
formations identified on the maps specified in paragraph (1).
(5) A determination of the water quality of each zone of the
water-bearing formations and perched water that is identified on the
maps specified in paragraph (1) and is under, or above and adjacent
to, the well. This determination shall be conducted by taking samples
either upgradient of the injection well or from another location
that has not been affected by leakage from the injection well.
(i) A determination as to whether the groundwater is contiguous
with regional bodies of groundwater and the depth measured from the
injection zone and well casing to the groundwater, including the
depth measured to perched water and water-bearing strata identified
on the maps specified in subdivision (h).
(j) All of the following information for the receiving formation:
(1) A description of the chemical and physical properties of the
receiving formation, including its lithology, thickness, composition,
structure, porosity, storage capacity, permeability,
compressibility, density, subsurface stress, vertical and lateral
continuity and extent, fluid temperature, pressure, composition, and
the measurement of the minimum pressure that would fracture the
receiving formation.
(2) The effect of the injection pressure on the receiving
formation.
(3) The geologic stability and long-term integrity of the
receiving formation.
(4) An assessment of compatibility of waste, formation fluids, and
formation lithology. This shall include a description of short-range
and long-range changes anticipated in the physical and chemical
state of the receiving formation in its fluids through chemical
reaction and interaction with injection fluids.
(k) All of the following information for the confining zone:
(1) A description of its chemical and physical properties,
including its age, composition, thickness, vertical and lateral
continuity, unconformities, permeability, transmissivity,
compressibility, porosity, density, and subsurface stress.
(2) The minimum amount of pressure that would fracture the
confining zone, calculated specifically for the particular confining
zone, a description of the number and types of existing fractures,
faults, and cavities, and an analysis as to whether fractures were
created or enlarged by past injection of wastes.
(3) The geologic stability and long-term integrity of the
confining zone.
(4) Anticipated short-range and long-range changes in the physical
state of the confining zone through chemical reaction and
interaction with injection fluids.
(5) An estimate of the rate of migration of the hazardous waste
constituents through the confining zone.
(l) A geologic cross section and description of the composition of
each stratum through which the injection well is drilled. This
description shall include a physical, chemical, and hydrogeological
characterization of both the consolidated and unconsolidated rock
material, including lithology, mineralogy, texture, bedding,
thickness, and permeability. It shall also include an analysis for
pollutants, including those constituents discharged into the
injection well. The report shall arrange all monitoring data in a
tabular form so that the dates, the constituents, and the
concentrations are readily discernible.
(m) A description of surface facilities, including, but not
limited to, pressure gauges, automatic shutoff devices, alarms,
fencing, specifications for valves and pipe fittings, and operator
training and requirements.
(n) A description of contingency plans for well failures and
shutdowns to prevent migration of contaminants from the well.
(o) A description of the monitoring being conducted to detect
migration of hazardous waste constituents, including the number and
positioning of the monitoring wells, the monitoring wells' distances
from the injection well, the monitoring wells' design data, the
monitoring wells' installation, the monitoring development
procedures, the sampling and analytical methodologies, the sampling
frequency, and the chemical constituents analyzed. The design data of
the monitoring wells shall include the monitoring wells' depth, the
monitoring wells' diameters, the monitoring wells' casing materials,
the perforated intervals within the well, the size of the
perforations, the gradation of the filter pack, and the extent of the
wells' annular seals.
(p) Documentation demonstrating that the monitoring system and
methods used at the facility can detect any seepage, including any
leaks, cracks, or malfunctions in the well or a breach of the
confining zone, before the hazardous waste constituents migrate from
the well above the injection zone or from the confining zone. This
documentation shall include, but is not limited to, substantiation of
all of the following:
(1) The monitoring system is effective enough, and includes a
sufficient number of monitoring wells in the major water-bearing
zones, which are located close enough to the injection well casing
and to the injection zone, to verify that no lateral and vertical
migration of any constituents discharged into the well is occurring
outside of the injection zone.
(2) Monitoring wells are not located within the influence of any
adjacent pumping wells that might impair their effectiveness.
(3) Monitoring wells are only screened in the aquifer to be
monitored and are monitored for both pressure and water quality.
(4) The chosen casing material does not adversely react with the
potential contaminants of major concern at the facility.
(5) The casing diameter allows an adequate amount of water to be
removed during sampling and allows full development of the monitor
well.
(6) Monitoring wells are constructed so as not to provide
potential conduits for migration of pollution, and the wells'
construction features, including annular seals, prevent pollutants
from migrating up or down the monitoring well.
(7) The methods of water sample collection require that the
samples are transported and handled in accordance with the United
States Geological Survey's "National Handbook of Recommended Methods
for Water-Data Acquisition," which provides guidelines for collection
and analysis of groundwater samples for selected unstable
constituents and any additional procedures specified by the
department. For all monitoring wells, except those extending into the
injection zone, the sample shall be collected after at least five
well volumes have been removed from the well.
(8) The hazardous waste constituents selected for analysis are
specific to the facility, taking into account the chemical
composition of hazardous wastes previously discharged into the
injection well. The monitoring data shall be arranged in tabular form
so that the date, the constituents, and the concentrations are
readily discernible.
(9) The frequency of monitoring is sufficient to give timely
warning of migration of hazardous waste constituents so that remedial
action can be taken prior to any adverse changes in the quality of
the groundwater.
(10) A written statement from the qualified person preparing the
report indicating whether any constituents have migrated into the
surface water bodies or any strata outside the injection zone,
including water-bearing strata.
(11) A written statement from the qualified person preparing the
report indicating whether any migration of hazardous waste
constituents into surface water bodies or any strata outside the
injection zone, including water-bearing strata, is likely or not
likely to occur within five years, and any evidence supporting that
statement.
(q) This section applies only to injection wells into which
hazardous waste is discharged.