N.M. Code R. § 20.9.5.9
ADDITIONAL MUNICIPAL, SPECIAL WASTE, AND MONOFILL LANDFILL OPERATING REQUIREMENTS. All municipal and special waste landfill owners and operators shall:
A. utilize the principles of sanitary engineering to:
(1) confine the working face to the smallest practical area;
(2) compact the solid waste to the smallest practical volume; and
(3) minimize exposure of landfill employees and the public to animal carcasses and offal, and immediately cover such wastes when they are received;
B. prevent the generation and lateral migration of methane such that:
(1) the concentration of methane generated by the facility does not exceed 25 percent of the lower explosive limit (LEL) for methane in facility structures (excluding gas control or recovery system components); and
(2) the concentration of methane does not exceed the LEL at the facility property boundary;
C. implement a routine methane monitoring program to ensure that the requirements of Paragraphs (1) and (2) of Subsection B of this section are met;
(1) the type and frequency of monitoring shall be determined based on the following conditions:
(a) soil conditions;
(b) the hydrogeologic conditions surrounding the facility;
(c) the hydraulic conditions surrounding the facility; and
(d) the location of facility structures and property lines;
(2) the minimum frequency of monitoring shall be quarterly, except that landfills that receive less than 20 tons per day annual average, or closed prior to October 9, 1993, or monofills may be permitted for less frequent monitoring, provided on-site measurements indicate methane levels are consistently less than 25 percent of the LEL for methane; and
(3) if methane gas levels exceed the limits specified in Paragraphs (1) and (2) of Subsection B of this section, the owner or operator shall:
(a) immediately take all necessary steps to ensure protection of public health, welfare and the environment and notify the secretary;
(b) within seven days of detection, record the methane levels detected and a description of the steps taken to protect public health, welfare and the environment; and
(c) within 60 days of detection, implement a remediation plan approved by the secretary for the methane releases, and notify the secretary that the plan has been implemented; the plan shall describe the nature and extent of the problem and proposed remedy;
E. control run-on water onto the site and run-off water from the site, such that:
(1) the run-on control system shall prevent flow onto the active portion of the landfill during the peak discharge from a 24-hour, 25-year storm;
(2) the run-off control system from the active portion of the landfill collects and controls at least the water volume resulting from a 24-hour, 25-year storm; and
(3) run-off from the active portion of the landfill shall not be allowed to discharge any pollutant to the waters of the state or United States that violates any requirements of the New Mexico Water Quality Act, commission regulations and standards or the federal Clean Water Act;
N. cover the active face with a six-inch layer of earth or specifically approved alternate daily cover at the conclusion of each day's operation or more often as conditions may dictate, except that for landfills that receive less than 20 tons of waste per day annual average or monofills, the permit may allow alternate frequencies to the daily cover requirements; when permitting a reduced frequency, the secretary shall:
(1) consider the unique characteristics of small communities;
(2) consider climatic and hydrogeologic conditions;
(3) consider measures to prevent vector harborage and animal intrusion; and
(4) determine that the approved frequency will be protective of human health and the environment;
O. provide intermediate cover which shall be:
(1) at least one foot thick, or other specifically approved thickness;
(2) placed on all areas of a landfill that have not received waste for 60 days or longer, or have not reached final elevation;
(3) stabilized with vegetation or other specifically approved method on any areas that have been inactive for more than two years; and
(4) constructed and maintained to prevent erosion and infiltration; and
P. if diversion of recyclable materials is conducted:
(1) perform the diversion in a sanitary manner, with storage confined to an area remote from the operating area of the landfill, and in a manner which does not interfere with or delay the operation of the landfill or create a nuisance, litter problem, vector harborage, or public health hazard;
(2) remove all recyclable materials from the facility in a timely manner such that the area does not become a permanent storage area; and
(3) store recyclables in such a manner that the area is clean, materials are separated by type, and the potential for contamination is minimized;
[20.9.5.9 NMAC - Rp, 20.9.1.IV.402 NMAC, 8/2/2007]