1. (a) General. The primary liner shall meet the following requirements:

   1. (1) The primary liner shall prevent the migration of leachate through the liner to the greatest degree that is technologically possible.
   2. (2) The effectiveness of the primary liner in preventing the migration of leachate may not be adversely affected by the physical or chemical characteristics of solid waste, solid waste constituents or leachate from the facility.
   3. (3) The primary liner shall be resistant to physical failure, chemical failure and other failure from the properties identified in § 273.161(d) (relating to liner system and leachate control plan).
2. (b) Alternative design standards. Unless alternative design standards to meet the performance standards in subsection (a) are approved as part of the permit under § 271.231 (relating to equivalency review procedure), the primary liner shall meet, at a minimum, the requirements of the table in subsection (e).

3. (c) Requirements. A primary liner shall:

   1. (1) Be no more permeable than 1 x 10^-7 cm./sec. based on laboratory and field testing.
   2. (2) Be installed according to the manufacturer’s specifications under the supervision of an authorized representative of the manufacturer. The approved quality control program shall be implemented in the field during the installation of the liner.
   3. (3) Be inspected for uniformity, damage and imperfections during construction or installation.

4. (d) Composite primary liner.

   1. (1) If the operator does not design, construct, operate and maintain a composite secondary liner, the operator shall design, construct, operate and maintain a composite primary liner which has the following components:

      1. (i) An upper component made of a manufactured geosynthetic liner that meets the requirements of this section independently of the composite component.
      2. (ii) A composite component made of earthen material that meets the requirements of this section independently of the upper component, except that the composite component shall be no more permeable than 1.0 x 10^-7 cm./sec. based on laboratory and field testing and, at a minimum, meets the requirements of the table in subsection (e).
   2. (2) The two components of the composite liner shall be designed, constructed and maintained to provide a compression connection, or direct, continuous, and uniform contact between them.
   3. (3) Use of a composite primary liner does not relieve the operator of responsibility for a separate secondary liner under § 273.254 (relating to secondary liner).

5. (e) Natural attenuation of leachate prohibited. A facility or component thereof that is subject to this chapter may not have a primary liner based upon natural attenuation of leachate.

   		MINIMUM
   		FIELD
   		THICKNESS	LINER DENSITY
   LINER		(UNITS AS	(TESTS AS
   MATERIAL	FUNCTION	SPECIFIED)	SPECIFIED)	REMARKS
   Geosynthetic	Primary or secondary liner	30 mil	NA	1. A greater thickness may be required depending upon the recommendations of the manufacturer. 2. HDPE liners shall be at least 60 mil.
   Geosynthetic	Cap	30 mil	NA	1. A greater thickness may be required depending upon the recommendations of the manufacturer.
   Natural & Remolded Clay	Secondary Liner, Composite component	2 feet 2 feet	›=90%* ›=90%	1. Minimum of 30% fines by weight less than 0.074 mm particle size (# 200 sieve). 2. Plasticity index 10. 3. No coarse fragments greater than 3/4 inch in diameter.
   Sodium Bentonite & Bentonite-like materials	Secondary Liner, Composite component	1 foot 1 foot	›=90%* ›=90%	1. Minimum of 8% powdered sodium bentonite or manufacturer’s recommendations, whichever is greater. 2. No coarse fragments greater than 3/4 inch in diameter. 3. No organic matter.
   Geosynthetic clay liner (GCL)	Composite component	N/A	N/A	Minimum of 3/4 pound of powdered or granular sodium bentonite per square foot.

   *Percentage is of maximum theoretical density when using Marshall method of design, and percentage of maximum when using Standard Proctor method of design (Pa. PTM No. 106, Method B).

TABLE 1MINIMUM LINER DESIGN STANDARDS

Source

The provisions of this § 273.256 amended December 22, 2000, effective December 23, 2000, 30 Pa.B. 6685. Immediately preceding text appears at serial pages (226213) to (226215).

Cross References

This section cited in 25 Pa. Code § 273.161 (relating to liner system and leachate control plan); 25 Pa. Code § 273.234 (relating to final cover and grading); 25 Pa. Code § 273.251 (relating to scope and requirements); 25 Pa. Code § 273.254 (relating to secondary liner); 25 Pa. Code § 273.259 (relating to surface mined areas); 25 Pa. Code § 273.251 (relating to scope and requirements); and 25 Pa. Code § 285.123 (relating to impoundments—general).