Section R18-9-C303. 2.03 General Permit: Hydrologic Tracer Studies

A.      A 2.03 General Permit allows for a discharge caused by the performance of tracer studies.

1.        The 2.03 General Permit does not authorize the use of any hazardous substance, radioactive material, or any substance identified in A.R.S. § 49-243(I) in a tracer study.

2.        A permittee shall complete a single tracer test within two years of the Notice of Intent to Discharge.

B.       Notice of Intent to Discharge. In addition to the Notice of Intent to Discharge requirements specified in R18-9-A301(B), an applicant shall submit:

1.        A narrative description of the tracer test including the type and amount of tracer used;

2.        A Material Safety Data Sheet for the tracer; and

3.        Unless the injection or distribution is within the capture zone of an established passive containment system meet- ing the requirements of A.R.S. § 49-243(G), the follow- ing information:

a.         A narrative description of the impacts that may occur if a solution migrates outside the test area, including a list of downgradient users, if any;

b.        The anticipated effects and expected concentrations, if possible to calculate; and

c.         A description of the monitoring, including types of tests and frequency.

C.      Design and operational requirements. A permittee shall:

1.        Ensure that injection into a well inside the capture zone of an established passive containment system that meets the requirements of A.R.S. § 49-243(G) does not exceed the total depth of the influence of the hydrologic sink;

2.        Ensure that injection into a well outside the capture zone of an established passive containment system that meets the requirements of A.R.S. § 49-243(G) does not exceed rock fracture pressures during injection of the tracer;

3.        Not add a substance to a well that is not compatible with the well’s construction;

4.        Ensure that a tracer is compatible with the construction materials at the impoundment if a tracer is placed or col- lected in an existing impoundment;

5.        For at least two years, monitor quarterly a well that is hydraulically downgradient of the test site for the tracer if a tracer is used outside the capture zone of an established passive containment system that meets the requirements of A.R.S. § 49-243(G) and less than 85 percent of the tracer is recovered. The permittee may adjust this period with the consent of the Department if the permittee shows that the hydraulic gradient causes the tracer to reach the monitoring point in a shorter or longer period of time;

6.        Ensure that a tracer does not leave the site in concentra- tions distinguishable from background water quality; and

7.        Monitor the amount of tracer used and recovered and sub- mit a report summarizing the test and results to the Department within 30 calendar days of test completion.

D.      Recordkeeping. A permittee shall retain the following infor- mation at the site where the facility is located for at least three years after test completion and make it available to the Depart- ment upon request.

1.        Test protocols,

2.        Material Safety Data Sheet information,

3.        Recovery records, and

4.        A copy of the report submitted to the Department under subsection (C)(7).

E.       Closure requirements.

1.        If a tracer was used outside the capture zone of an estab- lished passive containment system that meets the require- ments of A.R.S. § 49-243(G), a permittee shall account for any tracer not recovered through attenuation, model- ing, or monitoring.

2.        The permittee shall achieve closure immediately follow- ing the test, or if the test area is within a pollutant man- agement area defined in an individual permit, at the conclusion of operations.

Historical Note

New Section adopted by final rulemaking at 7 A.A.R. 235, effective January 1, 2001 (Supp. 00-4). Amended by final rulemaking at 11 A.A.R. 4544, effective November 12, 2005 (05-3).