New FDEP Guidance: Long-Term Care at Solid Waste Disposal Facilities

Class I and Class III landfills and construction and demolition (C&D) debris disposal facilities that have closed are typically regulated in Florida by a solid waste, long-term care (LTC) permit. This permit will include the maintenance activities that must be addressed during the LTC period such as maintaining the final cover, water quality monitoring, and to the extent they apply to the facility, gas and leachate management. Historically, minimum LTC periods for these disposal facilities were established in Florida as follows:

• July 1, 1985 20 years of long-term care after the date of closing required for landfills.
• January 6, 1993 20 years of long-term care for landfills extended to 30 years.
• December 23, 1996 5 years of long-term care after the date of closing required for C&D debris disposal facilities.

A significant number of older Class I, Class II1, and Class III landfills and C&D debris disposal facilities in Florida have reached, or will soon reach, the end of their minimum LTC periods prescribed by rule. Over the past several years the Department has been discussing when a disposal facility can terminate their LTC permit or when and how the Department should extend the LTC period for a facility. In addition, studies have been conducted nationally to develop performance-based methodologies addressing questions surrounding management of LTC. The purpose of this document is to: (1) provide guidance for using the current requirements in Chapter 62-701, Florida Administrative Code (F.A.C.) to reduce, extend or terminate the LTC period; and (2) explore the use.