Technical Evaluation of Plainfield Township Comments

Regarding Hydrogeology of Basin No. 2

A conference call was held on July 17,2019 between Synagro, Earthres Group Inc., Plainf,reld
Township, and their consultants. During the call, we discussed the Township's concerns
regarding the hydrogeologic function of Basin No. 2 as it relates to stormwater infiltration and
influence on surrounding groundwater water quality. All parties agreed that testing of the fill
material prior to placement, as well as the proposed monitoring program, which includes two (2)
sets of shallow/deep well pairs, will provide sufficient protection against potential water quality
impacts. However, Township questions remained concerning the function of the basin for
stormwater infiltration and whether or not proposed modifications (i.e. additional filling of the
basin with backfill material) could negatively impact the amount of stormwater that can be
infiltrated from the basin and possibly result in the basin discharging to surface water.
Prior to discussion of proposed basin modifications, it was agreed to by all parties that the Basin
in its present condition provides sufficient capacity and dewatering capability to serve as a non-
discharging basin. This present condition is, in fact, demonstrated by empirical observation of
the basin which has never discharged during its operational history and is further supported
based on the hydrogeologic framework across the GCSL Site which has been well-characterized
during many years of investigations and monitoring. These investigations are directly applicable
to the hydrology of Basin No. 2 as the underlying geology across the Site is fundamentally the
same. Geologic mapping of the Doney II Quarry and historic hydrogeologic data from the
Quany supports this conclusion. Therefore, it is doubtful that additional hydrogeologic testing
(which was proposed by the Township) would materially impact our current understanding of the
groundwater system surrounding the Basin No. 2, or alter the present conclusions.

Additional hydrogeologic datawill be collected during installation and testing of the proposed
monitoring well network As agreed, two (2) well pairs or four (4) wells in total, are proposed to
be installed for monitoring. Each well will be logged in the field for lithology, presence of
fractures/weathered zones, water-bearing zones, and blown yield. Following construction, a slug
test will completed on each well to evaluate the hydraulic conductivity of the aquifer materials
and static water level measurements will be collected to provide groundwater level data in the
immediate area of Basin No. 2. If the collected data is inconsistent with the hydrogeologic
framework or assumptions used in the present evaluation, the design of the Basin will be re-
evaluated as applicable.

Furthermore, while the design as presented demonstrates sufficient dewatering capabilities, it is

important to note (as discussed during the call) the design calculations are highly conservative
and an additional factor of safety is indicated due to the presence of the quarry backfill material.
This backfill material consists of coarse slate spoil which has permeability and porosity far
exceeding the natural geology, and was conservatively discounted in the design. The backfill
material functions as a large primary porosity reservoir which is able to receive infiltrated water,
store it, and gradually release it to the surrounding groundwater system. A conceptual diagram
depicting the additional storage is included in Attachment 1. This additional stormwater capacity
is quantitatively described below.

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 Based on reference literature, the infiltration capacity of coarse slate rock material is reasonably
estimated at approximately 1 centimeter per second or 283 feet per day (see Attachment 2). The
specific yield of the material is estimated at0.4. Applying these reasonable values, more than
two (2) 100- year storms, could be infiltrated from the Basin to the backfill in a single day (see
Attachment 3, Calculation #1). Additionally, the backfill area provides approximately 560,000
cubic feet (more than a 100 year storm volume) of additional storage under the proposed design
(see Attachment 3, Calculation #2). These calculations reasonably demonstrate Basin No. 2 has
additional capacity to handle well above the 100 year storm and indicates Basin No. 2 will
remain non-discharging.

During our discussion of these factors, the Township raised concerns over the possibility of
reduced infiltration capability due to placement of a lower permeability fill material during
completion of the proposed basin modifications. Such an occurrence would be highly unlikely
as the same type of coarse slate spoil historically used in the construction of Basin No. 2 is
readily available from the local slate quarry district. However, to provide additional assurance, a
minimum requirement for hydraulic conductivity can be considered based on a requirement to
dewater the 100 year storm volume within 7 days. Based on this requirement, a minimum
required hydraulic conductivity of 20 feet per day will be designated for the fill material (see
Attachment 3, Calculation #3). Infiltration testing will be completed on existing stockpiled spoil
piles implementing the attached methodology as referenced in the PA Stormwater BMP manual
(see Attachment 4). Fill material that meets the requirement of 20 feet per day, or 10 inches per
hour, will be designated for use during construction.

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 ATTACHMENT 1
BASIN NO. 2 CONCEPTUAL DIAGRAM

ADDITIONAL ADDITIONAL
INFILTRATION & INFILTRATION &
STORAGE IN STORAGE IN
BACKFILL BACKFILL

BACKFILL
BACKFILL
DEWATERS TO
DEWATERS TO
NATIVE GEOLOGIC
NATIVE GEOLOGIC
MATERIALS
MATERIALS

OVERBURDEN &
WEATHERED
ROCK

SLATE
BEDROCK

SATURAÏED FILL MATERIAL

 ATTACHMENT 2
Rock Fill Reference

HDROGEOLOGY OF V/ASTE ROCK DUMPS

MEND Associate Project PA-l
Smith et al., 1995

Mine Spoil hfrltcntlon capacity versus Grain size

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Figure 2.6. Surface lnlilbation Data (añer Vandre, 1995).

13

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 ATTACHMENT 3
Calculations

Calculation # 1: Calculate discharge from Basin No. 2 into surrounding backfill material under
maximum fil1 conditions utilizing Darcy's Law.

Q:KxixA
K hydraulic conductivity :283 feetlday (coarse fill, see text)
i hydraulic gradient : 1 (freely drained out the sides)
A cross sectional area out the side of the Basin for Basin full condition
Basin No. 2 circumference (l) x depth above resting pool elevation (d) (halved for
average depth during dewatering)
6¡2: (704' msl - 696.79' msl) / 2:3.49 feet
I : 1,150 feet, Basin No. 2 circumference, approximate (derived from2l22ll9
Stormwater Report Appendix B, Basin No. 2 Sensitivity Reduction Analysis)

a 283 feetlday x 1 x 1150 feet x3.49 feet : 1,173,247 cfd

Note: 100 year storm volume to be dewatered: 490,324 cf

Calculation # 2: Calculate storage in backfill.

V :AxdxS
A area ofbackfill : area of former quarry - area of Basin No. 2
Area of former quarry from Consolidated Hydro Package, area of
Basin No. 2 from Stormwater Report Appendix B, Basin No. 2
Sensitivity Reduction Analysis, plan area at704' msl
300,980 ftz -105,347 ft2 : 210,980 ft2
d 7.21 feet (see Calculation #1)
S 0.4 (dimensionless)
V : 210,980 ft2 x7.21feet x 0.4: 564,206 cf

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 ATTACHMENT 3
Calculations

Calculation # 3: Calculate minimum hydraulic conductivity of fill material for 7 day dewatering
timeframe utilizing Darcy's Law (not considering native material).

K:Q/(Axi)
a : :
100-year stored volume divided by 7 days 490,324 ft3 I 7 days 70,046 cfd
i hydraulic gradient: I (freely drained out the sides)
A cross sectional arca out the side of the Basin during dewatering period
Basin No. 2 circumference (l) x half the maximum depth above resting pool
elevation (d/2)
dlz: (703.78' msl - 696.79' msl) / 2:3.49 feet
:
I 1,150 feet, Basin No. 2 circumference
K :
70,046 cfd / (900 feet x 3.49 feet x l) 17.4 feet per day

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 ATTACHMENT 4
Infiltration Testing

Pennsylvania Stormwater BMP Manual Infi ltration Tests/Permeability Tests

Testing as described in the Maryland Stormwater Manual Appendix D.1 using S-inch diameter
casmg

Inflltratlon Testtng Rcquirements fteld testing requlred)

hÌstsll c.asiag (solid 5 inch diarncter, 30' lcngth) to ?,,,4" bclow propoaed BMP
bottom (sce Figurc D.1.1).

b Rernove any smcared soiled su¡faccs and providc e nåftral soil intcffacc irito
which wåtcr mey pcrcolatc. Rcrnove all loose rnatrrial frorn the cæing. Upon
thc testm"s disc*ction, a nro (2) irnh layct of eoarse sand or finc gravel may be
placed to protect thc bottorn frorn scouring and sedimcnt. Fill cæing with de¿n
\\,.åtcf, tô a dcpth of 24" ånd âllow to prc-soak for nvcnty-four houts.

e Twcnry-four hours latcr, rcfill casing with anothcr 24" of clem watcr and
rnonitor water lcvd {mcæurcd &op fram the top of the casing} for I hour.
Repeat this proccôrre (filling thc casiag cach timc) tårec additional tirnes, for a
total of fou¡ obs*vatíons. Upon the tcstcr's discretica" thc final ficld ratc rnaiy
cithcr bc thc avcragc of thc fsur obs#vatioÍs, rr thÊ valuc of tÌ¡c last
ohscrvation, The finat ratc shall be reported in irnhcs pcr hour.

d. May bc donc through a boring ûr ûpcn crçar¿ation.

c Thc loeation of ttrc tcet shall cor¡cspond to thc BMP locatioa.

f Upon eomplction of the testing, the cæings shnll bc irnrnediatcly pulled, and the
test pit shsll be back-filled.

D.1.3

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 ATTACHMENT 4
Infiltration Testing

Pennsylvania Stormwater BMP Manual Infiltration Tests/Permeability Tests

Testing as described in the Maryland Stormwater Manual Appendix D.1 using 5-inch diameter
casmg

Appendix D.l Tceting Rcquircnrcntr for lnfiltation Biorcta¡tion and Ssnd Filtcr Subsoils

Flgure D. 1. I Infilration Testing Rcquirenrents

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