NR 182.108(7)(g)(g) A discussion of the reasoning and logic behind the design of the major features of the site, such as traffic routing, base grade, and relationships to subsurface conditions, phases of development, anticipated waste types and characteristics, acid-generation controls, liner system and final cover system design, facility monitoring, and similar design features necessary to ensure compliance with applicable standards.

NR 182.108(7)(h)(h) A proposed monitoring program developed for the purpose of determining whether the proposed facilities meet all environmental standards. The initial monitoring program design and specifications should be based on potential variations in the quality and quantity of waste materials, methods of processing, transport and disposal, and the variability of important environmental conditions.

NR 182.108(7)(i)(i) The information, based on predictive modeling, to demonstrate that there is a reasonable certainty that the facility, as designed, will not result in a violation of the groundwater quality standards, specified in ch. NR 140, beyond the design management zone and within the depth of useable groundwater. The operator shall demonstrate compliance with applicable groundwater and surface water quality standards for a period consisting of the time period in which the mining waste site is proposed to operate, plus 250 years after closure of the mining waste site, unless a shorter time period is specified by the department. If any statistically significant change in baseline groundwater quality is predicted, the applicant shall prepare a specific assessment of any adverse environmental impacts reasonably expected to result. If the background concentration of a substance attains or exceeds a preventive action limit for that substance or if it is expected, with reasonable certainty, that a preventive action limit will be exceeded beyond the design management zone, the applicant shall request an exemption under ss. NR 140.28 and 182.119.

NR 182.108(7)(j)(j) For expansion of existing facilities, an evaluation of the effectiveness of the existing site design and operation.

NR 182.108(8)(8) The applicant shall complete a groundwater modeling analysis of potential impacts. The analysis shall include enough information to assess existing groundwater flow conditions and to predict possible impacts to groundwater quality and quantity from the mining waste facility and other facilities on the mining site in compliance with the requirements of sub. (7) (i) and s. NR 182.107. The groundwater modeling analysis shall be completed in coordination with groundwater studies conducted to comply with chs. NR 132 and 150, ss. 281.34 and 293.65, Stats., and other applicable laws and rules of the department. The modeling analysis shall include the following:

NR 182.108(8)(a)(a) A clear statement of the purpose and objectives of the model.

NR 182.108(8)(b)(b) A discussion of the hydrologic data necessary to construct the groundwater model and the methods proposed to obtain the necessary data.

NR 182.108(8)(c)(c) A discussion of the formulation of the conceptual hydrologic model of the study area, including dimensionality, transience, and boundary conditions.

NR 182.108(8)(d)(d) A discussion of the selection criteria for choosing the model code used to simulate the study area and forecast future conditions. Models used for groundwater flow and contaminant transport analyses shall consist of public domain open source software. Secondary models used to generate and organize input files, process model outputs or evaluate model boundaries are not required to consist of public domain open source software but must be fully documented and verified.

NR 182.108(8)(e)(e) A description of the design and construction of the model, including how the conceptual understanding of groundwater flow is translated to the groundwater model.

NR 182.108(8)(f)(f) A discussion of model calibration and verification, including what model parameters were adjusted, what targets were used in the calibration process, how well the model performs at verification/history matching, and why the history matching process and selected targets are appropriate for the modeling purpose. Also included in the model calibration should be a discussion of statistics used to quantify model calibration.

NR 182.108(8)(g)(g) A sensitivity analysis to determine how uncertainty in model parameters or boundary conditions might impact the model predictions.

NR 182.108(8)(h)(h) The predictive simulations that address the modeling objectives and that simulate a range of possible outcomes.

NR 182.108(8)(i)(i) The uncertainty analyses of the model overall to help quantify the underlying uncertainty of assumptions made during the modeling process, and analysis of how this uncertainty impacts the model predictions.

NR 182.108(8)(j)(j) A modeling report that addresses all the information in this subsection, as well as all modeling files and data necessary to review the modeling effort.

NR 182.108(9)(9) The feasibility report shall include a preliminary water budget for 3 time periods: before construction, during active operation, and after facility closure. The water budget calculations shall be made for 3 climatological situations depicting dry, wet, and average precipitation - evaporation conditions based on climatologic records. The water budget shall describe the estimated amount and quality of seepage and discharge to surface and groundwater. The applicant shall consider all of the following factors in preparation of the water budget: precipitation, slurry water input and return, evaporation, surface runoff, infiltration, evapotranspiration, groundwater recharge rates, soil and waste moisture holding capacity, and groundwater flow velocities and volume.

NR 182.108(12)(a)(a) Identification and evaluation of alternatives to the design and location of any new proposed waste site, including an economic analysis of sites that are both environmentally and economically feasible. Operation alternatives shall be discussed to the extent they have a significant impact on design and location alternatives.

NR 182.108(12)(b)(b) Identification and analysis of various alternative sites so that a legitimate comparison between several of the most viable sites can be made. In order to minimize the total adverse environmental impact, a viable site shall be chosen that will result in the least total overall adverse environmental impact.

NR 182.108(12)(c)(c) Documentation of the process by which the preferred site and critical design elements were selected. The analysis shall document that the preferred site and design will result in the least overall environmental impact compared to other viable sites and designs.

NR 182.108(12)(d)(d) Supporting data for all viable alternative waste sites and designs considered by the applicant in the siting and design alternatives analysis.

NR 182.108(13)(a)(a) Boring logs, soil tests, well construction data, and water level measurements.

NR 182.108(13)(b)(b) The measured baseline values for all parameters monitored, the spatial and temporal variability of these baseline values, and the error associated with the baseline values and the natural variability. For all parameters with significant variability or sample frequency problems that will make comparison with subsequent analyses less reliable than expected or desired, the applicant shall identify additional monitoring or analytical measures to achieve the desired levels of precision. The applicant shall provide sufficient data, documentation of statistical procedures, and summary statistics to allow independent evaluation of baseline values.