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April, 2008

Dismantling Over Aquifers

Q. I own a salvage/auto recycling center. I dismantle and drain the cars over a concrete pad. I was recently told that my property is over and aquifer and that dismantling over an aquifer is not allowed even on a concrete pad. Do you have any suggestions?

A. This issue would be covered under your operating permit. For example, in Maine, the regulations state that:

For public and private water supplies. No permit may be granted for an automobile graveyard, automobile recycler, junkyard or recycling operation that contains hazardous materials, when such premises is within 250 feet of a well that serves as a public or private water supply. This prohibition does not include a private well that serves only the automobile graveyard or the owner's or operator's abutting residence. This prohibition does not apply to wells installed after the effective date of this subsection if the automobile graveyard, automobile recycler, junkyard or recycling operation has already received a permit.