Ohio’s industrial economy and significant coal-fired power generation history create a geomembrane liner market centered on coal ash impoundment closure, heavy manufacturing secondary containment, municipal solid waste landfill systems, and acid mine drainage treatment in the eastern coalfields. Ohio EPA oversight under Ohio Administrative Code 3745-27 and EPA CCR Rule obligations for coal ash utilities require documented quality assurance processes and regulatory-grade CQA deliverables. ICS brings to Ohio projects the technical depth, material range, and documentation capability to serve engineers, EPC contractors, environmental consultants, and utility facility managers across all of these application areas.
Coal Ash Impoundment Closure Under the EPA CCR Rule
Ohio utilities operating coal ash surface impoundments face closure obligations under the federal EPA CCR Rule (40 CFR Part 257), with compliance deadlines that have driven active closure project procurement throughout the state. Ohio’s coal ash inventory includes impoundments at former power plants along the Ohio River corridor and at active generating stations in the central and eastern parts of the state. ICS installs HDPE and composite liner cap systems for coal ash impoundment closure, including final cover systems with geomembrane barrier layer, drainage aggregate, and vegetated topsoil. CQA documentation for Ohio coal ash cap projects is structured to satisfy the CCR Rule’s minimum alternative final cover requirements and to support the completion of the Annual Progress Reports required by 40 CFR §257.102(f).
Ohio EPA participates in CCR site oversight and may conduct independent inspections of closure construction. ICS’s CQA documentation approach — including weld testing logs, material conformance sheets, and a final CQA report — is designed to withstand regulatory scrutiny from both Ohio EPA and federal EPA oversight reviewers.
Heavy Manufacturing Secondary Containment — Automotive, Steel, and Chemical
Ohio’s manufacturing base — the largest in the Midwest by output, including automotive assembly and stamping, steel production, and chemical manufacturing — creates substantial secondary containment liner demand at operating facilities. EPA SPCC regulations (40 CFR Part 112) mandate secondary containment for petroleum products; RCRA regulations require containment for hazardous waste storage areas; and Ohio EPA’s NPDES permits drive stormwater containment at many facilities. ICS installs secondary containment liner systems using HDPE, PVC, and XR-5 geomembranes selected for compatibility with the specific chemical inventory at each facility. XR-5 is frequently specified for automotive painting and coating operations where solvent resistance is required. ICS executes containment liner installation within operating facilities with careful coordination to maintain secondary containment continuity during the installation window.
Acid Mine Drainage Treatment Ponds — Eastern Ohio
Legacy surface and underground coal mining in eastern Ohio — particularly in Muskingum, Perry, Morgan, and Athens counties — has left an inventory of mine drainage discharges requiring active treatment. AMD treatment systems in eastern Ohio range from simple passive systems to active chemical treatment plants, and most include lined settling ponds and sludge storage impoundments. ICS installs HDPE and LLDPE liner systems for AMD treatment pond construction and rehabilitation, including projects in remote eastern Ohio locations with limited site access and challenging terrain. AMD treatment pond liner installation requires attention to chemical resistance at low pH values, slope stability on pond embankments, and anchor trench integrity in shallow soils over bedrock.
Municipal Solid Waste Landfill Liner and Cap Systems
Ohio municipal solid waste landfills are regulated under Ohio Administrative Code 3745-27, which specifies composite liner system requirements for new cells and final cover system standards. Ohio EPA’s Division of Materials and Waste Management (DMWM) oversees landfill permit compliance and construction certification. ICS installs bottom liner systems and final cap systems for Ohio MSW landfills, providing CQA documentation structured for Ohio EPA’s construction certification process. Landfill liner projects in Ohio often involve large acreages of new cell construction in active landfills where operational sequencing requires careful coordination between liner installation and the continuing receipt of waste.
PFAS Remediation at Former Military and Industrial Sites
PFAS contamination in Ohio is concentrated at former military installations — including Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Rickenbacker Air National Guard Base, and several other facilities — as well as at former industrial sites that used or manufactured PFAS-containing products. ICS installs HDPE liner systems for PFAS containment applications, including caps over contaminated soils and liner-lined collection ponds for PFAS-impacted leachate. Ohio EPA works with the Ohio Department of Health and US EPA Region 5 on PFAS site oversight, and liner system CQA documentation is expected to meet the standards of all participating agencies.
ICS Geomembrane Services Available in Ohio
- HDPE, LLDPE, PVC, XR-5, and RPP geomembrane liner installation
- Coal ash impoundment closure cap installation under EPA CCR Rule and Ohio EPA oversight
- Heavy manufacturing secondary containment under EPA SPCC and Ohio EPA NPDES regulations
- Acid mine drainage treatment pond liner installation and rehabilitation in eastern Ohio
- Municipal solid waste landfill liner and cap systems under Ohio Administrative Code 3745-27
- PFAS remediation containment liner systems at military and industrial sites
- Hot wedge and extrusion liner welding with ASTM-compliant weld testing
- Custom panel fabrication and AutoCAD-based quantity takeoff
- CQA documentation packages for Ohio EPA and EPA CCR regulatory submittals
- Liner inspection, repair, and leak location services
Areas Served in Ohio
ICS serves geomembrane liner installation projects throughout Ohio, including the Cleveland and Akron industrial corridor, Columbus and central Ohio, Cincinnati and the southwest, Dayton and the Miami Valley, the Ohio River industrial corridor (Steubenville, Marietta, Gallipolis), and the eastern Ohio coalfields. ICS’s Midwest office in Traverse City, Michigan provides a forward-deployed resource for Ohio projects, reducing mobilization time and cost relative to the Maryland headquarters.
For project inquiries, contact ICS at 667-290-4153 or visit the contact page.
Frequently Asked Questions — Geomembrane Liner Installation in Ohio
What does the EPA CCR Rule require for coal ash impoundment cap liner systems in Ohio?
The EPA CCR Rule (40 CFR Part 257) provides two pathways for final cover system compliance for coal ash impoundments: the standard final cover (engineered cover with low-permeability layer meeting 1×10⁻⁵ cm/s) or an alternative final cover (AFC) that must demonstrate equivalence to the standard design. Most Ohio coal ash closure projects use AFC designs that include an HDPE or composite geomembrane as the primary barrier layer, supported by geosynthetic drainage layer and vegetated topsoil. The AFC design must be prepared by a CCR professional engineer and must include a CQA plan for construction. ICS’s installation and documentation approach satisfies the CCR Rule’s CQA plan requirements.
Can ICS install liner systems at operating Ohio manufacturing facilities without shutting down production?
Yes. ICS plans secondary containment liner installations to maintain facility operations throughout the installation window. This typically involves phasing the work to maintain at least partial secondary containment at all times, coordinating with the facility safety team on hot work permits for liner welding, and scheduling installation during planned maintenance windows where possible. ICS has executed containment liner installations in operating automotive, chemical, and heavy industrial environments and is experienced in the safety and operational coordination requirements of those settings.
What Ohio EPA permit requirements apply to AMD treatment pond liner systems?
Acid mine drainage treatment ponds in Ohio are regulated under a combination of Ohio EPA NPDES permits (for discharge to surface water), mining reclamation requirements (under Ohio Department of Natural Resources oversight), and in some cases, solid waste permits if the treatment generates sludge requiring disposal. Liner system requirements are typically specified in the engineering design approved by the relevant permitting agency. ICS provides liner installation in accordance with the approved design and CQA documentation suitable for regulatory submittals to Ohio EPA and ODNR.
How does ICS document liner installation quality for Ohio EPA construction certification?
ICS provides a project-specific CQA report following liner installation that documents material conformance (manufacturer’s quality control data, CQA laboratory conformance test results), weld testing (destructive shear and peel per ASTM D6392, spark or vacuum box testing per ASTM D4437), panel layout diagrams, and a summary of any repairs made during installation. The CQA report is structured to support Ohio EPA’s construction certification review and is delivered to the project engineer of record for inclusion in the permit closeout package.
Does ICS provide liner repair services for Ohio coal ash impoundments that are already in operation?
Yes. ICS provides liner inspection, leak location, and repair services for coal ash impoundments with existing liner systems. Leak location methods include electrical leak detection (ELD) on systems with a conductive subgrade layer, and visual/probe inspection for exposed liner systems. Repairs are made by extrusion welding or by installing new liner patches over the damaged area, documented in a repair log included in the updated CQA file for the impoundment.