Issues of steep sideslope liners that remain exposed and are later covered

The steepness of sideslope bottom liner systems for landfills, heap leach pads, and tailings dams often precludes the safe placement of overliner cover soil at the end of construction. As a result, a composite liner system might remain exposed for months or even years before it is eventually covered. In this case the following liner design and operational issues present themselves: degradation of a GCL while the liner system is exposed, toe wrinkle formation, wind uplift, eventual overliner soil cover placement, future downdrag, and selection of design shear strength parameters for short- and long-term conditions. Suggestions to address these issues are proposed.