Biosolids Regulatory Compliance

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BiosolidsRegulatory Compliance

• 2004 Joint RMSAWWA/RMWEA
• Annual Conference
• September 12-15, 2004
• Wesley Carr, Environmental Protection Specialist
• CDPHE/WQCD

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Biosolids Regulation
Why do we Need Biosolids Regulation?
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Biosolids Regulation is Necessary to

• Protect Public Health

• Biosolids are Safe...
• When used as directed!

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Biosolids Regulation is Necessary to
Protect Our Natural Resources
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Biosolids Regulation Also Provides an Avenue for
Beneficial Use

• Biosolids
• Complete the Cycle

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Biosolids in Colorado are Regulated by

• EPA Region 8 -
• 40 CFR Part 503
• The 503s

Presently, EPA Region 8 has the ultimate
Authority over the program and they have
implemented a mechanism to regulate facilities
the General Permit
503s are available at
www.epa.gov/region08/water/wastewater/biohome/bio
home.html
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Biosolids in Colorado are Also Regulated by

• Colorado Department of Public Health and
  Environment (CDPHE)-
• Biosolids Regulation No. 64

CDPHE regulates individual application sites
via NOAs (permits) which are tied to
facilities/contractors
Regulation 64 is available at
www.cdphe.state.co.us/op/regs/waterqualityregs.as
p
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Biosolids in Colorado may be Regulated by
Select Counties Health Departments Local
Authorities
Contact the local authority

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EPA Region 8 Biosolids Program Regulations and
Administration

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EPA Region 8 General Permit - Facilities

• Region 8 issued a General Permit effective
  August 16, 2002 for Colorado facilities whose
  operations generate, treat, and/or use/dispose of
  sewage sludge by means of land application,
  landfill, and surface disposal under the National
  Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES)
• Any of these activities require coverage under
  the EPA Region 8 General Permit

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Basis for the General Permit

• Section 405 of the Clean Water Act
• 40 CFR Part 503

Section 503.7 - Requirement For a Person Who
Prepares Sewage Sludge Any person who
prepares sewage sludge shall ensure that the
applicable requirements in this part are met when
the sewage sludge is applied to the land, placed
on a surface disposal site, or fired in a sewage
sludge incinerator.
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EPA Region 8 General Permit Categories

Category 1 Generate but do not use or
dispose Category 2 Use or dispose with or
without treatment Category 3 Lagoon
cleanouts
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Notice of Intent (NOI) for Coverage Under the
General Permit

• NOI Requirements
• - General Facility Information
• - Biosolids Treatment Provided
• - Contractor Information
• - Biosolids Quality (Pathogens, Metals, VAR)
• - Land Application Site Info

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NOI Requirements at the Facility

• Processing Sewage Sludge to Produce Biosolids
  Requires Treatment Separate From the Wastewater
  Treatment Process

Examples
Aerobic Digestion Anaerobic Digestion Composting
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NOI Requirements at The Facility Beneficial
Use

• Must meet Table I Metals
• Pathogen Destruction Criteria
• Vector Attraction Reduction Criteria

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NOI Requirements at the Site Beneficial Use

• Similar to the States process
• Site name/owner
• Location
• Soils data
• Waters

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NOI Requirements at the Site Beneficial Use

• Management Practices
• No harm to Endangered Species
• No harm to Historic Sites
• Groundwater protection
• Frozen/snow covered sites
• Wet weather
• Storage requirements

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NOI Requirements at the Site Beneficial Use

• Agronomic rates
• Each cropping cycle
• Soil analysis
• Cropping history

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NOI Requirements at the Site Deep Soil
Monitoring

lt 18 per Year Mean Annual Precip gt 18 per Year Mean Annual Precip
1/5 year application No Irrigation No Deep Soil Sampling No Deep Soil Sampling
gt1/5 year application No Irrigation No Deep Soil Sampling Deep Soil Sampling Required
1/5 year application Irrigation No Deep Soil Sampling No Deep Soil Sampling
gt1/5 year application Irrigation Deep Soil Sampling Required Deep Soil Sampling Required
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NOI Requirements at the Site Deep Soil
Monitoring

• Deep Soil means 5 feet (principal root zone)
• 6 Locations per Field or 320 acres
• Sample every foot at each location down to five
  feet
• composite
• analyze

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NOI Requirements at the Site Deep Soil
Monitoring
Combine the six 1 samples in one pail, the 2s
in another, the 3s in another, etc.
1
2
3
4
5
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Other NOI Requirements at the Site Similar to
States

• Phosphorous Control
• Site Restrictions
• Monitoring
• Record Keeping
• Reporting
• BDMS

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State of Colorado Biosolids Program Regulations
and Administration

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The States Role in Biosolids Regulation is to

establish requirements, prohibitions, standards
and concentration limitations on the use of
biosolids as a fertilizer and/or organic soil
amendment in a manner so as to protect the public
health and prevent the discharge of pollutants
into state waters.
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Beneficial Use Requires a Letter of Intent (LOI)

• Facility Information
• Biosolids Analysis Information
• - Pathogen Reduction
• - VAR
• - Metals
• - Other Physical Characteristics
• Site Info, Maps Soils Analyses
• Surface and Ground Water Information
• Crop/Agronomic Info
• Biosolids Management Plan

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Receive Letter of Intent (LOI)

• Notice is sent to the County Health Department
  and Commissioners upon receipt by the Division
• Health Department or Commissioners may object to
  the use of biosolids on a particular site

Regulation Section
64.10(A)
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Division Review

• Completeness letter sent out to applicant within
  30 days of receipt
• The clock stops if LOI is incomplete and restarts
  after the Division receives the missing
  information

Regulation Section
64.10(B)
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Notice of Authorization NOA

• NOA is either issued or denied within 30 days of
  being determined complete
• The applicant is notified in writing if denied
  and the reasons for denial
• Allow for a 30 60 day turn-around

Regulation Section
64.10(C)
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Appeal of Issuance or Denial

• The applicant or other persons affected by the
  issuance or denial may request a hearing within
  30 days of issuance or denial
• Only issues of law or fact may be raised at
  hearing

Regulation Section
64.10(D)
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Minimum Terms and Conditions of the NOA

• Issuance date
• Terms for modifications, revocation or
  termination
• Biosolids, soils and other monitoring
  requirements
• Grazing and cropping restrictions
• Reporting, record keeping and labeling
  requirements
• Public access restrictions
• A statement of applicable penalties

Regulation Section
64.10(E)
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NOA Duration

• NOAs do not expire unless terms and conditions
  have been incorporated
• Exception no NOA may allow application of
  biosolids in exceedences of the cumulative
  pollutant loading limits

Regulation Section
64.10(F)
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Classification and Use of Biosolids

• Metals Based Classification
• Table III, Table I
• Pathogen Destruction Criteria
• Class A, Class B
• Vector Attraction Reduction Methods (VAR)

Regulation Section
64.12
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METALS BASED CLASSIFICATIONMaximum Concentration
mg/kg dry 64.12(A)
Table III Table I
Arsenic 41 75
Cadmium 39 85
Copper 1500 4300
Lead 300 840
Mercury 17 57
Molybdenum 75
Nickel 420 420
Selenium 100 100
Zinc 2800 7500
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Pathogen Destruction Criteria
Class A Biosolids Class B Biosolids with
respect to pathogens
Regulation Section
64.12(B)
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Class A With Respect to Pathogens

• Fecal lt 1000 MPN/g or Salmonella s.p. lt 3 MPN/4g
  (based on seven samples per event) AND
• Use one of 5 approved methods to Further Reduce
  Pathogens
• Time/temp depending on solids content
• pH/time then dry to at least 50 solids
• Testing for enteric viruses/viable helminth ova
• Testing
• PFRP composting, heat drying, heat treatment,
  TAD, beta ray irradiation, gamma ray irradiation,
  pasteurization, other as approved by EPA Region 8

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Class B With Respect to Pathogens

• 7 samples - Geometric Mean lt2,000,000 MPN/g or
  CFU (based on seven samples per event) OR
• Use 1 of 5 Approved PSRP methods
• Aerobic Digestion 40 days _at_ 20 C no less than
  60 days _at_15 C
• Air Drying 3 months with two months above 0 C
• Anaerobic Digestion 15 days _at_ 35-55 C no less
  than 60 days at 20 C
• Composting Minimum 40 C for 5 days with min 4
  hours at 55 C
• Lime Stabilization Add lime to raise pH to 12
  after two hours of contact
• Other as approved by EPA Region 8

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Vector Attraction Reduction (VAR)

• (3) 38 VSR
• (4) Anaerobic - bench scale test (40 days)
• (5) Aerobic - bench scale test (30 days)
• (6) Aerobic - SOUR lt 1.5mg O2/hr _at_ 20 C
• (7) Aerobic - 14 days _at_ gt40 C (avg gt45 C)
• (8) pH 12 for 2 hr then 11.5 for 22hr
• (9) Dry to 75 when stabilized solids used
  (digested)
• (10) Dry to 90 when unstabilized solids used
  (undigested)
• (11) Sub. injection (no significant after 1hr)
• (12) Surface application w/incorporation (w/in
  6hrs)

Regulation Section
64.12(C)
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Storage of Biosolids

• NOA Required for gt 14 days
• Must meet Class B and VAR
• Other requirements based on solids
• Maximum of 2 years
• Exemptions
• CDPS permitted facilities
• Designated solid waste disposal sites
• Components of an ISDS
• Offloading facilities (truck to spreader) Tanks

Regulation Section
64.13
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Distribution and Marketing

• Class A Unrestricted Use (lawn)
• Class A Restricted Use (containerized)
• Class B Restricted Use (agricultural)

Regulation Section
64.14
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Class A Unrestricted Use

• Must meet Table III Metals
• Must meet Class A Pathogen Criteria
• Must meet one of the VAR 3 thru 10

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Class A Restricted Use

• Meet Table I Metals
• Must meet Class A Pathogen Criteria
• Must meet one of the VAR 3 thru 10
• Subject to Annual Pollutant Loading Limits (APLR)
• nobody practices this

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Annual Pollutant Loading Limits kg/ha (lbs/Ac)
Arsenic 2 (1.79)
Cadmium 1.9 (1.7)
Copper 75 (66.94)
Lead 15 (13.39)
Mercury .85 (.76)
Nickel 21 (18.74)
Selenium 5 (4.46)
Zinc 140 (124.96)
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Land Application

• Must meet Table I Metals
• Must meet either Class A or Class B and one of
  VAR 3 thru 13
• Table I subject to Cumulative Pollutant Loading
  Limits
• No land application if metals exceed Table I
  limits

Regulation Section
64.15
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Cumulative Pollutant Loading Limits kg/ha (lbs/Ac)
Arsenic 41 (37)
Cadmium 39 (35)
Copper 1500 (1339)
Lead 300 (268)
Mercury 17 (15)
Nickel 420 (375)
Selenium 100 (89)
Zinc 2800 (2499)
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Facility Notification Requirements

• Provide N concentration to applier
• Other info as needed to comply
• Written notice to permitting authority prior to
  land application
• site location
• application period
• facility name, address, phone, permit
• applier name, address, phone, permit

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Application Near State Waters

• No biosolids application
• up gradient and within 1 linear mile of a public
  water system diversion
• up gradient and within 300 of a Class 1
  Recreational Use Reservoir
• no surface application within 200 of any surface
  water
• within 50 of any surface water if injected
• within 33 of any dry streambed
• where soil is saturated or ponding is occurring
• agricultural rate within 100 of a private well
  or 300 of a community well
• reclamation rate within 300 of a private well
  or 1500 of a community well

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Groundwater

• No biosolids application when annual high
  groundwater table is within 5 of the surface
• Water table is determined using
• direct observation
• Soil Survey maps and/or
• well completion maps with other supporting
  documentation such as lack of seasonal ponding or
  vegetation and topography suggest adequate depth
  to GW

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Application on Slopes Agricultural
Slope lt 6 Solids 6 or Greater
0-5 No Limitations No Limitations
gt5 to 9 Incorporate within 24hrs or inject or approved SOP No Limitations
gt9 to 15 Inject or approved SOP Surface application if established vegetation or 60 crop residue or approved SOP
gt15 Application prohibited Application prohibited
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Application on Slopes Reclamation
Slope lt 6 Solids 6 or Greater
0-5 No Limitations No Limitations
gt5 to 9 Immediate incorporation or inject or approved SOP No Limitations
gt9 to 15 Subsurface Injection or approved SOP Incorporation within 24hrs or approved SOP
gt15 Application prohibited Incorporation within 24hrs or approved SOP
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Frozen or Snow Covered Ground

• No application where slope exceeds 6
• Slope lt 3, no management practice
• If slope is 3 to 6 then
• 80 vegetative cover, or
• Obtain approval based on a SOP describing runoff
  containment

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Soils

• No application to food crops where soil pH is lt
  6.0 SU
• Minimum suitable soil depth required
• Irrigated land 36
• Dryland/Rangeland 18
• Land Reclamation 12

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Nutrient Management

• Agricultural apply N at agronomic rate
• Reclamation may apply up to 5X agronomic rate
• No application where available P gt
• 100 ppm sodium bicarb
• 50 ppm AB-DTPA
• 170 ppm Bray P1 use Bray when pH lt 6.5
• State may allow application based on NRCS Code
  590

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Class B Crop Harvesting Restrictions

• Food crops with harvested parts that touch
  biosolids or grow above surface 14 months
• Food crops with harvested parts below surface and
  biosolids remain on surface for 4 months prior to
  incorporation 20 months
• Food crops with harvested parts below surface and
  biosolids remain on surface for less than 4
  months prior to incorporation 38 months
• Food, feed and non-food crops 30 days

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Class B Site Restrictions

• No domestic livestock grazing for 30 days after
  application
• Turf may not be harvested for 1 yr
• High public exposure sites - limit access for 1
  yr
• Low public exposure sites limit access for 30
  days

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Monitoring Analysis Biosolids
Biosolids Frequency of Sampling Analysis Biosolids Frequency of Sampling Analysis
Annual Production DST/YR Frequency
Less than 319 Once per year collected during 4th QTR
319 to 1,649 Once per quarter
1,650 to 16,499 Once per two months
16,500 Monthly
Lagoons Prior to removal
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Monitoring Analysis Soils
Soils Frequency of Sampling Analysis Soils Frequency of Sampling Analysis
Soil Fertility Analysis - nitrogen, phosphorus, pH conductivity, organic matter Sample prior to application and once per cropping cycle thereafter
Soil Metals As, Cd, Cu, Pb, Hg, Mo, Ni, Se, Prior to application and once every 5 years thereafter
Collect 16 soil cores per 320 Acres and combine to form a 1lb sample. Use AB-DTPA extraction to determine extractable metals. (EPA Requires TRM) Collect 16 soil cores per 320 Acres and combine to form a 1lb sample. Use AB-DTPA extraction to determine extractable metals. (EPA Requires TRM)
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Record Keeping

• Preparers Appliers must develop and maintain
  the following information for 5 years
• Documentation demonstrating compliance with
  Pathogen Destruction, VAR and Metals Criteria
• Certification Statements
• Results of Biosolids and Soils Analysis

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Annual Report

• Preparers and Appliers must submit an Annual
  Self-Monitoring Report (BDMS FORMAT) containing
  the following
• Documentation demonstrating compliance with
  Pathogen Destruction, VAR and Metals Criteria
• Certification Statements
• Results of Biosolids and Soils Analysis
• Total amount (DMT) and disposition of biosolids
  produced in previous 12 months

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Annual Reports Due On or Before

• February 19th

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Notification of Noncompliance

• Verbal notification to Division within 24 hrs AND
  written notification within 5 days if
  noncompliance may endanger public health or
  environment
• Written notification of other instances of
  noncompliance shall be submitted to the Division
  within 30 days

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Local Biosolids Regulation
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Health Departments Keeping Their Eye on Biosolids

• Tri-County Health (Adams, Arapahoe, Douglas)
• San Juan Basin Health (Archuletta, La Plata, San
  Juan)
• Southeast Land and Environment (Prowers, Baca,
  Bent and Kiowa)
• Elbert
• Weld
• El Paso

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County Planning Departments Indirectly Involved
Adams
Routt
Douglas
Pueblo
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Counties That Do Not Allow Land Application of
Biosolids
Kiowa
Washington

• BIOSOLIDS

Lincoln
Cheyenne
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USEFUL LINKS Biosolids Regulation No.
64 www.cdphe.state.co.us/op/regs/waterqualityregs.
asp Biosolids Letter of Intent
Forms www.cdphe.state.co.us/wq/PermitsUnit/wqcdpmt
.html Colorado State University Cooperative
Extension (Biosolids, Nutrient Mgmt, Crop Fact
Sheets) www.ext.colostate.edu/PUBS/crops/00547.htm
l EPA Region 8 (FREE BDMS DOWNLOAD! Loads of
Useful Resources!) www.epa.gov/region08/water/wast
ewater/biohome/biohome.html
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Biosolids Program Contacts
Wesley Carr, Environmental Protection
Specialist Biosolids Management
Program WQCD-P-B2 4300 Cherry Creek Drive
South Denver, CO 80246-1530 303-692-3613 wes.carr_at_
state.co.us
Robert Brobst, P.E., Biosolids Program
Coordinator EPA Region 8 (8P-W-P) 999 18th
Street, Suite 500 Denver, CO 80202 303-312-6129 br
obst.bob_at_epa.gov