Building Trust

1
Building Trust Partnership Between Biosolids
Generating and Receiving Communities December
7, 2005

• National Update and Trends in Biosolids
  Management in the U.S.
• Robert K. Bastian
• U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
• Washington, D.C.

2
Focus of Federal Program Addressing Management
of Sewage Sludge

• Late 1960s through late 1980s
• Extensive RD Program
• Construction Grants Program
• Technical Assistance Guidance
• Development of Federal policy encouraging
  recycling
• Part 257 rule (under RCRA CWA)
• CAA, MPRSA, NEPA
• Building of State Programs

3
Focus of Federal Program Addressing Management
of Sewage Sludge

• Late 1980s through early 1990s
• CWA 87 Amendments Active Court Cases drove
  rulemaking effort
• Intra-Agency Task Force
• National Sewage Sludge Survey
• Development of Part 503 rule
• Active Federal oversite and reinforcement of
  Federal policy encouraging recycling
• Coordination w/State Programs, external groups

4
Focus of Federal Program Addressing Management
of Sewage Sludge

• Mid 1990s until today
• Outreach efforts re Part 503 requirements
• Coordination w/State Programs
• Less active EPA oversight, but continued program
  support
• BDMS and PCS Modernization
• EMS, Asset Management development
• Improvements in test methods technology
• Addressing areas of growing interest
• (e.g., Odors, Dioxins, Radiation, Bioaerosols,
  Bioassay)

5
Current Federal RulesAddressing Sewage Sludge
Use/Disposal

• 40 CFR Part 503 Sewage Sludge Use/Disposal
  requirements
• 40 CFR Part 258 Municipal Solid Waste Landfill
  requirements

6
40 CFR Part 503

• Minimum National requirements applicable to the
  use/disposal of sewage sludge (including septage)
• Specific requirements for land application,
  surface disposal (monofills, piles/lagoons,
  dedicated sites), and incineration
• Based upon extensive amount of research
  information/field experience, peer-reviewed risk
  assessment, National Sewage Sludge Survey, etc.

7
40 CFR Part 503

• Self-implementing rule
• Federally enforceable without a permit
• Essentially all states have adopted Part 503 or
  something more restrictive
• Typically include additional requirements to
  address local factors
• Seven states are formally delegated (UT, OK, SD,
  WI, TX, AZ OH) and another 15 actively
  seeking delegation
• Choice of use/disposal practice remains a local
  decision

8
40 CFR Part 503

• Requirements focused upon generator, user/
  disposer of sewage sludge
• General requirements
• Sewage Sludge quality limits
• Management practice requirements
• Monitoring/Recordkeeping/Reporting requirements

9
NRC/NAS Report July 2002

• U.S.EPAs Response to the 2nd National
  Research Councils Report on an Assessment of the
  Risks Associated with the Biosolids Land
  Application Program

10
NRC/NAS Report July 2002
11
NRC/NAS Report July 2002

• There is no documented scientific evidence
  that the Part 503 rule has failed to protect
  public health. However, additional scientific
  work is needed to reduce persistent uncertainty
  about the potential for adverse human health
  effects from exposure to biosolids. There have
  been anecdotal allegations of disease, and many
  scientific advances have occurred since the Part
  503 rule was promulgated.

12
NRC/NAS Report July 2002

• Overarching Recommendations
• Use improved risk-assessment methods to better
  establish standards for chemicals pathogens
• Conduct a new national survey of chemicals and
  pathogens in sewage sludge
• Establish a framework for an approach to
  implement human health investigations
• Increase the resources devoted to EPAs biosolids
  program

13
EPAs Response to NRC Report Final Action Plan
14 Projects

• Biennial Review Under CWA results of Biennial
  Review Cycle 2003 published in Dec2003 IDd 15
  pollutants (out of gt800) for further evaluation
  Biennial Review Cycle 2005 ongoing results due
  by Dec2005
• Compliance Assistance Enforcement ongoing
  level of activities continues the same unless
  ongoing studies suggest a need to increase
  compliance and enforcement efforts

14
EPAs Final Action Plan (Continued)

• Methods Development, Optimization, and Validation
  for Microbial Pollutants in Sewage Sludge Fecal
  coliform and Salmonella spp. methods validation
  studies completed reports issued Sept04
  improved enteric virus methods studies underway,
  and validation studies will be conducted when
  methods are available improved viable helminth
  ova methods and validation studies yet to be
  initiated

15
EPAs Final Action Plan (Continued)

• Field Study of Application of Treated Sewage
  Sludge controlled Charlotte, NC, test site
  studies and follow-up time series sampling
  conducted in 2005 sample analyses ongoing other
  smaller scale studies may be conducted at other
  locations
• Targeted National Survey of Pollutants in Sewage
  Sludge draft survey design completed Feb05
  peer review completed Mar05 survey effort will
  extend into 2006

16
EPAs Final Action Plan (Continued)

• Participate in an Incident Tracking Workshop
  Aimed at Development of Response Mechanism
  WERF-sponsored workshop held Jan05 PSC members
  selected RFP issued in July05 for developing
  protocol for Investigating Reports of Alleged
  Health Impacts Associated with Biosolids Land
  Application with deadline of 3Oct05 for proposal
  submittals

17
EPAs Final Action Plan (Continued)

• Conduct Exposure Measurement Workshop planning
  for a workshop during Jan/Feb2006 in Cincinnati
  tentative workshop agenda has been prepared,
  funding has been committed and initial
  invitations for speakers have been sent out

18
EPAs Final Action Plan (Continued)

• Assess the Quality and Utility of Data, Tools and
  Methodologies to Conduct Microbial Risk
  Assessments preliminary conceptual model and
  problem formulation has been drafted, and work
  continues final draft to include an evaluation
  of human health endpoints, conceptual models, and
  discussion of necessary data and assessment
  tools final deliverable expected in 2006

19
EPAs Final Action Plan (Continued)

• Support Pathogen Equivalency Committee PEC is
  in the process of developing a more formal
  approach for evaluating equivalency applications
  new approach with QA requirements will be posted
  on ORD/Science Advisory Boards webpage Post Doc
  and undergrad now assisting with review of
  backlog materials retreat held in Sept05 PEC
  webpage for submittal of materials being
  established

20
EPAs Final Action Plan (Continued)

• Development and Application of Analytical Methods
  for Detecting Pharmaceutical and Personal Care
  Products in Sewage Sludge work continues on
  improving separation and recovery methods for
  antibiotics, PPCPs, EDCs, musks and other
  compounds discovered during research

21
EPAs Final Action Plan (Continued)

• Publish Proceedings of USEPA-USDA Workshop on
  Emerging Infectious Disease Agents and Issues
  Associated with Animal Manures, Biosolids, and
  Other Similar By-Products completed
  proceedings published in Apr2005 as special
  publication by JG Press WEF may held distribute

22
(No Transcript)
23
EPAs Response to NRC Report Final Action Plan
14 Projects

• Support Sustainable Land Application Conference
  held 1st week of Jan04 peer reviewed papers
  from conference published in Jan/Feb05 JEQ
  proceedings available at http//jeq.scijournals.o
  rg

24
(No Transcript)
25
papers from Sustainable Land Application
Conference (Orlando, FL, January 4-8, 2004)
published in JEQ Jan/Feb2005 (Vol.34)

• Sustainable Land Application An Overview ... G.
  A. OConnor, H. A. Elliott, N. T. Basta, R. K.
  Bastian, G. M. Pierzynski, R. C. Sims, and J. E.
  Smith, Jr.
• Trace Element Chemistry in Residual-Treated Soil
  Key Concepts and Metal Bioavailability ... N. T.
  Basta, J. A. Ryan, and R. L. Chaney
• Beneficial Reuse and Sustainability The Fate of
  Organic Compounds in Land-Applied Waste ...
  Michael Overcash, Ronald C. Sims, Judith L. Sims,
  and J. Karl C. Nieman
• Plant Nutrient Issues for Sustainable Land
  Application ... Gary M. Pierzynski and Katherine
  A. Gehl

26

• Sources of Pathogenic Microorganisms and Their
  Fate during Land Application of Wastes ...
  Charles P. Gerba and James E. Smith, Jr.
• Interpreting Science in the Real World for
  Sustainable Land Application ... Robert K.
  Bastian
• The Evolving Science of Chemical Risk Assessment
  for Land-Applied Biosolids ... Rosalind A. Schoof
  and Dana Houkal
• Science of Odor as a Potential Health Issue ...
  Susan S. Schiffman and C. M. Williams
• Risk Perception, Risk Communication, and
  Stakeholder Involvement for Biosolids Management
  and Research ... Ned Beecher, Ellen Harrison,
  Nora Goldstein, Mary McDaniel, Patrick Field, and
  Lawrence Susskind

27

• Risk Characterization, Assessment, and Management
  of Organic Pollutants in Beneficially Used
  Residual Products ... Gregory B. Kester,
  Robert B. Brobst, Andrew Carpenter, Rufus L.
  Chaney, Alan B. Rubin, Rosalind A. Schoof,
  and David S. Taylor
• Occurrence and Fate of Pharmaceuticals and
  Personal Care Products (PPCPs) in Biosolids ...
  Kang Xia, Alok Bhandari, Keshav Das, and Greg
  Pillar
• Processes for Managing Pathogens ... Alan Godfree
  and Joseph Farrell
• Ecosystem Function in Alluvial Tailings after
  Biosolids and Lime Addition ... Sally Brown, Mark
  Sprenger, Amanda Maxemchuk, and Harry Compton

28

• Radioactive Materials in Biosolids National
  Survey, Dose Modeling, and Publicly Owned
  Treatment Works (POTW) Guidance ... R. K.
  Bastian, J. T. Bachmaier, D. W. Schmidt, S. N.
  Salomon, A. Jones, W. A. Chiu, L. W. Setlow, A.
  B. Wolbarst, C. Yu, J. Goodman, and T. Lenhart
• Analysis of Soils to Demonstrate Sustained
  Organic Carbon Removal during Soil Aquifer
  Treatment ... Peter Fox, Waleed Aboshanp, and
  Bashar Alsamadi
• Nitrogen Mineralization from Organic Residues
  Research Opportunities ... M. L. Cabrera, D. E.
  Kissel, and M. F. Vigil
• Manure Management Effects on Grass Production,
  Nutritive Content, and Soil Nitrogen for a Grass
  SilageBased Dairy Farm ... Lynn M. VanWieringen,
  Joe H. Harrison, Tamilee Nennich, Debra L.
  Davidson, Lloyd Morgan, Shulin Chen, Mike Bueler,
  and Floyd Hoisington

29
EPAs Final Action Plan (Continued)

• Review Criteria for Molybdenum in Land-Applied
  Treated Sewage Sludge assessment effort
  addressing new information using 2000 workshop
  results, conclusions from OConnor et al. 2001,
  and additional data developed since 2000,
  including results of targeted national targeted
  survey expect to complete assessment in 2007

30
EPAs Final Action Plan (Continued)

• Improve Stakeholder Involvement and Risk
  Communication expects to complete this assessment
  in 2006 ongoing outreach efforts include
  modernizing EPAs biosolids website(s)
  development of brochure on how EPA conducts
  exposure and hazard assessments assessment of
  how to include stakeholders at various stages of
  policy development. New website at
  www.epa.gov/stakeholders/index.htm

31
EPAs Final Action on Dioxins, Furans Co-Planar
PCBs

• Final decision to set no requirements signed
  17Oct03, published in the in FR on 24Oct03
• Based upon dioxin risk assessment using Monte
  Carlo probabilistic modeling of Highly Exposed
  Individuals (HEI) - involving max. 11,000
  individuals nationwide and 95th percentile
  exposure values - resulting in .2 - .3 lifetime
  cancer cases (over 70 yrs. of exposure)
• Non cancer endpoint exposures also very low
• Essentially no public health benefit would result
  from establishing a regulatory limit based on
  current levels in biosolids background exposures

32
Exposure Pathways Assessed Agricultural Land
Application Scenario to Assess Human Exposure
33
EPA 2001 Sewage Sludge Dioxin Data (94 POTWs)
TEQ Dioxins, ppt
34
AMSA 2001 Sewage Sludge Dioxin Data (200 POTWs)
TEQ Dioxins, ppt
35
Petition Seeking an Emergency Moratorium on Land
Application of Sewage Sludge

• Center for Food Safety (and 72 other
  organizations) Petition denied
• Unsubstantiated claims concerning
• Claims of adverse health effects
• Toxic levels of chemicals in sewage sludge
• Lack of program oversight
• Inadequate justification to
• Freeze issuance of new NPDES permits
• Rewrite/reissue existing NPDES permits
• Initiate rulemaking to change Part 503

36
WERF/EPA Biosolids Research SummitHighest Ranked
Recommended Projects

• Rapid incident response to concerns about
  possible health affects associated with a
  biosolids land application process
• Targeted characterization of pathogens in sewage
  sludge and biosolids
• An updated national survey of constituents of
  potential concern in biosolids characterization
  of bioaerosols associated with certain kinds
  of land applied biosolids

37
WERF/EPA Biosolids Research SummitHighest Ranked
Recommended Projects

• Identify the odor compounds emitted by sludge in
  the various stages from generation to end use,
  and specify their sensory potencies and
  mechanisms of generation and release
• Cost-benefit analysis of management options for
  sludge/biosolids use and disposal
• Evaluate the effectiveness of current Part 503
  regulations and other management practices

38
WERF/EPA Biosolids Research SummitHighest Ranked
Recommended Projects

• Evaluate the effectiveness of recommended
  management practices in minimizing pollutant
  transport from biosolids amended sites
• Evaluate treatment processes to reduce or
  minimize odor generation through process
  optimization, including investigating additives
  to control odor
• Evaluate emerging and existing treatment
  technologies

39
ISCORS Sewage Sludge SubcommitteeRadiation
Survey and Guidancewww.iscors.org

• ISCORS Assessment of Radioactivity in Sewage
  Sludge Radiological Survey Results and Analysis
  Final, Nov2003
• ISCORS Assessment of Radioactivity in Sewage
  Sludge Modeling to Assess Radiation Doses
  Final, Feb2005
• ISCORS Assessment of Radioactivity in Sewage
  Sludge Recommendations on Management of
  Radioactive Materials in Sewage Sludge and Ash at
  Publicly Owned Treatment Works
  Final, Feb2005

40
ISCORS Sewage Sludge SubcommitteeConclusionswww.
iscors.org

• Levels of radioactive materials found in
  biosolids ash samples from most POTWs indicated
  that radiation exposure to workers and the
  general public is very low, not likely to be of
  concern
• 311 biosolids, 35 ash samples analyzed
• 45 radionuclides detected
• 8 reported in more than 200 samples - Be7, Bi214,
  I131, K40, Pb212, Pb214, Ra226, Ra228
• Highest concentrations - I131, Sr89, Tl201 (all
  short half-lived medical isotopes)

41
ISCORS Sewage Sludge SubcommitteeConclusionswww.
iscors.org

• Estimated doses to potentially exposed
  individuals are generally well below levels
  requiring radiation protection actions.
• For limited POTW Worker and Onsite
  Resident scenarios, doses above protective
  standards could occur, primarily due to indoor
  radon generated as a decay product from NORM
  (e.g., Ra226 Th228)
• For both the POTW Worker and Onsite
  Resident, exposures can be decreased
  significantly through the use of readily
  available radon testing and mitigation
  technologies

42
ISCORS Sewage Sludge SubcommitteeConclusionswww.
iscors.org

• Seek the assistance from your State Radiation
  Program or a radiation protection specialist when
  there are sources present that could contribute
  elevated levels of radioactive materials
• No need for further consultation with government
  agencies when estimated doses, using screening
  calculations, are below 10 mrem/yr (not including
  estimated or measured radon levels)
• Recommends radon testing if calculation results
  exceed EPAs indoor radon action level of 4.0
  pCi/L or 0.02 WL
• Recommends taking appropriate action to mitigate
  when test results for indoor radon gas levels
  exceed 4.0 pCi/L or 0.02 WL

43
Increasing Proportion of the U.S. Population
Served by POTWs
44
Biosolids Use/Disposal Practices by EPA Region
EPA Regions
45
Notable Examples of Long-term Systematic Research
Programs

• Western Regional Land Application Project (W-170)
  One of a series of regional land
  application projects supported by the USDA/CSREES
  and State Experiment Station directors (e.g.,
  5-yr study comparing the fate of metals in
  land-applied biosolids when applied annually vs
  once in 5 yr at the same total application rate
  evaluation of plateau effect)

46
Effect of source of Zn addition on plant tissue
concentration during a 5-yr field experiment
47
Notable Examples of Long-term Systematic Research
Programs

• University of Minnesota-Rosemount Experiment
  Station land application of biosolids studies
  Studies supported by the USDA Agricultural
  Research Service and Soil Conservation Service,
  Metro Waste Commission of the Twin Cities, and
  the USEPA (e.g., long-term studies of surface
  applied biosolids on erodible farmland small
  watershed catchment studies)

48
Notable Examples of Long-term Systematic Research
Programs

• Pennsylvanias Mine Land Reclamation Program
  Studies initially supported as a demonstration
  effort by the USEPA, USDA Soil Conservation
  Service, Appalachian Regional Commission, PA
  Dept. of Environmental Protection, and
  Pennsylvania State University later full-scale
  projects were supported by the City of
  Philadelphias Sludge Management Program

49
Notable Examples of Long-term Systematic Research
Programs

• Fulton County, IL, Mineland Reclamation/Prairie
  Project Studies undertaken by the Water
  Reclamation Dist. of Greater Chicago and Univ. of
  IL on the fate of contaminants and effectiveness
  of biosolids applied a high application rates to
  surface mined land reclamation areas

50
(No Transcript)
51
(No Transcript)
52
(No Transcript)
53
Notable Examples of Long-term Systematic Research
Programs

• Charles Lathrop Pack Forest Field Research Site
  and Mountains-to-Sound Program Studies
  under-taken by the U.WA/College of Forest
  Resources with support from the U.S. Army Corps
  of Engineers, Washington State DOE, USEPA,
  Seattle METRO, and other groups (e.g., long-term
  studies on forest land application of biosolids,
  powerline rights of way, etc.)

54
Notable Examples of Long-term Systematic Research
Programs

• New Mexico State University/ Sandia Natl. Lab
  studies involving land application of irradiated
  biosolids Studies supported by the U.S.
  Department of Energys Office of Beneficial Uses
  of Nuclear Byproducts Program and Department of
  Energy, Albuquerque Operations Office
  (effectiveness of land-applied biosolids on
  western rangeland)

55
Notable Examples of Long-term Systematic Research
Programs

• Albuquerque, New Mexicos Rangeland Reclamation
  Program Studies undertaken in cooperation with
  the U.S. Forest Service Rocky Mountain Forest and
  Range Experiment Station (e.g., reduction of
  runoff and/or erosion and re- establishment of
  native grasses on badly overgrazed rangeland
  using biosolids)

56
Notable Examples of Long-term Systematic Research
Programs

• MERCO (Sierra Blanca Ranch, TX) Project Studies
  undertaken in cooperation with Texas Tech
  University and the University of Texas with
  support from the New York City Department of
  Environmental Protection (e.g., rangeland
  response to land-applied biosolids)

57
Notable Examples of Long-term Systematic Research
Programs

• University of Arizona NSF Water Quality Research
  Center Studies of biosolids application on mine
  tailings, fate transport of pathogens within
  biosolids, evaluation of potential for exposure
  to bioaerosols and endotoxins from land applied
  biosolids, evaluation of Staphylococcus aureus in
  biosolids, etc.

58
Air Samples Taken Total gt 500
59
(No Transcript)
60
Ongoing Studies of Potential Interest

• Phosphorus bioavailability in biosolids and
  animal manures U.FL/IFAS
• National demonstration projects
• King Co. (Seattle) 1MW Direct Fuel Cell Project
• Columbus Water Works Flow-Through Thermophilic
  Treatment (BFT3) Process
• Control of odors at processing facilities
• Use of biosolids in restoring highly disturbed
  and contaminated sites SUPERFUND/USDA/U.WA
• Bioassay Testing Protocol for biosolids
  WERF/Purdue

61
(No Transcript)
62
(No Transcript)
63
Improvements in lime mixing by DCWASA resulted in
more consistent product quality, reduced odors,
consistent Fecal coliform results (lt1,000 mpn/g
dry weight Class A standard for fecal
coliforms), and cost savings of 1M/yr.
64
Actual vs Predicted Odor Levels
65
(No Transcript)
66
(No Transcript)
67
Ongoing Studies of Potential Interest

• Field evaluation of digester performance
• Fate and Transport of Biosolids-borne
  Triclorocarban - U.FL/IFAS
• Presence, Fate, and Feasibility of Estro-and
  Androgenic Contaminants in Wastewater and
  Biosolids - Duke University
• Survey of Biosolids Quality, Treatment,
  Practices, Use, and Disposal in the U.S.
  NEBRA, JG Press, etc.

68

• NBP Role Promote sound and sustainable biosolids
  management practices that go beyond compliance
  and enhance the credibility of local programs
• Key feature of the NBP is their Environmental
  Management Systems (EMS) Program
• EMS program gives agencies a structured approach
  for reducing risk and increasing public
  confidence
• EMS program based on guidance developed by
  wastewater agencies, including a 3rd party
  auditing program

69

• More than 90 municipal agencies across the
  country are in the process of developing and
  implementing their own Biosolids EMS Programs
• To date 10 agencies have now been independently
  verified as having effective Biosolids EMS
  Programs that provide for continually improving
  environmental performance, compliance with
  applicable regulations, good practice, and
  effective public participation

70

• The Orange County (CA) Sanitation District
• The City of Los Angeles Department of Public
  Works
• King County (Seattle, WA
• Madison METRO, WI
• District of Columbia-Washington, D.C. (DCWASA)

71

• Butler County Dept. of Environmental Services
  (Hamilton, OH)
• City of Fort Worth (TX)
• Denver METRO (CO) Wastewater Reclamation District
• Encina Wastewater Authority (Carlsbad, CA)
• City of Lawrence, KS

72

• Robert K. Bastian
• U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
• Office of Wastewater Management (4204M)
• Rm.7220B EPA EAST
• 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW
• Washington, D.C. 20460
• Tele 202-564-0653
• Fax [phone]
• e-mail bastian.robert_at_epa.gov