Land Application of Sewage Sludge, EPA/831-B-93-002b ...

1 United StatesOffice of EnforcementEnvironmentaland Compliance AssuranceProtection AgencyWashington, DC 20460 EPA/831-B-93-002bDecember, 1994 EPALand Application of Sewage SludgeA Guide for Land Appliers on theRequirements of the FederalStandards for the Use or Disposal ofSewage sludge , 40 CFR Part 503 Recycled/RecyclablePrinted on paper that containsat least 50% recycled fiberPrefacePREFACEU nder the authority of Section 405(d) of the Clean Water Act as amended, the Protection Agency (EPA) promulgated, at 40 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR)Part 503, Phase I of the risk-based regulation that governs the final use or disposal of intent of this Federal program is to ensure that Sewage sludge is used or disposedof in a way that protects both human health and the environment.

2 Part 503, Standards for theUse or Disposal of Sewage sludge , establishes the general requirements, pollutant limits,operational standards, and management practices, as well as frequency of monitoring, record-keeping, and reporting requirements, that apply to Sewage sludge that is land applied, placed ona surface disposal site, or fired in a Sewage sludge incinerator (see 58 Federal Register 9248,February 19, 1993). For further general information about the regulation and the partiesaffected, refer to A Plain English Guide to the Part 503 Biosolids Rule (EPA, 1994). Thisdocument explains the requirements applicable to LAND APPLIERS of Sewage documents explaining the responsibilities of persons who prepare Sewage sludge andowners/operators of surface disposal sites are also available.

3 The documents listed below canbe obtained through the EPA regional offices listed on the back cover of this document:lPreparing Sewage sludge for Land Application or Surface Disposal-A Guide forPreparers on the Monitoring, Record Keeping, and Reporting Requirements of theFederal Standards for the Use or Disposal of Sewage sludge , 40 CFR Part 503 (EPA,1993).l Surface Disposal of Sewage sludge -A Guide for Owners/Operators of SurfaceDisposal Facilities on the Monitoring, Recordkeeping, and Notification Requirementsof the Federal Standards for the Use or Disposal of Sewage sludge , 40 CFR Part 503(EPA, 1994).The term Sewage sludge is used in this document because of its wide recognition, itsregulatory definition , and its consistency with other EPA guidance documents pertaining to thePart 503 regulation, Standards for the Use or Disposal of Sewage sludge .

4 However, the newterm biosolids is becoming more common as a replacement for the term Sewage sludge iPrefacebecause it is thought to more accurately reflect the beneficial characteristics inherent in 503 is being developed in two I of the risk-based regulation, which thisdocument addresses, does not cover all types of sludge , but rather addresses the following:lScum or solids removed from primary, secondary, or advanced wastewater treatmentprocesseslA material derived from Sewage sludgel Domestic following types of sludge are not subject to Part 503 but are regulated under the designatedFederal rules when land applied.

5 LSludge generated during treatment of industrial process wastewater at an industrialfacility (40 CFR Part 257, if nonhazardous)lSewage sludge generated at an industrial facility during the treatment of industrialwastewater combined with domestic Sewage (40 CFR Part 257)lHazardous sludge , including hazardous Sewage sludge (40 CFR Parts 261, 264, 265,266, 267, and 268)lSewage sludge with polychlorinated biphenyl concentrations of 50 ppm or greater(40 CFR Part 761)lDrinking water treatment sludge (40 CFR Part 257)lGrit or screenings generated during the treatment of domestic Sewage (40 CFR Part257).

6 Part 503 imposes requirements on four groups of persons:lPersons who prepare Sewage sludge or a material derived from Sewage sludgelLand appliers of Sewage sludgeiiPrefacelOwners/operators of Sewage sludge surface disposal siteslOwners/operators of Sewage sludge an effort to explain the many different aspects of Part 503 to the regulated community, EPAhas developed a series of guidance list of these documents is provided in thereference section at the end of this OF definition of Land Land Applier and Factors for Determining His or Her Responsibilities UnderPart Glossary of SUMMARY OF PART 503 REQUIREMENTS FOR LAND General Requirements (40 CFR ).

7 Pollutant Limits (40 CFR ).. Pathogen Reduction (40 CFR and 40 CFR ).. Vector Attraction Reduction (40 CFR and 40 CFR ).. Management Practices (40 CFR ).. Monitoring (40 CFR ).. Recordkeeping (40 CFR ).. Reporting (40 CFR )..293. Sewage sludge SCENARIOS AND LAND APPLIER RESPONSIBILITIES .. l-Land Application of Exceptional Quality Sewage sludge (either bulksewage sludge or Sewage sludge sold or given away in a bag or other container)Scenario 2-Land Application of Sewage sludge That Is Non-EQ Due toPollutant Levels and Is Sold or Given Away in a Bag or Other Container ( ,subject to annual pollutant loading rates).

8 Scenario 3-Land Application of Bulk Sewage sludge That Is Non-EQ Due toPollutant Levels ( , subject to cumulative pollutant loading rates) ..Scenario 4-Land Application of Bulk Sewage sludge That Is Non-EQ Due toPathogen Reduction ..Scenario 5-Land Application of Bulk Sewage sludge That Is Non-EQ Due toVector Attraction Reduction ..Scenario 6-Land Application of Bulk Sewage sludge That Is Non-EQ Due toPollutant Levels and Pathogen Reduction ..Scenario 7-Land Application of Bulk Sewage sludge That Is Non-EQ Due toPollutant Levels and Vector Attraction Reduction . , ..Scenario 8-Land Application of Bulk Sewage sludge That Is Non-EQ Due toPathogen Reduction and Vector Attraction Reduction.

9 Scenario 9-Land Application of Bulk Sewage sludge That Is Non-EQ Due toPollutant Levels, Pathogen Reduction, and Vector Attraction Reduction..313335384042464952ivTABLE OF CONTENTS (Continued)4. RECORD KEEPING REQUIREMENTS .. Pollutant Loading Rates (Scenarios3, 6, 7,and9).. B Site Restrictions (Scenarios 4, 6, 8,and 9) .. Attraction Reduction Option 9 or 10 (Scenarios5, 7,8,and9) Practices (Scenarios 3 through 9)..59 REFERENCESREGIONAL OFFICE ADDRESSESAPPENDIX ASAMPLE FORMAT PROVIDING NOTICE AND NECESSARYINFORMATION .. A-lAPPENDIX BWORKSHEET FOR TRACKING CUMULATIVE POLLUTANTLOADING RATES.

10 B-lAPPENDIX CGUIDANCE FOR OPTIONAL Sewage sludge QUALITYMONITORING .. C-lAPPENDIX DTELEPHONE NUMBERS FOR THE FISH AND WILDLIFESERVICE REGIONAL OFFICES .. D-lAPPENDIX EWORKSHEET FOR CALCULATING THE AGRONOMIC RATE .. E-lAPPENDIX FCERTIFICATION STATEMENTS .. F-lVLIST OF EXHIBITSPageExhibit E- Deadlines for Part 503 Requirements for Land Application of Sewage for Determining Whether Sewage sludge Subject toCPLRs May Be Applied to a Land Application Limits for the Land Application of Sewage Access Restrictions for Land Application of Class BSewage and Grazing Restrictions for Class B Sewage for Identifying Land Application Scenario*.