Roadmap of Oregon s Biosolids Program Water Environment School 2015 25 March 2015 Clackamas Community College Paul Kennedy, Regional Biosolids & Water Reuse Program Coordinator
Presentation Overview Introduction to biosolids What s regulated How DEQ regulates biosolids Permit Biosolids management plan Land application plan Site Authorizations Compliance Program future Resources
What are biosolids? solids derived from domestic wastewater which have been treated significantly reduce pathogens reduce volatile solids suitable for land application [OAR 340-050-0010(3)]
Oregon Biosolids Policy Encourages the beneficial reuse of recyclable materials as a fertilizer or soil amendment [OAR 340-050-006]
Biosolids Land Application Program Protective of Public Health Protective of the Environment Provide a beneficial use/resource value
Biosolids Regulation Federal and state regulations ensure facilities treat and manage biosolids in a manner to protect public health and the environment. Federal Regulations: 40 CFR 503 Oregon Administrative Rules: OAR 340-050
Brief History of Biosolids Regulations 1977 1982 1983 Federal EPA Intra-Agency Biosolids Task Force established Recommendation for a comprehensive federal program Oregon Guidelines for Handling, Disposal and Use of Sewage Sludge EQC required to adopt rules for land application 1984 Pollutant study list identified OAR 340-050 adopted 1987 CWA update EPA req d to develop regulations 1993 40 CFR 503 rule published 1994 1995 503 rules amended Mo pollutant limits deleted 503 rules amended Cr pollutant limits deleted; Se limits changed OAR 340-050 updated to federal standards
Quantity of wastewater solids produced Redmond, 463, 1% Hood River, Canby, 384, 1% 385, 1% Roseburg, 383, 1% Hermiston, Newport, 387, 1% McMinnville, 564, 1% 512, 1% Wilsonville, 500, 1% Woodburn, 519, 1% Others, 4065, 7% Klamath Falls, 622, 1% Grants Pass, 647, 1% Jefferson, 621, 1% Newberg, 643, 1% Troutdale, 668, 1% Coos Bay, 787, 1% Corvallis, 859, 2% Oregon City, 1209, 2% Milwaukie, 1232, 2% Albany, 1396, 2% Gresham, 2040, 4% Portland, 14005, 24% Clean Water Services, 11269, 20% Medford, 2472, 4% Bend, 2992, 5% Salem, 2994, 5% Eugene/Springfield, 4633, 8% 2011: 57,250 dry tons
How wastewater solids are managed Landfill, 4835, 8% Storage, 2198, 4% Transfer, 679, 1% Land Application, 51460, 87% 2011
What s regulated: Pollutants Pollutant EPA 503 Table 1 (Ceiling conc.) EPA 503 Table 3 (Pollutant conc.) Oregon avg. (2011) Arsenic 75 41 7.1 Cadmium 85 39 2.3 Copper 4300 1500 358 Lead 840 300 85.6 Mercury 57 17 1.52 Molybdenum 75-10.5 Nickel 420 420 39.8 Selenium 100 100 6.8 Zinc 7500 2800 807 All units are mg/kg dry weight.
What s regulated: Nutrients Parameter Oregon avg. Comment TKN 5.43% Mineralization rates used to calculate availability. NO3-N 0.34% Mobile nutrient. Greatest environmental concern. NH4-N 1.29% Total P 1.86% Not regulated in Oregon. Regulated in other states. K 1.02% ph 7.41 S.U. Total solids 16.9% Volatile solids 57.8% Biosolids must be applied within agronomic rates. [OAR 340-050-0026(4)(e)]
What s regulated: Pathogen Reduction Unk., 4693, 8% Class A, 3438, 6% Class B: Processes to Significantly Reduce Pathogens, PSRP Anaerobic digestion Aerobic digestion Alkaline stabilization Class B, 49119, 86% 2011 Pathogen Reduction Class A: Processes to Further Reduce Pathogens, PFRP Composting ATAD Heat drying EQ: Class A + < Pollutant conc. limits Class A Class B + Site Restrictions + Management Practices
What s regulated: Site Restrictions (Class B) Restrictions on the harvesting of crops and turf Ex: 14 mos. restriction on planting food crops for direct human consumption following biosolids application Restriction on grazing of animals Grazing prohibited for 30 days following application Restrictions on public access High exposure site: 1 year Low exposure site: 30 days Photo credit: http://greenoc.freedomblogging.com/2010/03/18/will-supremecourt-rule-on-o-c-sewage/21217/#more-21217
What s regulated: Management Practices (Class B) No application to flooded, frozen, or snow-covered ground so that biosolids enters public waters Stable geologic formations not subject to flooding or excessive runoff 4 to permanent groundwater Site topography Liquid <12%;Cake <30% 24 rooting depth Avoid saline or sodic soils Setbacks Applied at agronomic rate Feature Waterway 50 Buffer Well or water source 200 Roadways ** Property lines ** Easements ** Structures ** Public access area ** ** Case by case basis.
What s regulated: Vector Attraction Reduction Description Comments 1 38% volatile solids reduction Aerobic & anaerobic digested sludge 2 40-day anaerobic bench test Anaerobic with long residence time (e.g., lagoons) 3 30-day aerobic bench test Aerobic systems with long residence time 4 SOUR Aerobic treatment 5 14-day aerobic >40 ºC Composted 6 Alkaline stabilization Allows short-term storage only ( several days ) 7 Drying to > 75% solids Sludge with no unstablized solids 8 Drying to > 90% solids Sludge with unstabilized (i.e., primary) solids 9 Injection Field option 10 Incorporation within 6 hrs Field option Stabilized solids = less odors, fewer vectors
How DEQ Regulates Biosolids NPDES or WPCF Permit Conditions on what the permit holder must do to land apply biosolids. Biosolids Management Plan Describes how the permit holder will meet the permit requirements. DEQ writes the permit and site authorizations and establishes what conditions must be met. DEQ approves the Biosolids Management Plan and Land Application Plan that is written by the permit holder and describes how and where the conditions will be met. Land Application Plan Describes where the permit holder will land apply and how permit conditions will be met at specific locations. Site Authorization Conditions on what the permit holder must do to land apply biosolids at a specific site.
NPDES or WPCF Permit Schedule A Discharge limits Pollutant limits Agronomic rates Pathogen reduction and VAR must be met Biosolids management plan & Land application plan required DEQ site authorization required Schedule B Monitoring & Reporting Schedule D Special Conditions WHAT
NPDES or WPCF Permit Schedule A Discharge limits Schedule B Monitoring & Reporting Must monitor pollutants, nutrients, PR, VAR Frequency depends on quantity produced Representative samples Record of land application: date, quantity, location Annual reporting February 19th Schedule D Special Conditions WHAT
NPDES or WPCF Permit Schedule A Discharge limits Schedule B Monitoring & Reporting Schedule D Special Conditions Biosolids management plan contents Land application plan contents Site authorizations Public participation WHAT
Biosolids Management Plan Description of processing Quantities of solids generated Method(s) of pathogen reduction Method(s) of VAR Storage short-term, long-term Transporting biosolids Monitoring & sampling Remedial procedures PUBLIC NOTICE with the permit required HOW
Land Application Plan (Maybe part of BSMP) Identification of all known sites WHERE Geographic location of new site (county or smaller unit) Criteria used in selecting new sites Management practices at new sites Public participation process Must submit to DEQ with every permit application PUBLIC NOTICE with the permit required
Site Authorization A map or aerial photograph Identification of sensitive features Setbacks from site-specific sensitive features Special conditions Agronomic rates for specific crops Soil monitoring requirements WHAT
Compliance: Annual Report Quantity of solids generated How solids were managed Quantity and type of biosolids generated Pollutant monitoring data Nutrient monitoring data PR & VAR certification Land application data: Site, crops, application rate, area Soil testing (when required) Part I: All facilities Part II: Biosolids generators Part III: Land Appliers
Compliance: Good Practices In the field At the treatment plant Documentation and records
Compliance: Not so good practices Over application Dumping Spills Poor field conditions
The future DEQ program improvements Permit template New site request application Standardized reporting GIS system Permit holders Class A biosolids Documentation Public involvement Legal protection
Resources NPDES or WPCF permit BSMP & LAP, incl. site authorizations 40 CFR 503 & OAR 340-050 EPA reference documents Plain English Guide White House Document OSU/WSU Extension documents Biosolids advocacy organizations Other treatment facilities DEQ staff
Thank you!