State of Texas Biosolids Program Perspectives

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1 State of Texas Biosolids Program Perspectives

2 Topics for Discussion Background on state authority and state rules The Biosolids Program in Texas Staff Permits and Registrations Administrative and Technical Process Statistics Locations Requirements - State vs. Federal Legislative Action Trends

3 Benefits of Land Applying Sewage Sludge Source of nutrients for plant growth Saves money from using chemical fertilizers Lowers cost of disposal for utilities Lowers amount of material disposed in landfills Processing to higher standards to develop a product for distribution and sale

4 In the Beginning 40 CFR Part 503 effective February of 1993 TCEQ updates the TAC Chapter 330 rules to incorporate Part TAC Chapter 312 (Sludge Rules) become effective October of 1995 TCEQ is authorized to administer the EPA biosolids program in Texas effective September 1998 Rule updates in 2005 and 2014 based on legislation

5 TCEQ Biosolids Coordinators Central Office - Austin Regional Offices 16 Throughout State q Permitting Staff Review and draft permits and registrations Provide technical assistance with the permitting and registration program q Field Ops Investigators Conduct site assessment evaluations for proposed sites Inspect sites annually q Legal Staff Provide expertise on both state and federal regulations to permitting staff, the regulated community, and the public Investigate complaints made by public

6 Permitting and Registration Program State TCEQ Federal - TPDES Permit Ø Class B Biosolids Registrations Ø Domestic Septage Ø Water Treatment Plant (WTP) Residuals Notification Ø Exceptional Quality Marketing and Distribution of Class A or AB Biosolids Biosolids Processing Dewatering Lime Stabilization Composting with green waste Heat Pelletizing Mobile Processing Unit Disposal of Sludge Monofill Surface Impoundment Sludge Only Incineration

7 Class B Sludge Permit Administrative Process $1,000 - $5,000 application fee based on proposed annual tonnage to be land applied 2 Published Public Notices Each notice is mailed to landowners within ¼ mile of the boundary of land application site Opportunity for Public Meeting and Contested Case Hearing

8 Domestic Septage and WTP Registration Administrative Process No application fee (both) Mailed notice to adjacent landowners for new and amended domestic septage applications Public notice not required for renewal of domestic septage and any WTP applications

9 Class A and AB Notification Administrative and Technical Process Notification authorization issued to generator or authorization can be included in generator s permit No application fee Public notice not required Notification review and approval in 30 days

10 Sewage Sludge, WTP Sludge, and Domestic Septage Technical Process Metals and Nutrients Analysis - Sludge only Soils Laboratory Analysis - Both Sludge and Septage Nutrient Application Rate Calculation - Both Sludge and Septage Maps - Both Sludge and Septage Ø Highway Ø Topographic Ø Floodway Ø Soils

11 Class B Sludge and Domestic Septage Pathogen Requirements Class B Sewage Sludge: Fecal Coliform < 2,000,000 MPN per gram of total solids Process to Significantly Reduce Pathogens (PSRP) Ø Aerobic Digestion Ø Anaerobic Digestion Ø Air Drying Ø Composting Ø Lime Stabilization Domestic Septage: Maintain ph of >12 for at least 30 minutes via alkali addition WTP Sludge: Not required

12 Class A Sludge Pathogen Requirements Fecal Coliform <1,000 MPN per gram of total solids or Density of Salmonella <3 MPN per 4 grams of total solids. Additional treatment including one of the following: Alternative 1 Time and Temperature Alternative 5 Process to Further Reduce Pathogens (PFRP) Ø Composting Ø Heat Drying Ø Heat Treatment Ø Thermophilic aerobic digestion Ø Pasteurization Alternative 6 Equivalent to PFRP with EPA approval

13 Class AB Sludge Pathogen Requirements Fecal Coliform <1,000 MPN per gram of total solids or Density of Salmonella <3 MPN per 4 grams of total solids. Additional treatment including one of the following: Alternative 2 - High ph, high temperature and time Alternative 3 - Concentrations of enteric viruses and helminth ova known process Alternative 4 - Concentrations of enteric viruses and helminth ova-unknown process

14 Sludge and Domestic Septage Vector Attraction and Odor Reduction Requirements Class A, AB and B Sewage Sludge: Ø 38% Volatile Solids Reduction Ø Specific Oxygen Uptake Rate (SOUR) Test aerobic process only Ø ph >12 for 2 hours and remain at ph 11.5 or higher for 22 hours Ø 75% solids content (does not contain unstabilized sludge) Ø 90% solids content (contains unstabilized solids) Ø Injection below land surface within 1 hour Ø Incorporation into soil within 6 hours Domestic Septage: Ø Maintain ph of >12 for at least 30 minutes via lime addition WTP Sludge: Ø Not required

15 Buffer Zones Restrictions for Class B Sludge and Domestic Septage Sites Ø Surface Water 200 feet if sludge not incorporated into soil Ø Surface Water 33 feet of vegetated buffer zone if sludge is incorporated into soil Ø Private Water Supply Well 150 feet Ø Public Water Supply Well, Intakes, Springs, Treatment Plants, or Storage Tanks 500 feet Ø Solution Channel, Sinkhole, or other Conduit to Groundwater 200 feet Ø Irrigation Conveyance Canal 10 feet Ø Established school, institution, business, or occupied residential structure 750 feet Ø Public Right-of-Way and Property Boundaries 50 feet

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17 Site Restrictions for Class B Sludge and Domestic Septage Sites Harvesting Times Limited Public Access Animals only allowed to graze 30 days after land application Slopes must be < 8%

18 Core Requirements Class A, AB, and B sewage sludge TCEQ authority to add more stringent requirements, such as an Odor Investigation and Control Plan Prohibit land application during rain or on frozen or saturated soils Require cover on trucks transporting sludge Nuisance condition prohibition Submittal of an Adverse Weather and Alternative Plan

19 Additional Requirements for Class B Land Application Post a Sign at Land Application Site Hydrologic Characteristics Ø Aquifer Identification Ø Periods of Perched or High Water Table Ø Distinguish connections between surface and subsurface water Nutrient Management Plan Ø Proof that the risk of water quality impairment caused by nitrogen applied to the site is minimized Ø Certified by a Nutrient Management Specialist

20 Additional Requirements for Class B Land Application (cont.) Proof of Insurance (Excluding Political Subdivions) Ø Environmental Impairment Ø Commercial Liability Quarterly Reporting Ø Due the 15th of March, June, September and December Ø Amount of sludge delivered and land applied from each sludge source Ø Cumulative metal loading Ø Proof of Insurance Ø Posted on TCEQ website for public viewing

21 Application fee Sludge Processing and Disposal Permit Administrative Process Ø $150 for New/Amendment Ø $115 for Renewal 2 Published Public Notices Each notice is mailed to landowners within ½ mile of the boundary of land application site Opportunity for Public Meeting and Contested Case Hearing

22 Sludge Processing and Disposal Permit Technical Process Description of how sludge will be processed/ disposed Appropriate sludge analysis Design of processing facility/disposal unit

23 Current Statistics Domestic Septage 15% Biosolids Processing 3% Class A and AB 11% Class B 21% 32 Class A and AB Marketing and Distribution 57 Class B Land Application 132 WTP Residual Land Application 51 Domestic Septage Land Application Disposal 2% 8 Biosolid Processing WTP Residuals 44% 6 Disposal

24 Class B Land Application Domestic Septage Sludge Disposal WTP Residuals Class A and AB Marketing and Distribution

25 Ways Texas Cities Handle Biosolids Houston Class B Land Application, Class A Heat Pelletizing, Landfill Dallas Monofill San Antonio Compost and Landfill Austin Class A compost (bag and sell) and Class B Land Application Fort Worth Class AB Land Application El Paso Off-site Monofill Corpus Christi Landfill Waco Class A Heat Pelletizing

26 Land Application of Class A, AB and B Biosolids

27 Land Application of Domestic Septage

28 Processing of Biosolids

29 Trends Incline in applications for water treatment residual domestic septage sites Treatment and land application of waste from Man Camp drilling sites Advanced technology in treatment to achieve Class A or AB biosolids product Community protest having concerns of decline in property values, groundwater contamination and odor Legislation that would require permits for domestic septage and follow the same administrative and technical processes as Class B permits

30 TCEQ Land Application Team Biosolids Group Water Quality Division Phone: Brian Sierant Kellie Crouch-Elliott Nathan Sessions Contacts and Assistance