Domestic Wastewater Program. Septage Update. Focus On Change 2017

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1 Domestic Wastewater Program Septage Update Focus On Change 2017

2 Septage Ban Overview A prohibition on the land application of septage became effective July 31, 2016 The legislation for the ban was passed in 2010, and despite several proposed bills each year, was never repealed The ban affects DOH permitted septage management facilities (SMFs) and land application sites (about 90 SMFs and about 90 sites) Almost all of these DOH SMFs waited to see if the ban would be repealed and now must either transition to another septage management option or shut down 2

3 Septage Ban Statute Section (6), F.S., prohibits land application of septage from onsite sewage treatment and disposal systems (OSTDS) after June 30, 2016 An OSTDS is defined in Section (2)(k), F.S., and does not include facilities regulated under Chapter 403, F.S. Domestic wastewater treatment facilities (WWTFs), biosolids treatment facilities (BTFs), and SMFs operating under DEP permits are regulated under Chapter 403, F.S., and may continue to accept, treat, and land apply septage under Chapter , F.A.C. DEP-regulated biosolids land application sites may only land apply treated biosolids and septage from DEPregulated treatment facilities 3

4 Septage Ban Implementation DEP and DOH recognize the difficulties faced by the septage hauling businesses seeking alternatives to septage land application To ensure public health and the environment are protected during implementation, DEP and DOH are working jointly to help these septage businesses transition to alternate management options Prior to the ban going into effect, DEP and DOH sent a joint letter to DOH-regulated SMFs that provided information on: o How to apply for a temporary DOH variance o Septage management alternatives o How to obtain a DEP permit to treat and land apply septage 4

5 Temporary DOH Variance A temporary variance from the prohibition can be requested under Section , F.S., and Chapter 64E-6, F.A.C. If a temporary variance is granted, a DOH SMF can continue to land apply until July 1, 2017, to allow time to transition to an alternate septage management option Approximately 80 variance requests were received and granted from June to October of 2016 Questions about variances should be directed to the appropriate CHD or DOH s Central Office at

6 Septage Management Alternatives DOH regulated SMFs need to transition to another septage management alternative Three primary alternatives exist for DOH SMFs o Take septage to a DEP-regulated WWTF, BTF, or SMF A limited number of WWTFs are known to accept septage and may have limitations on when and from whom they accept septage Very few WWTFs will accept grease Septage haulers may approach your facility about accepting septage o Dewater septage and dispose of the solids in a Class I solid waste landfill and dispose of the filtrate legally (most existing operations dispose into a sewer with utility permission) Only a limited number of landfills accept biosolids/septage o Obtain a DEP permit(s) for an SMF and a land application site It appears many DOH facilities will ultimately apply for DEP permits 6

7 DEP Permitted SMFs DEP regulates SMFs in accordance with , F.A.C. Regulations for SMFs are similar to BTFs with only a few regulatory differences, such as: o Alternate septage treatment provisions in Rules (1) and (2), F.A.C., and o Lack of source facilities for an SMF Septage is typically treated by lime stabilization and Rules (6)(b) and (c), F.A.C., require: o Alkaline-treated biosolids to be applied by injection or incorporation (or meet 1320 ft setback) o Application to occur within 24 hours of delivery to a site The land application site must also be permitted by DEP 7

8 Obtaining a DEP SMF Permit Schedule a pre-application meeting with the appropriate DEP district office Submit permit application forms and supporting documentation for the SMF DEP Form (1), Wastewater Facility or Activity Permit Application DEP Form (2), Wastewater Permit Application Form 2A for Domestic Wastewater Facilities Preliminary design report Operation and maintenance manual Septage storage plan 8

9 Obtaining a DEP SMF Permit Submit documentation a DEP-permitted land application site will be used: Treatment Facility Biosolids Plan, DEP Form (2)(a), with the SMF permit application; If the land application site will only be used by the SMF, DEP Form (2)(d), Biosolids Site Permit Application with the SMF permit application along with a nutrient management plan (NMP); or Separate biosolids land application site permit DEP Form (1), Wastewater Facility or Activity Permit Application DEP Form (2)(d), Biosolids Site Permit Application Site-specific NMP Treatment Facility Biosolids Plan, DEP Form (2)(a) 9

10 DEP Permitted SMFs On January 1, 2016, there was one DEP-permitted SMF As of November 18, 2016: o SMFs 5 additional permitted SMFs 2 additional SMF permits are pending final action 1 SMF permit application is being processed o Land application sites (separately permitted) 5 land application sites permitted 3 land application site permits are pending final action 0 additional permit applications received To inquire about SMF permitting, please contact the regional DEP district office where the SMF is located 10

11 DEP Permitting Only larger SMFs have applied for permitting so far; smaller SMFs may have some difficulties meeting some of DEP s requirements The Notice of Intent to Issue Permit for SMFs and land application sites are required to be publicly noticed Of the recent permits being processed for former DOH SMFs, one SMF (with site) and two other land application sites have been the subject of public questions and opposition (one is being petitioned by a city) The primary concern mentioned by the public has been about odors; environmental concerns have also been mentioned For the variance hearings, only one variance related to the ban was opposed by the public 11

12 Questions Contact: Maurice Barker DEP Biosolids Coordinator