Publication Summary

Biosolids are a necessary and unavoidable product of wastewater treatment and contain nutrients essential for plant growth. Biosolids also contain trace amounts of pollutants and some microorganisms, and must be properly treated and managed to protect public health and the environment. Washington State has its own authority for regulating biosolids. The 1992 State Legislature passed into law a bill which became in part Chapter 70.95J RCW. This chapter recognizes biosolids as a valuable commodity and directs the Department of Ecology (Ecology) to implement a program which maximizes beneficial use of biosolids. Ecology published Chapter 173-308 WAC, Biosolids Management in the spring of 1998. Ecology′s primary role is to provide regulatory oversight and assistance for wastewater treatment plants and other facilities which generate, treat, and use biosolids. The biosolids program is designed to protect public health and the environment while encouraging the beneficial use of a valuable resource. Ecology′s biosolids activities include development of laws, regulations, and guidelines; issuance of permits; technical assistance to the regulated community, local jurisdictional health departments, consultants, and members of the public interested in biosolids management issues; and enforcement of the regulations and permits.

Ecology is amending Chapter 173-308, Biosolids Management, for the following reasons: 1. To apply permit process improvements. The proposed amendments will:

• Provide exemptions from some requirements for approved research projects.

• Allow out-of-state producers of biosolids to send biosolids to permitted in-state facilities under a simplified process.

• Allow a deferral to existing environmental permits for storage of biosolids.

• Require permit applications to be submitted within 90 days following the issuance of a new general permit.

• Reduce the number of newspapers notices (when required) from two to one.

• Not require public notice each permit cycle for facilities that do not land apply nonexceptional quality biosolids if proper notice has previously been conducted.

• Not require re-posting of land application sites each permit cycle if it was properly done previously.

2. To address septage management requirements. The proposed amendments will:

• Require that all septage management facilities obtain a permit from Ecology.

• Impose the same site management and access restrictions on all septage applied to the land whether it′s been pH-stabilized or not.

• Allow Ecology to impose a more stringent application rate for mixtures of septage.

3. To adjust the biosolids fee structure. The proposed amendments will:

• Impose a $600 minimum fee on all facilities required to obtain a permit.

• Impose a $1,800 review fee for new facilities.

• Increase the maximum fee for biosolids beneficial use facilities and other receiving-only facilities from $2,500 to $3,000.

• Provide for a reduced charge for each residential equivalent above 100,000.

4. To incorporate policy changes and address "general housekeeping" issues. The proposed amendments will:

• Require submittal of a spill prevention and response plan if biosolids are transported.

• Update the analytical methods allowed.

• Eliminate Alternatives 3 and 4 from the Class A pathogen reduction alternatives.

• Impose a requirement to remove manufactured inerts by screening or an alternative method.

• Impose a requirement that land-applied biosolids contain less than one percent of recognizable manufactured inerts.

• Require all biosolids sold or given away in a bag or other container to meet the exceptional quality standards.

• "Grandfather-in" existing surface impoundments.

• Impose Chapter 173-350 WAC standards for new or upgraded surface impoundments. The anticipated revisions will impact all treatment works treating domestic sewage (TWTDS), including wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs), Septage Management Facilities (SMFs), and biosolids Beneficial Use Facilities (BUFs).