Use and Disposal of Biosolids (Sewage Sludge)

• Standards for the Use or Disposal of Sewage Sludge
• Biennial Reviews
• Targeted National Sewage Sludge Survey Report
• Notice on Dioxin
• Response to NRC/NAS Report
• Relevant Documents and Links

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Standards for the Use or Disposal of Sewage Sludge

• Standards for the Use or Disposal of Sewage Sludge; Final Rules (PDF) (348 pp, 1.2MB)
• Technical Support Document for Land Application of Sewage Sludge - Volume 1 (PDF) (770 pp, 93MB) 
• Technical Support Document for Land Application of Sewage Sludge - Volume 2 (PDF) (1004 pp, 43MB)
• Statistics Support Documentation for the 40 CFR, Part 503 (Volume I, November 1992) (PDF) (286 pp, 10MB)
• Statistics Support Documentation for the 40 CFR, Part 503 (Volume II, November 1992) (PDF) (359 pp, 18.9MB)
• Sampling Procedures and Protocols for the National Sewage Sludge Survey (August 1988) (PDF) (37 pp, 1.8MB)
• Guide for Preparers of Sewage Sludge on the Monitoring, Record Keeping, and Reporting Requirements (PDF) (60 pp, 2MB)
• Biosolids Annual Report Review Guide (PDF) (10 pp, 100K)
• Biosolids Annual Report Frequently Asked Questions  (PDF) (4 pp, 97K)

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Biennial Reviews

Included are results of EPA's statutory requirements under the Clean Water Act, Section 405(d)(2)(C), to conduct a review of the 40 CFR 503 standards not less than every two years for purposes of regulating new pollutants where sufficient data exist. Biennial Review summaries are included for review cycles 2005, 2007, 2009, and 2011.

• 2005 Biennial Review Summary (PDF) (45 pp, 375K) (EPA-822-R-06-014)
• 2007 Biennial Review Summary (PDF) (38 pp, 256K) (EPA-822-R-09-005)
• 2009 Biennial Review Summary (PDF) (29 pp, 307K) (EPA-822-R-10-002)
• 2011 Biennial Review Summary (PDF) (53 pp, 586K) (EPA-830-R-13-009)
• Fact Sheet (PDF) (2 pp, 130K)
  

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Targeted National Sewage Sludge Survey Report

The Targeted National Sewage Sludge Survey is a valuable step in advancing the understanding of what is present in treated sewage sludge. The information from the survey provides important input for EPA and others to use in evaluating biosolids generated by the nation's publicly owned treatment works. It also fulfills an important commitment under the agency's four pronged strategy for pharmaceuticals and personal care products by providing the first national estimates of which pharmaceuticals, steroids and hormones may be present in sewage sludge and at what concentrations.

• Fact Sheet (January 2009)
• Targeted National Sewage Sludge Survey Overview Report  (January 2009; EPA-822-R-08-014) 
• Targeted National Sewage Sludge Survey Sampling and Analysis Technical Report ("Technical Report") (PDF) (88 pp, 359K) (EPA-822-R-08-016)
  
• Targeted National Sewage Sludge Survey Statistical Analysis Report ("Statistical Report") (PDF) (58 pp, 387K) (EPA-822-R-08-018)
  • Appendix A (PDF) (309 pp, 510K)
  • Appendix B (PDF) (104 pp, 257MB)
  • Appendix C (PDF) (7 pp, 51K)
  • Appendix D (PDF) (5 pp, 73K)
  • Appendix E (PDF) (37 pp, 270K)
  • Appendix F (PDF) (19 pp, 1.2MB)

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Notice on Dioxin

Land application

• Decision Not to Regulate Dioxins in Land-Applied Sewage Sludge
  • Press Release (October 17, 2003)
  • Fact Sheet
  • Federal Register Notice | Print Version (PDF) (14 pp, 148K) (October 24, 2003)
• Notice of Data Availability (NODA) (June 12, 2002)
  • Federal Register | Print Version (PDF) (23 pp, 195K) (June 12, 2002)
    • Correction to Table 5 (June 19, 2002)
  • Biosolids Dioxin NODA Public Comments for Round 2 Part 503 Rulemaking Available for Viewing, provided by biosolids.org
• Technical Support Documents, External Peer Review Comments, and Analytical Data Sheets
  These technical support documents and external peer review comments helped support the development of a final EPA action on the land application of biosolids regarding dioxins.
  • Comments from Robert J. Fares (PDF) (7 pp, 317K)
  • Summary Report of Peer Review Comments (PDF) (64 pp, 970K)
  • Analytical Data: Statistical Support Document (PDF) (149 pp, 766K)
  • 2001 National Sewage Sludge Survey Report (PDF) (21 pp, 779K)

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Biosolids disposed of at a surface disposal site or incinerated

• Notice: EPA is giving final notice of its determination that numeric standards or management practices are not warranted for dioxin and dioxin-like compounds in sewage sludge that is disposed of at a surface disposal site or incinerated in a sewage sludge incinerator. Please note: This Federal Register Notice does not apply to Land Application
  • Press Release (December 21, 2001)
  • Fact Sheet (December 2001)
  • Federal Register Notice |Print Version (PDF) (9 pp, 120K) (December 21, 2001)

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Response to National Research Council (NRC)/National Academy of Sciences (NAS) Report

• Final Agency Response
  • Fact Sheet
  • Federal Register Notice (December 31, 2003)
  • Technical Background Document for the Sewage Sludge Exposure and Hazard Screening Assessment (PDF) (89 pp, 1.6MB)
  • Other documents and appendices can be found by going to the docket at Regulations.gov.
• Response and request for comment (April 9, 2003)
  • Federal Register Notice
  • Fact Sheet
• NRC/NAS Report: Biosolids Applied to Land: Advancing Standards and Practices (PDF) (284 pp, 1MB) (July 2002)
  • EPA Sends Plans to Respond to NAS Biosolids Report to Regional Administrators, provided by biosolids.org

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Relevant Documents and Links

• Pathogen Equivalency Committee (PEC) - Created by the EPA in 1985, the PEC is a federally sponsored technical group that provides technical assistance and recommendations on process equivalencies for pathogen reduction in sewage sludge to government and industry. The main charge for the PEC is to uphold the protection of human health. Their mission in reviewing an equivalency application is to ensure that new processes employed for sewage sludge treatment are robust and effective in pathogen reduction.
  • Read about examples of equivalent processes to significantly or further reduce pathogens
• Problem Formulation for Human Health Risk Assessments of Pathogens in Land-Applied Biosolids (Final Report)
• State and Regional Biosolids Coordinators
• More information on Biosolids
• Use of Reclaimed Water and Sludge in Food Crop Production (PDF) (193pp, 2.5MB)
• Environmental Regulations and Technology Control of Pathogens and Vector Attraction in Sewage Sludge (PDF) (186 pp, 8.3MB)
• Guide To Field Storage of Biosolids and Other Organic By-Products Used in Agriculture and for Soil Resource Management

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