Sludge Disposal and Use
All publicly owned and privately owned treatment facilities treating domestic wastewater are regulated by federal regulations 40 CFR 257, 403, 503. 40 CFR 503 deals with use and disposal of domestic sludge. This federal regulation has been adopted by the Bureau and is included in Regulation 61-9 under Section 503. Also, the Bureau has adopted state regulations for use and disposal of industrial sludge not regulated either under R.61-9.503 or as a hazardous waste. The industrial sludge regulations are in Section 504 of Regulation 61-9. Therefore, the disposal of sludge generated from all wastewater treatment facilities is regulated by the Bureau.
For a new wastewater treatment facility or an expansion of an existing wastewater treatment facility, a report on the method of sludge disposal is part of the NPDES or ND permit application that is included in a preliminary engineering report (PER) submittal package. This sludge report must be prepared according to the "Sludge Disposal Report" information which is a part of the "Sludge Disposal Supplement" for NPDES/ND permit applications. The sludge report must address the applicable criteria contained in Sections 503 and 504 of Regulation 61-9.
The method of sludge disposal is reviewed with the PER on the wastewater treatment facility. After approval of the PER, the NPDES or ND permit will be drafted with the method of sludge disposal contained in it. Therefore, the procedures for processing a new wastewater treatment facility or an expansion of an existing wastewater treatment facility will include sludge handling for the wastewater treatment facility. This involves a public notice with the opportunity for a public hearing, an adjudicatory hearing, and any appeals. When the method of sludge disposal or application is a dedicated land disposal site, the signs for the public notice will be posted at the sludge disposal site in addition to the wastewater treatment facility site and discharge point.
For additional information on land application of sludge, please see the Bureau publication entitled "Beneficial Use of Wastewater Biosolids."
Bureau of Water . Phone: (803) 898-4300 . Fax: (803) 898-4215 . Contact Us