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United States Regulations
40 CFR PART 503—STANDARDS FOR THE USE OR DISPOSAL OF SEWAGE SLUDGE



PART 503—STANDARDS FOR THE USE OR DISPOSAL OF SEWAGE SLUDGE


Authority: Sections 405 (d) and (e) of the Clean Water Act, as amended by Pub. L. 95–217, sec. 54(d), 91 Stat. 1591 (33 U.S.C. 1345 (d) and (e)); and Pub. L. 100–4, title IV, sec. 406 (a), (b), 101 Stat., 71, 72 (33 U.S.C. 1251 et seq.).

Source: 58 FR 9387, Feb. 19, 1993, unless otherwise noted.

Subpart A—General Provisions
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§ 503.1 Purpose and applicability.
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(a) Purpose. (1) This part establishes standards, which consist of general requirements, pollutant limits, management practices, and operational standards, for the final use or disposal of sewage sludge generated during the treatment of domestic sewage in a treatment works. Standards are included in this part for sewage sludge applied to the land, placed on a surface disposal site, or fired in a sewage sludge incinerator. Also included in this part are pathogen and alternative vector attraction reduction requirements for sewage sludge applied to the land or placed on a surface disposal site.

(2) In addition, the standards in this part include the frequency of monitoring and recordkeeping requirements when sewage sludge is applied to the land, placed on a surface disposal site, or fired in a sewage sludge incinerator. Also included in this part are reporting requirements for Class I sludge management facilities, publicly owned treatment works (POTWs) with a design flow rate equal to or greater than one million gallons per day, and POTWs that serve 10,000 people or more.

(b) Applicability. (1) This part applies to any person who prepares sewage sludge, applies sewage sludge to the land, or fires sewage sludge in a sewage sludge incinerator and to the owner/operator of a surface disposal site.

(2) This part applies to sewage sludge applied to the land, placed on a surface disposal site, or fired in a sewage sludge incinerator.

(3) This part applies to the exit gas from a sewage sludge incinerator stack.

(4) This part applies to land where sewage sludge is applied, to a surface disposal site, and to a sewage sludge incinerator.

§ 503.2 Compliance period.
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(a) Compliance with the standards in this part shall be achieved as expeditiously as practicable, but in no case later than February 19, 1994. When compliance with the standards requires construction of new pollution control facilities, compliance with the standards shall be achieved as expeditiously as practicable, but in no case later than February 19, 1995.

(b) The requirements for frequency of monitoring, recordkeeping, and reporting in this part for total hydrocarbons in the exit gas from a sewage sludge incinerator are effective February 19, 1994 or, if compliance with the operational standard for total hydrocarbons in this part requires the construction of new pollution control facilities, February 19, 1995.

(c) All other requirements for frequency of monitoring, recordkeeping, and reporting in this part are effective on July 20, 1993.

(d) Unless otherwise specified in subpart E, compliance with the requirements in §§503.41(c) through (r), 503.43(c), (d) and (e), 503.45(a)(1), (b) through (f), 503.46(a)(1), (a)(3), and (c), and 503.47(f) that were revised on September 3, 1999 shall be achieved as expeditiously as practicable, but in no case later than September 5, 2000. When new pollution control facilities must be constructed to comply with the revised requirements in subpart E, compliance with the revised requirements shall be achieved as expeditiously as practicable but no later than September 4, 2001.

[58 FR 9387, Feb. 19, 1993, as amended at 64 FR 42568, Aug. 4, 1999]

§ 503.3 Permits and direct enforceability.
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(a) Permits. The requirements in this part may be implemented through a permit:

(1) Issued to a “treatment works treating domestic sewage”, as defined in 40 CFR 122.2, in accordance with 40 CFR parts 122 and 124 by EPA or by a State that has a State sludge management program approved by EPA in accordance with 40 CFR part 123 or 40 CFR part 501 or

(2) Issued under subtitle C of the Solid Waste Disposal Act; part C of the Safe Drinking Water Act; the Marine Protection, Research, and Sanctuaries Act of 1972; or the Clean Air Act. “Treatment works treating domestic sewage” shall submit a permit application in accordance with either 40 CFR 122.21 or an approved State program.

(b) Direct enforceability. No person shall use or dispose of sewage sludge through any practice for which requirements are established in this part except in accordance with such requirements.

§ 503.4 Relationship to other regulations.
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Disposal of sewage sludge in a municipal solid waste landfill unit, as defined in 40 CFR 258.2, that complies with the requirements in 40 CFR part 258 constitutes compliance with section 405(d) of the CWA. Any person who prepares sewage sludge that is disposed in a municipal solid waste landfill unit shall ensure that the sewage sludge meets the requirements in 40 CFR part 258 concerning the quality of materials disposed in a municipal solid waste landfill unit.

§ 503.5 Additional or more stringent requirements.
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(a) On a case-by-case basis, the permitting authority may impose requirements for the use or disposal of sewage sludge in addition to or more stringent than the requirements in this part when necessary to protect public health and the environment from any adverse effect of a pollutant in the sewage sludge.

(b) Nothing in this part precludes a State or political subdivision thereof or interstate agency from imposing requirements for the use or disposal of sewage sludge more stringent than the requirements in this part or from imposing additional requirements for the use or disposal of sewage sludge.

§ 503.6 Exclusions.
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(a) Treatment processes. This part does not establish requirements for processes used to treat domestic sewage or for processes used to treat sewage sludge prior to final use or disposal, except as provided in §503.32 and §503.33.

(b) Selection of a use or disposal practice. This part does not require the selection of a sewage sludge use or disposal practice. The determination of the manner in which sewage sludge is used or disposed is a local determination.

(c) Co-firing of sewage sludge. This part does not establish requirements for sewage sludge co-fired in an incinerator with other wastes or for the incinerator in which sewage sludge and other wastes are co-fired. Other wastes do not include auxiliary fuel, as defined in 40 CFR 503.41(b), fired in a sewage sludge incinerator.

(d) Sludge generated at an industrial facility. This part does not establish requirements for the use or disposal of sludge generated at an industrial facility during the treatment of industrial wastewater, including sewage sludge generated during the treatment of industrial wastewater combined with domestic sewage.

(e) Hazardous sewage sludge. This part does not establish requirements for the use or disposal of sewage sludge determined to be hazardous in accordance with 40 CFR part 261.

(f) Sewage sludge with high PCB concentration. This part does not establish requirements for the use or disposal of sewage sludge with a concentration of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) equal to or greater than 50 milligrams per kilogram of total solids (dry weight basis).

(g) Incinerator ash. This part does not establish requirements for the use or disposal of ash generated during the firing of sewage sludge in a sewage sludge incinerator.

(h) Grit and screenings. This part does not establish requirements for the use or disposal of grit (e.g., sand, gravel, cinders, or other materials with a high specific gravity) or screenings (e.g., relatively large materials such as rags) generated during preliminary treatment of domestic sewage in a treatment works.

(i) Drinking water treatment sludge. This part does not establish requirements for the use or disposal of sludge generated during the treatment of either surface water or ground water used for drinking water.

(j) Commercial and industrial septage. This part does not establish requirements for the use or disposal of commercial septage, industrial septage, a mixture of domestic septage and commercial septage, or a mixture of domestic septage and industrial septage.

§ 503.7 Requirement for a person who prepares sewage sludge.
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Any person who prepares sewage sludge shall ensure that the applicable requirements in this part are met when the sewage sludge is applied to the land, placed on a surface disposal site, or fired in a sewage sludge incinerator.

§ 503.8 Sampling and analysis.
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(a) Sampling. Representative samples of sewage sludge that is applied to the land, placed on a surface disposal site, or fired in a sewage sludge incinerator shall be collected and analyzed.

(b) Methods. The materials listed below are incorporated by reference in this part. These incorporations by reference were approved by the Director of the Federal Register in accordance with 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51. The materials are incorporated as they exist on the date of approval, and notice of any change in these materials will be published in the Federal Register. They are available for inspection at the Office of Water Docket, room L–102, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 401 M St., SW., Washington, DC, and at the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA). For information on the availability of this material at NARA, call 202–741–6030, or go to: http://www.archives.gov/federal_register/code_of_federal_regulations/ibr_locations.html. Copies may be obtained from the standard producer or publisher listed in the regulation. Methods in the materials listed below shall be used to analyze samples of sewage sludge.

(1) Enteric viruses. ASTM Designation: D 4994–89, “Standard Practice for Recovery of Viruses From Wastewater Sludges”, 1992 Annual Book of ASTM Standards: Section 11—Water and Environmental Technology, ASTM, 1916 Race Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103–1187.

(2) Fecal coliform. Part 9221 E. or Part 9222 D., “Standard Methods for the Examination of Water and Wastewater”, 18th Edition, 1992, American Public Health Association, 1015 15th Street, NW., Washington, DC 20005.

(3) Helminth ova. Yanko, W.A., “Occurrence of Pathogens in Distribution and Marketing Municipal Sludges”, EPA 600/1–87–014, 1987. National Technical Information Service, 5285 Port Royal Road, Springfield, Virginia 22161 (PB 88–154273/AS).

(4) Inorganic pollutants. “Test Methods for Evaluating Solid Waste, Physical/Chemical Methods”, EPA Publication SW–846, Second Edition (1982) with Updates I (April 1984) and II (April 1985) and Third Edition (November 1986) with Revision I (December 1987). Second Edition and Updates I and II are available from the National Technical Information Service, 5285 Port Royal Road, Springfield, Virginia 22161 (PB–87–120–291). Third Edition and Revision I are available from Superintendent of Documents, Government Printing Office, 941 North Capitol Street, NE., Washington, DC 20002 (Document Number 955–001–00000–1).

(5) Salmonella sp. bacteria. Part 9260 D., “Standard Methods for the Examination of Water and Wastewater”, 18th Edition, 1992, American Public Health Association, 1015 15th Street, NW., Washington, DC 20005; or

Kenner, B.A. and H.P. Clark, “Detection and enumeration of Salmonella and Pseudomonas aeruginosa”, Journal of the Water Pollution Control Federation, Vol. 46, no. 9, September 1974, pp. 2163–2171. Water Environment Federation, 601 Wythe Street, Alexandria, Virginia 22314.

(6) Specific oxygen uptake rate. Part 2710 B., “Standard Methods for the Examination of Water and Wastewater”, 18th Edition, 1992, American Public Health Association, 1015 15th Street, NW., Washington, DC 20005.

(7) Total, fixed, and volatile solids. Part 2540 G., “Standard Methods for the Examination of Water and Wastewater”, 18th Edition, 1992, American Public Health Association, 1015 15th Street, NW., Washington, DC 20005.

[58 FR 9387, Feb. 19, 1993, as amended at 69 FR 18803, Apr. 9, 2004]

§ 503.9 General definitions.
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(a) Apply sewage sludge or sewage sludge applied to the land means land application of sewage sludge.

(b) Base flood is a flood that has a one percent chance of occurring in any given year (i.e., a flood with a magnitude equalled once in 100 years).

(c) Class I sludge management facility is any publicly owned treatment works (POTW), as defined in 40 CFR 501.2, required to have an approved pretreatment program under 40 CFR 403.8(a) (including any POTW located in a State that has elected to assume local program responsibilities pursuant to 40 CFR 403.10(e)) and any treatment works treating domestic sewage, as defined in 40 CFR 122.2, classified as a Class I sludge management facility by the EPA Regional Administrator, or, in the case of approved State programs, the Regional Administrator in conjunction with the State Director, because of the potential for its sewage sludge use or disposal practice to affect public health and the environment adversely.

(d) Cover crop is a small grain crop, such as oats, wheat, or barley, not grown for harvest.

(e) CWA means the Clean Water Act (formerly referred to as either the Federal Water Pollution Act or the Federal Water Pollution Control Act Amendments of 1972), Public Law 92–500, as amended by Public Law 95–217, Public Law 95–576, Public Law 96–483, Public Law 97–117, and Public Law 100–4.

(f) Domestic septage is either liquid or solid material removed from a septic tank, cesspool, portable toilet, Type III marine sanitation device, or similar treatment works that receives only domestic sewage. Domestic septage does not include liquid or solid material removed from a septic tank, cesspool, or similar treatment works that receives either commercial wastewater or industrial wastewater and does not include grease removed from a grease trap at a restaurant.

(g) Domestic sewage is waste and wastewater from humans or household operations that is discharged to or otherwise enters a treatment works.

(h) Dry weight basis means calculated on the basis of having been dried at 105 degrees Celsius until reaching a constant mass (i.e., essentially 100 percent solids content).

(i) EPA means the United States Environmental Protection Agency.

(j) Feed crops are crops produced primarily for consumption by animals.

(k) Fiber crops are crops such as flax and cotton.

(l) Food crops are crops consumed by humans. These include, but are not limited to, fruits, vegetables, and tobacco.

(m) Ground water is water below the land surface in the saturated zone.

(n) Industrial wastewater is wastewater generated in a commercial or industrial process.

(o) Municipality means a city, town, borough, county, parish, district, association, or other public body (including an intermunicipal Agency of two or more of the foregoing entities) created by or under State law; an Indian tribe or an authorized Indian tribal organization having jurisdiction over sewage sludge management; or a designated and approved management Agency under section 208 of the CWA, as amended. The definition includes a special district created under State law, such as a water district, sewer district, sanitary district, utility district, drainage district, or similar entity, or an integrated waste management facility as defined in section 201(e) of the CWA, as amended, that has as one of its principal responsibilities the treatment, transport, use, or disposal of sewage sludge.

(p) Permitting authority is either EPA or a State with an EPA-approved sludge management program.

(q) Person is an individual, association, partnership, corporation, municipality, State or Federal agency, or an agent or employee thereof.

(r) Person who prepares sewage sludge is either the person who generates sewage sludge during the treatment of domestic sewage in a treatment works or the person who derives a material from sewage sludge.

(s) Place sewage sludge or sewage sludge placed means disposal of sewage sludge on a surface disposal site.

(t) Pollutant is an organic substance, an inorganic substance, a combination of organic and inorganic substances, or a pathogenic organism that, after discharge and upon exposure, ingestion, inhalation, or assimilation into an organism either directly from the environment or indirectly by ingestion through the food chain, could, on the basis of information available to the Administrator of EPA, cause death, disease, behavioral abnormalities, cancer, genetic mutations, physiological malfunctions (including malfunction in reproduction), or physical deformations in either organisms or offspring of the organisms.

(u) Pollutant limit is a numerical value that describes the amount of a pollutant allowed per unit amount of sewage sludge (e.g., milligrams per kilogram of total solids); the amount of a pollutant that can be applied to a unit area of land (e.g., kilograms per hectare); or the volume of a material that can be applied to a unit area of land (e.g., gallons per acre).

(v) Runoff is rainwater, leachate, or other liquid that drains overland on any part of a land surface and runs off of the land surface.

(w) Sewage sludge is solid, semi-solid, or liquid residue generated during the treatment of domestic sewage in a treatment works. Sewage sludge includes, but is not limited to, domestic septage; scum or solids removed in primary, secondary, or advanced wastewater treatment processes; and a material derived from sewage sludge. Sewage sludge does not include ash generated during the firing of sewage sludge in a sewage sludge incinerator or grit and screenings generated during preliminary treatment of domestic sewage in a treatment works.

(x) State is one of the United States of America, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and an Indian Tribe eligible for treatment as a State pursuant to regulations promulgated under the authority of section 518(e) of the CWA.

(y) Store or storage of sewage sludge is the placement of sewage sludge on land on which the sewage sludge remains for two years or less. This does not include the placement of sewage sludge on land for treatment.

(z) Treat or treatment of sewage sludge is the preparation of sewage sludge for final use or disposal. This includes, but is not limited to, thickening, stabilization, and dewatering of sewage sludge. This does not include storage of sewage sludge.

(aa) Treatment works is either a federally owned, publicly owned, or privately owned device or system used to treat (including recycle and reclaim) either domestic sewage or a combination of domestic sewage and industrial waste of a liquid nature.

(bb) Wetlands means those areas that are inundated or saturated by surface water or ground water at a frequency and duration to support, and that under normal circumstances do support, a prevalence of vegetation typically adapted for life in saturated soil conditions. Wetlands generally include swamps, marshes, bogs, and similar areas.

Subpart B—Land Application
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§ 503.10 Applicability.
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(a) This subpart applies to any person who prepares sewage sludge that is applied to the land, to any person who applies sewage sludge to the land, to sewage sludge applied to the land, and to the land on which sewage sludge is applied.

(b)(1) Bulk sewage sludge. The general requirements in §503.12 and the management practices in §503.14 do not apply when bulk sewage sludge is applied to the land if the bulk sewage sludge meets the ceiling concentrations in Table 1 of §503.13 and the pollutant concentrations in Table 3 of §503.13; the Class A pathogen requirements in §503.32(a); and one of the vector attraction reduction requirements in §503.33(b)(1) through (b)(8).

(2) The Regional Administrator of EPA or, in the case of a State with an approved sludge management program, the State Director, may apply any or all of the general requirements in §503.12 and the management practices in §503.14 to the bulk sewage sludge in §503.10(b)(1) on a case-by-case basis after determining that the general requirements or management practices are needed to protect public health and the environment from any reasonably anticipated adverse effect that may occur from any pollutant in the bulk sewage sludge.

(c)(1) The general requirements in §503.12 and the management practices in §503.14 do not apply when a bulk material derived from sewage sludge is applied to the land if the derived bulk material meets the ceiling concentrations in Table 1 of §503.13 and the pollutant concentrations in Table 3 of §503.13; the Class A pathogen requirements in §503.32(a); and one of the vector attraction reduction requirements in §503.33(b)(1) through (b)(8).

(2) The Regional Administrator of EPA or, in the case of a State with an approved sludge management program, the State Director, may apply any or all of the general requirements in §503.12 or the management practices in §503.14 to the bulk material in §503.10(c)(1) on a case-by-case basis after determining that the general requirements or management practices are needed to protect public health and the environment from any reasonably anticipated adverse effect that may occur from any pollutant in the bulk sewage sludge.

(d) The requirements in this subpart do not apply when a bulk material derived from sewage sludge is applied to the land if the sewage sludge from which the bulk material is derived meets the ceiling concentrations in Table 1 of §503.13 and the pollutant concentrations in Table 3 of §503.13; the Class A pathogen requirements in §503.32(a); and one of the vector attraction reduction requirements in §503.33(b)(1) through (b)(8).

(e) Sewage sludge sold or given away in a bag or other container for application to the land. The general requirements in §503.12 and the management practices in §503.14 do not apply when sewage sludge is sold or given away in a bag or other container for application to the land if the sewage sludge sold or given away in a bag or other container for application to the land meets the ceiling concentrations in Table 1 of §503.13 and the pollutant concentrations in Table 3 of §503.13; the Class A pathogen requirements in §503.32(a); and one of the vector attraction reduction requirements in §503.33(b)(1) through (b)(8).

(f) The general requirements in §503.12 and the management practices in §503.14 do not apply when a material derived from sewage sludge is sold or given away in a bag or other container for application to the land if the derived material meets the ceiling concentrations in Table 1 of §503.13 and the pollutant concentrations in Table 3 of §503.13; the Class A pathogen requirements in §503.32(a); and one of the vector attraction reduction requirements in §503.33(b)(1) through (b)(8).

(g) The requirements in this subpart do not apply when a material derived from sewage sludge is sold or given away in a bag or other container for application to the land if the sewage sludge from which the material is derived meets the ceiling concentrations in Table 1 of §503.13 and the pollutant concentrations in Table 3 of §503.13; the Class A pathogen requirements in §503.32(a); and one of the vector attraction reduction requirements in §503.33 (b)(1) through (b)(8).

[58 FR 9387, Feb. 19, 1993, as amended at 64 FR 42568, Aug. 4, 1999]

§ 503.11 Special definitions.
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(a) Agricultural land is land on which a food crop, a feed crop, or a fiber crop is grown. This includes range land and land used as pasture.

(b) Agronomic rate is the whole sludge application rate (dry weight basis) designed:

(1) To provide the amount of nitrogen needed by the food crop, feed crop, fiber crop, cover crop, or vegetation grown on the land; and

(2) To minimize the amount of nitrogen in the sewage sludge that passes below the root zone of the crop or vegetation grown on the land to the ground water.

(c) Annual pollutant loading rate is the maximum amount of a pollutant that can be applied to a unit area of land during a 365 day period.

(d) Annual whole sludge application rate is the maximum amount of sewage sludge (dry weight basis) that can be applied to a unit area of land during a 365 day period.

(e) Bulk sewage sludge is sewage sludge that is not sold or given away in a bag or other container for application to the land.

(f) Cumulative pollutant loading rate is the maximum amount of an inorganic pollutant that can be applied to an area of land.

(g) Forest is a tract of land thick with trees and underbrush.

(h) Land application is the spraying or spreading of sewage sludge onto the land surface; the injection of sewage sludge below the land surface; or the incorporation of sewage sludge into the soil so that the sewage sludge can either condition the soil or fertilize crops or vegetation grown in the soil.

(i) Monthly average is the arithmetic mean of all measurements taken during the month.

(j) Other container is either an open or closed receptacle. This includes, but is not limited to, a bucket, a box, a carton, and a vehicle or trailer with a load capacity of one metric ton or less.

(k) Pasture is land on which animals feed directly on feed crops such as legumes, grasses, grain stubble, or stover.

(l) Public contact site is land with a high potential for contact by the public. This includes, but is not limited to, public parks, ball fields, cemeteries, plant nurseries, turf farms, and golf courses.

(m) Range land is open land with indigenous vegetation.

(n) Reclamation site is drastically disturbed land that is reclaimed using sewage sludge. This includes, but is not limited to, strip mines and construction sites.

§ 503.12 General requirements.
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(a) No person shall apply sewage sludge to the land except in accordance with the requirements in this subpart.

(b) No person shall apply bulk sewage sludge subject to the cumulative pollutant loading rates in §503.13(b)(2) to agricultural land, forest, a public contact site, or a reclamation site if any of the cumulative pollutant loading rates in §503.13(b)(2) has been reached.

(c) No person shall apply domestic septage to agricultural land, forest, or a reclamation site during a 365 day period if the annual application rate in §503.13(c) has been reached during that period.

(d) The person who prepares bulk sewage sludge that is applied to agricultural land, forest, a public contact site, or a reclamation site shall provide the person who applies the bulk sewage sludge written notification of the concentration of total nitrogen (as N on a dry weight basis) in the bulk sewage sludge.

(e)(1) The person who applies sewage sludge to the land shall obtain information needed to comply with the requirements in this subpart.

(2)(i) Before bulk sewage sludge subject to the cumulative pollutant loading rates in §503.13(b)(2) is applied to the land, the person who proposes to apply the bulk sewage sludge shall contact the permitting authority for the State in which the bulk sewage sludge will be applied to determine whether bulk sewage sludge subject to the cumulative pollutant loading rates in §503.13(b)(2) has been applied to the site since July 20, 1993.

(ii) If bulk sewage sludge subject to the cumulative pollutant loading rates in §503.13(b)(2) has not been applied to the site since July 20, 1993, the cumulative amount for each pollutant listed in Table 2 of §503.13 may be applied to the site in accordance with §503.13(a)(2)(i).

(iii) If bulk sewage sludge subject to the cumulative pollutant loading rates in §503.13(b)(2) has been applied to the site since July 20, 1993, and the cumulative amount of each pollutant applied to the site in the bulk sewage sludge since that date is known, the cumulative amount of each pollutant applied to the site shall be used to determine the additional amount of each pollutant that can be applied to the site in accordance with §503.13(a)(2)(i).

(iv) If bulk sewage sludge subject to the cumulative pollutant loading rates in §503.13(b)(2) has been applied to the site since July 20, 1993, and the cumulative amount of each pollutant applied to the site in the bulk sewage sludge since that date is not known, an additional amount of each pollutant shall not be applied to the site in accordance with §503.13(a)(2)(i).

(f) When a person who prepares bulk sewage sludge provides the bulk sewage sludge to a person who applies the bulk sewage sludge to the land, the person who prepares the bulk sewage sludge shall provide the person who applies the sewage sludge notice and necessary information to comply with the requirements in this subpart.

(g) When a person who prepares sewage sludge provides the sewage sludge to another person who prepares the sewage sludge, the person who provides the sewage sludge shall provide the person who receives the sewage sludge notice and necessary information to comply with the requirements in this subpart.

(h) The person who applies bulk sewage sludge to the land shall provide the owner or lease holder of the land on which the bulk sewage sludge is applied notice and necessary information to comply with the requirements in this subpart.

(i) Any person who prepares bulk sewage sludge that is applied to land in a State other than the State in which the bulk sewage sludge is prepared shall provide written notice, prior to the initial application of bulk sewage sludge to the land application site by the applier, to the permitting authority for the State in which the bulk sewage sludge is proposed to be applied. The notice shall include:

(1) The location, by either street address or latitude and longitude, of each land application site.

(2) The approximate time period bulk sewage sludge will be applied to the site.

(3) The name, address, telephone number, and National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permit number (if appropriate) for the person who prepares the bulk sewage sludge.

(4) The name, address, telephone number, and National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permit number (if appropriate) for the person who will apply the bulk sewage sludge.

(j) Any person who applies bulk sewage sludge subject to the cumulative pollutant loading rates in §503.13(b)(2) to the land shall provide written notice, prior to the initial application of bulk sewage sludge to a land application site by the applier, to the permitting authority for the State in which the bulk sewage sludge will be applied and the permitting authority shall retain and provide access to the notice. The notice shall include:

(1) The location, by either street address or latitude and longitude, of the land application site.

(2) The name, address, telephone number, and National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permit number (if appropriate) of the person who will apply the bulk sewage sludge.

§ 503.13 Pollutant limits.
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(a) Sewage sludge. (1) Bulk sewage sludge or sewage sludge sold or given away in a bag or other container shall not be applied to the land if the concentration of any pollutant in the sewage sludge exceeds the ceiling concentration for the pollutant in Table 1 of §503.13.

(2) If bulk sewage sludge is applied to agricultural land, forest, a public contact site, or a reclamation site, either:

(i) The cumulative loading rate for each pollutant shall not exceed the cumulative pollutant loading rate for the pollutant in Table 2 of §503.13; or

(ii) The concentration of each pollutant in the sewage sludge shall not exceed the concentration for the pollutant in Table 3 of §503.13.

(3) If bulk sewage sludge is applied to a lawn or a home garden, the concentration of each pollutant in the sewage sludge shall not exceed the concentration for the pollutant in Table 3 of §503.13.

(4) If sewage sludge is sold or given away in a bag or other container for application to the land, either:

(i) The concentration of each pollutant in the sewage sludge shall not exceed the concentration for the pollutant in Table 3 of §503.13; or

(ii) The product of the concentration of each pollutant in the sewage sludge and the annual whole sludge application rate for the sewage sludge shall not cause the annual pollutant loading rate for the pollutant in Table 4 of §503.13 to be exceeded. The procedure used to determine the annual whole sludge application rate is presented in appendix A of this part.

(b) Pollutant concentrations and loading rates—sewage sludge.—(1) Ceiling concentrations.


Table 1 of § 503.13_Ceiling Concentrations
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ceiling
concentration
Pollutant (milligrams
per kilogram)
\1\
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Arsenic.................................................. 75
Cadmium.................................................. 85
Copper................................................... 4300
Lead..................................................... 840
Mercury.................................................. 57
Molybdenum............................................... 75
Nickel................................................... 420
Selenium................................................. 100
Zinc..................................................... 7500
------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Dry weight basis.


(2) Cumulative pollutant loading rates.


Table 2 of § 503.13_Cumulative Pollutant Loading Rates
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cumulative
pollutant
loading
Pollutant rate
(kilograms
per
hectare)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Arsenic.................................................... 41
Cadmium.................................................... 39
Copper..................................................... 1500
Lead....................................................... 300
Mercury.................................................... 17
Nickel..................................................... 420
Selenium................................................... 100
Zinc....................................................... 2800
------------------------------------------------------------------------


(3) Pollutant concentrations.


Table 3 of § 503.13_Pollutant Concentrations
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Monthly
average
concentration
Pollutant (milligrams
per kilogram)
\1\
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Arsenic.................................................. 41
Cadmium.................................................. 39
Copper................................................... 1500
Lead..................................................... 300
Mercury.................................................. 17
Nickel................................................... 420
Selenium................................................. 100
Zinc..................................................... 2800
------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Dry weight basis.


(4) Annual pollutant loading rates.


Table 4 of § 503.13_Annual Pollutant Loading Rates
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Annual
pollutant
loading rate
Pollutant (kilograms
per hectare
per 365 day
period)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Arsenic................................................... 2.0
Cadmium................................................... 1.9
Copper.................................................... 75
Lead...................................................... 15
Mercury................................................... 0.85
Nickel.................................................... 21
Selenium.................................................. 5.0
Zinc...................................................... 140
------------------------------------------------------------------------


(c) Domestic septage. The annual application rate for domestic septage applied to agricultural land, forest, or a reclamation site shall not exceed the annual application rate calculated using equation (1).



Where:

AAR=Annual application rate in gallons per acre per 365 day period.

N=Amount of nitrogen in pounds per acre per 365 day period needed by the crop or vegetation grown on the land.


[58 FR 9387, Feb. 19, 1993, as amended at 58 FR 9099, Feb. 25, 1994; 60 FR 54769, Oct. 25, 1995]

§ 503.14 Management practices.
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(a) Bulk sewage sludge shall not be applied to the land if it is likely to adversely affect a threatened or endangered species listed under section 4 of the Endangered Species Act or its designated critical habitat.

(b) Bulk sewage sludge shall not be applied to agricultural land, forest, a public contact site, or a reclamation site that is flooded, frozen, or snow-covered so that the bulk sewage sludge enters a wetland or other waters of the United States, as defined in 40 CFR 122.2, except as provided in a permit issued pursuant to section 402 or 404 of the CWA.

(c) Bulk sewage sludge shall not be applied to agricultural land, forest, or a reclamation site that is 10 meters or less from waters of the United States, as defined in 40 CFR 122.2, unless otherwise specified by the permitting authority.

(d) Bulk sewage sludge shall be applied to agricultural land, forest, a public contact site, or a reclamation site at a whole sludge application rate that is equal to or less than the agronomic rate for the bulk sewage sludge, unless, in the case of a reclamation site, otherwise specified by the permitting authority.

(e) Either a label shall be affixed to the bag or other container in which sewage sludge that is sold or given away for application to the land, or an information sheet shall be provided to the person who receives sewage sludge sold or given away in an other container for application to the land. The label or information sheet shall contain the following information:

(1) The name and address of the person who prepared the sewage sludge that is sold or given away in a bag or other container for application to the land.

(2) A statement that application of the sewage sludge to the land is prohibited except in accordance with the instructions on the label or information sheet.

(3) The annual whole sludge application rate for the sewage sludge that does not cause any of the annual pollutant loading rates in Table 4 of §503.13 to be exceeded.

§ 503.15 Operational standards—pathogens and vector attraction reduction.
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(a) Pathogens—sewage sludge. (1) The Class A pathogen requirements in §503.32(a) or the Class B pathogen requirements and site restrictions in §503.32(b) shall be met when bulk sewage sludge is applied to agricultural land, forest, a public contact site, or a reclamation site.

(2) The Class A pathogen requirements in §503.32(a) shall be met when bulk sewage sludge is applied to a lawn or a home garden.

(3) The Class A pathogen requirements in §503.32(a) shall be met when sewage sludge is sold or given away in a bag or other container for application to the land.

(b) Pathogens—domestic septage. The requirements in either §503.32 (c)(1) or (c)(2) shall be met when domestic septage is applied to agricultural land, forest, or a reclamation site.

(c) Vector attraction reduction—sewage sludge. (1) One of the vector attraction reduction requirements in §503.33 (b)(1) through (b)(10) shall be met when bulk sewage sludge is applied to agricultural land, forest, a public contact site, or a reclamation site.

(2) One of the vector attraction reduction requirements in §503.33 (b)(1) through (b)(8) shall be met when bulk sewage sludge is applied to a lawn or a home garden.

(3) One of the vector attraction reduction requirements in §503.33 (b)(1) through (b)(8) shall be met when sewage sludge is sold or given away in a bag or other container for application to the land.

(d) Vector attraction reduction—domestic septage. The vector attraction reduction requirements in §503.33(b)(9), (b)(10), or (b)(12) shall be met when domestic septage is applied to agricultural land, forest, or a reclamation site.

§ 503.16 Frequency of monitoring.
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(a) Sewage sludge. (1) The frequency of monitoring for the pollutants listed in Table 1, Table 2, Table 3 and Table 4 of §503.13; the pathogen density requirements in §503.32(a) and §503.32(b)(2); and the vector attraction reduction requirements in §503.33 (b)(1) through (b)(4) and §503.33 (b)(7) through (b)(8) shall be the frequency in Table 1 of §503.16.


Table 1 of § 503.16_Frequency of Monitoring_Land Application
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Amount of sewage sludge \1\ (metric tons
per 365 day period) Frequency
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Greater than zero but less than 290........ Once per year.
Equal to or greater than 290 but less than Once per quarter (four times per year).
1,500.
Equal to or greater than 1,500 but less Once per 60 days (six times per year).
than 15,000.
Equal to or greater than 15,000............ Once per month (12 times per year).
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\1\ Either the amount of bulk sewage sludge applied to the land or the amount of sewage sludge prepared for sale
or give-away in a bag or other container for application to the land (dry weight basis).


(2) After the sewage sludge has been monitored for two years at the frequency in Table 1 of §503.16, the permitting authority may reduce the frequency of monitoring for pollutant concentrations and for the pathogen density requirements in §503.32(a)(5)(ii) and (a)(5)(iii).

(b) Domestic septage. If either the pathogen requirements in §503.32(c)(2) or the vector attraction reduction requirements in §503.33(b)(12) are met when domestic septage is applied to agricultural land, forest, or a reclamation site, each container of domestic septage applied to the land shall be monitored for compliance with those requirements.

(Approved by the Office of Management and Budget under control number 2040–0157)
[58 FR 9387, Feb. 19, 1993, as amended at 64 FR 42569, Aug. 4, 1999]

§ 503.17 Recordkeeping.
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(a) Sewage sludge. (1) The person who prepares the sewage sludge in §503.10(b)(1) or (e) shall develop the following information and shall retain the information for five years:

(i) The concentration of each pollutant listed in Table 3 of §503.13 in the sewage sludge.

(ii) The following certification statement:


I certify, under penalty of law, that the information that will be used to determine compliance with the Class A pathogen requirements in §503.32(a) and the vector attraction reduction requirement in [insert one of the vector attraction reduction requirements in §503.33(b)(1) through §503.33(b)(8)] was prepared under my direction and supervision in accordance with the system designed to ensure that qualified personnel properly gather and evaluate this information. I am aware that there are significant penalties for false certification including the possibility of fine and imprisonment.


(iii) A description of how the Class A pathogen requirements in §503.32(a) are met.

(iv) A description of how one of the vector attraction reduction requirements in §503.33 (b)(1) through (b)(8) is met.

(2) The person who derives the material in §503.10 (c)(1) or (f) shall develop the following information and shall retain the information for five years:

(i) The concentration of each pollutant listed in Table 3 of §503.13 in the material.

(ii) The following certification statement:


I certify, under penalty of law, that the information that will be used to determine compliance with the Class A pathogen requirements in §503.32(a) and the vector attraction reduction requirement in (insert one of the vector attraction reduction requirements in §503.33(b)(1) through (b)(8)) was prepared under my direction and supervision in accordance with the system designed to ensure that qualified personnel properly gather and evaluate this information. I am aware that there are significant penalties for false certification including the possibility of fine and imprisonment.


(iii) A description of how the Class A pathogen requirements in §503.32(a) are met.

(iv) A description of how one of the vector attraction reduction requirements in §503.33 (b)(1) through (b)(8) is met.

(3) If the pollutant concentrations in §503.13(b)(3), the Class A pathogen requirements in §503.32(a), and the vector attraction reduction requirements in either §503.33 (b)(9) or (b)(10) are met when bulk sewage sludge is applied to agricultural land, forest, a public contact site, or a reclamation site:

(i) The person who prepares the bulk sewage sludge shall develop the following information and shall retain the information for five years.

(A) The concentration of each pollutant listed in Table 3 of §503.13 in the bulk sewage sludge.

(B) The following certification statement:


I certify, under penalty of law, that the information that will be used to determine compliance with the Class A pathogen requirements in §503.32(a) was prepared under my direction and supervision in accordance with the system designed to ensure that qualified personnel properly gather and evaluate this information. I am aware that there are significant penalties for false certification including the possibility of fine and imprisonment.


(C) A description of how the pathogen requirements in §503.32(a) are met.

(ii) The person who applies the bulk sewage sludge shall develop the following information and shall retain the information for five years.

(A) The following certification statement:


I certify, under penalty of law, that the information that will be used to determine compliance with the management practices in §503.14 and the vector attraction reduction requirement in (insert either §503.33(b)(9) or (b)(10)) was prepared under my direction and supervision in accordance with the system designed to ensure that qualified personnel properly gather and evaluate this information. I am aware that there are significant penalties for false certification including the possibility of fine and imprisonment.


(B) A description of how the management practices in §503.14 are met for each site on which bulk sewage sludge is applied.

(C) A description of how the vector attraction reduction requirements in either §503.33(b)(9) or (b)(10) are met for each site on which bulk sewage sludge is applied.

(4) If the pollutant concentrations in §503.13(b)(3) and the Class B pathogen requirements in §503.32(b) are met when bulk sewage sludge is applied to agricultural land, forest, a public contact site, or a reclamation site:

(i) The person who prepares the bulk sewage sludge shall develop the following information and shall retain the information for five years:

(A) The concentration of each pollutant listed in Table 3 of §503.13 in the bulk sewage sludge.

(B) The following certification statement:


I certify, under penalty of law, that the information that will be used to determine compliance with the Class B pathogen requirements in §503.32(b) and the vector attraction reduction requirement in (insert one of the vector attraction reduction requirements in §503.33(b)(1) through (b)(8)if one of those requirements is met) was prepared under my directionand supervision in accordance with the system designed to ensure that qualified personnel properly gather and evaluate this information. I am aware that there are significant penalties for false certification including the possibility of fine and imprisonment. (continued)