Sludge standards set numerical limits

Journal Article · Thu Jul 01 04:00:00 EDT 1993 · Pollution Engineering; (United States)

OSTI ID:6315431

Bryant, C ^[1]

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1. Technical Group Inc., Washington, DC (United States)

Thousands of publicly owned treatment works (POTWs) that dispose of or reuse hundreds of thousands of tons of sludge annually now need to comply with a comprehensive rule on the reuse of sewage sludge. On Feb. 11, 1993, EPA promulgated, under the authority of Sections 405(d) and (e) of the Clean Water Act (CWA), a final rule to protect human health and the environment from hazards posed by the disposal and use of sewage sludge. This rule commonly is called the 503 rule because the standards promulgated under the rule are codified at 40 CFR Section 503. The rule establishes requirements for the final use and disposal of sewage sludge under three scenarios: when sludge is applied to land for a beneficial purpose; when it is disposed of in surface impoundments; and when it is incinerated. The rule applies to sewage sludge generated or treated by POTWs that treat domestic sewage and municipal waste water. It does not apply to domestic sewage sludge that is treated along with industrial wastewaters by privately owned facilities, although EPA does have the authority of regulate them. In addition, the rule does not occur sludge that is a hazardous waste under RCRA or that contains PCBs and is regulated under TSCA. Finally, the rule does not apply to sewage sludge dumped in the ocean and regulated under the Marine Protection, Research and Sanctuaries Act.

• OSTI ID: 6315431
• Journal Information: Pollution Engineering; (United States), Journal Name: Pollution Engineering; (United States) Vol. 25:12; ISSN PLENBW; ISSN 0032-3640
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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