State of Texas Biosolids Program Perspectives
Topics for Discussion
Background on state authority and state rules
The Biosolids Program in Texas
• Staff
Permits and Registrations
• Administrative and Technical Process
• Statistics
• Locations
Requirements - State vs. Federal
• Legislative Action
Trends
Benefits of Land Applying Sewage Sludge
• Source of nutrients for plant growth
• Saves money from using chemical fertilizers
• Lowers cost of disposal for utilities
• Lowers amount of material disposed in landfills
• Processing to higher standards to develop a product for
distribution and sale
In the Beginning…
• 40 CFR Part 503 effective February of 1993
• TCEQ updates the TAC Chapter 330 rules to incorporate Part 503
• 30 TAC Chapter 312 (Sludge Rules) become effective October of
1995
• TCEQ is authorized to administer the EPA biosolids program in
Texas effective September 1998
• Rule updates in 2005 and 2014 based on legislation
TCEQ Biosolids Coordinators
Central Office - Austin
Regional Offices – 16 Throughout State
 Permitting Staff
 Field Ops Investigators
 Review and draft permits and
registrations
 Conduct site assessment
evaluations for proposed sites
 Provide technical assistance with the
permitting and registration program
 Inspect sites annually
 Legal Staff
 Provide expertise on both state and
federal regulations to permitting staff, the
regulated community, and the public
 Investigate complaints made by
public
Permitting and Registration Program
State – TCEQ
• Permit
 Class B Biosolids
• Registrations
 Domestic Septage
 Water Treatment Plant (WTP)
Residuals
• Notification
 Exceptional Quality Marketing
and Distribution of Class A or AB
Biosolids
Federal - TPDES
• Biosolids Processing
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Dewatering
Lime Stabilization
Composting with green waste
Heat Pelletizing
Mobile Processing Unit
• Disposal of Sludge
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Monofill
Surface Impoundment
• Sludge Only Incineration
Class B Sludge Permit Administrative Process
• $1,000 - $5,000 application fee based on proposed
annual tonnage to be land applied
• 2 Published Public Notices
• Each notice is mailed to landowners within ¼ mile of
the boundary of land application site
• Opportunity for Public Meeting and Contested Case
Hearing
Domestic Septage and WTP Registration
Administrative Process
• No application fee (both)
• Mailed notice to adjacent landowners for new
and amended domestic septage applications
• Public notice not required for renewal of
domestic septage and any WTP applications
Class A and AB Notification
Administrative and Technical Process
• Notification authorization issued to generator or
authorization can be included in generator’s permit
• No application fee
• Public notice not required
• Notification review and approval in 30 days
Sewage Sludge, WTP Sludge, and Domestic Septage
Technical Process
• Metals and Nutrients Analysis - Sludge only
• Soils Laboratory Analysis - Both Sludge and Septage
• Nutrient Application Rate Calculation - Both Sludge and Septage
• Maps - Both Sludge and Septage
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Highway
Topographic
Floodway
Soils
Class B Sludge and Domestic Septage
Pathogen Requirements
• Class B Sewage Sludge:
Fecal Coliform < 2,000,000 MPN per gram of total solids
Process to Significantly Reduce Pathogens (PSRP)
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Aerobic Digestion
Anaerobic Digestion
Air Drying
Composting
Lime Stabilization
• Domestic Septage:
Maintain pH of >12 for at least 30 minutes via alkali addition
• WTP Sludge:
Not required
Class A Sludge Pathogen Requirements
Fecal Coliform <1,000 MPN per gram of total solids or Density of
Salmonella <3 MPN per 4 grams of total solids.
Additional treatment including one of the following:
• Alternative 1 – Time and Temperature
• Alternative 5 – Process to Further Reduce Pathogens (PFRP)
 Composting
 Heat Drying
 Heat Treatment
 Thermophilic aerobic digestion
 Pasteurization
• Alternative 6 – Equivalent to PFRP with EPA approval
Class AB Sludge Pathogen Requirements
Fecal Coliform <1,000 MPN per gram of total solids or Density of
Salmonella <3 MPN per 4 grams of total solids.
Additional treatment including one of the following:
•
Alternative 2 - High pH, high temperature and time
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Alternative 3 - Concentrations of enteric viruses and helminth ova – known
process
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Alternative 4 - Concentrations of enteric viruses and helminth ova-unknown
process
Sludge and Domestic Septage Vector Attraction and
Odor Reduction Requirements
• Class A, AB and B Sewage Sludge:
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38% Volatile Solids Reduction
Specific Oxygen Uptake Rate (SOUR) Test – aerobic process only
pH >12 for 2 hours and remain at pH 11.5 or higher for 22 hours
≥ 75% solids content (does not contain unstabilized sludge)
≥ 90% solids content (contains unstabilized solids)
Injection below land surface within 1 hour
Incorporation into soil within 6 hours
• Domestic Septage:
 Maintain pH of >12 for at least 30 minutes via lime addition
• WTP Sludge:
 Not required
Buffer Zones Restrictions for Class B Sludge and
Domestic Septage Sites
 Surface Water – 200 feet if sludge not incorporated into soil
 Surface Water – 33 feet of vegetated buffer zone if sludge is incorporated into soil
 Private Water Supply Well – 150 feet
 Public Water Supply Well, Intakes, Springs, Treatment Plants, or Storage Tanks –
500 feet
 Solution Channel, Sinkhole, or other Conduit to Groundwater – 200 feet
 Irrigation Conveyance Canal – 10 feet
 Established school, institution, business, or occupied residential structure – 750
feet
 Public Right-of-Way and Property Boundaries – 50 feet
Site Restrictions for Class B Sludge and Domestic Septage Sites
• Harvesting Times
• Limited Public Access
• Animals only allowed to graze 30 days after land
application
• Slopes must be < 8%
Core Requirements – Class A, AB, and B sewage sludge
• TCEQ authority to add more stringent requirements, such as an
Odor Investigation and Control Plan
• Prohibit land application during rain or on frozen or saturated
soils
• Require cover on trucks transporting sludge
• Nuisance condition prohibition
• Submittal of an Adverse Weather and
Alternative Plan
Additional Requirements for
Class B Land Application
• Post a Sign at Land Application Site
• Hydrologic Characteristics
 Aquifer Identification
 Periods of Perched or High Water Table
 Distinguish connections between surface and subsurface water
• Nutrient Management Plan
 Proof that the risk of water quality impairment caused by nitrogen applied to
the site is minimized
 Certified by a Nutrient Management Specialist
Additional Requirements for
Class B Land Application (cont.)
• Proof of Insurance (Excluding Political Subdivions)
 Environmental Impairment
 Commercial Liability
• Quarterly Reporting
 Due the 15th of March, June, September and December
 Amount of sludge delivered and land applied from each sludge source
 Cumulative metal loading
 Proof of Insurance
 Posted on TCEQ website for public viewing
Sludge Processing and Disposal Permit
Administrative Process
• Application fee
 $150 for New/Amendment
 $115 for Renewal
• 2 Published Public Notices
• Each notice is mailed to landowners within ½ mile of the
boundary of land application site
• Opportunity for Public Meeting and Contested Case Hearing
Sludge Processing and Disposal Permit
Technical Process
• Description of how sludge will be processed/
disposed
• Appropriate sludge analysis
• Design of processing facility/disposal unit
Current Statistics
• 32 Class A and AB Marketing
and Distribution
Biosolids
Processing
3%
Domestic
Septage
15%
Class A and
AB
11%
Class B
21%
• 57 Class B Land Application
• 132 WTP Residual Land
Application
• 51 Domestic Septage Land
Application
Disposal
2%
WTP
Residuals
44%
• 8 Biosolid Processing
• 6 Disposal
Class B Land
Application
Sludge Disposal
WTP Residuals
Class A and AB
Marketing and Distribution
Domestic Septage
Ways Texas Cities Handle Biosolids
• Houston – Class B Land Application, Class A Heat Pelletizing, Landfill
• Dallas – Monofill
• San Antonio – Compost and Landfill
• Austin – Class A compost (bag and sell) and Class B Land Application
• Fort Worth – Class AB Land Application
• El Paso – Off-site Monofill
• Corpus Christi – Landfill
• Waco – Class A Heat Pelletizing
Land Application of Class A, AB and B Biosolids
Land Application of Domestic Septage
Processing of Biosolids
Trends
• Incline in applications for water treatment residual domestic septage sites
• Treatment and land application of waste from “Man Camp” drilling sites
• Advanced technology in treatment to achieve Class A or AB biosolids
product
• Community protest having concerns of decline in property values,
groundwater contamination and odor
• Legislation that would require permits for domestic septage and
follow the same administrative and technical processes as Class B
permits
Contacts and Assistance
TCEQ Land Application Team
Biosolids Group
Water Quality Division
Phone: 512-239-4671
Brian Sierant
Kellie Crouch-Elliott
Nathan Sessions
https://www.tceq.texas.gov/permitting/wastewater/wastewater/sludge