[Code of Federal Regulations]

[Title 40, Volume 29]

[Revised as of July 1, 2006]

From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access

[CITE: 40CFR503.33]



[Page 845-846]

 

                   TITLE 40--PROTECTION OF ENVIRONMENT

 

         CHAPTER I--ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY (CONTINUED)

 

PART 503_STANDARDS FOR THE USE OR DISPOSAL OF SEWAGE SLUDGE--Table of 

Contents

 

           Subpart D_Pathogens and Vector Attraction Reduction

 

Sec.  503.33  Vector attraction reduction.



    (a)(1) One of the vector attraction reduction requirements in Sec.  

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 Sec.  

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 Sec.  

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.

    (4) One of the vector attraction reduction requirements in Sec.  

503.33 (b)(1) through (b)(11) shall be met when sewage sludge (other 

than domestic septage) is placed on an active sewage sludge unit.

    (5) One of the vector attraction reduction requirements in Sec.  

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 and one of 

the vector attraction reduction requirements in Sec.  503.33 (b)(9) 

through (b)(12) shall be met when domestic septage is placed on an 

active sewage sludge unit.

    (b)(1) The mass of volatile solids in the sewage sludge shall be 

reduced by a minimum of 38 percent (see calculation procedures in 

``Environmental Regulations and Technology--Control of Pathogens and 

Vector Attraction in Sewage Sludge'', EPA-625/R-92/013, 1992, U.S. 

Environmental Protection Agency, Cincinnati, Ohio 45268).

    (2) When the 38 percent volatile solids reduction requirement in 

Sec.  503.33(b)(1) cannot be met for an anaerobically digested sewage 

sludge, vector attraction reduction can be demonstrated by digesting a 

portion of the previously digested sewage sludge anaerobically in the 

laboratory in a bench-scale unit for 40 additional days at a temperature 

between 30 and 37 degrees Celsius. When at the end of the 40 days, the 

volatile



[[Page 846]]



solids in the sewage sludge at the beginning of that period is reduced 

by less than 17 percent, vector attraction reduction is achieved.

    (3) When the 38 percent volatile solids reduction requirement in 

Sec.  503.33(b)(1) cannot be met for an aerobically digested sewage 

sludge, vector attraction reduction can be demonstrated by digesting a 

portion of the previously digested sewage sludge that has a percent 

solids of two percent or less aerobically in the laboratory in a bench-

scale unit for 30 additional days at 20 degrees Celsius. When at the end 

of the 30 days, the volatile solids in the sewage sludge at the 

beginning of that period is reduced by less than 15 percent, vector 

attraction reduction is achieved.

    (4) The specific oxygen uptake rate (SOUR) for sewage sludge treated 

in an aerobic process shall be equal to or less than 1.5 milligrams of 

oxygen per hour per gram of total solids (dry weight basis) at a 

temperature of 20 degrees Celsius.

    (5) Sewage sludge shall be treated in an aerobic process for 14 days 

or longer. During that time, the temperature of the sewage sludge shall 

be higher than 40 degrees Celsius and the average temperature of the 

sewage sludge shall be higher than 45 degrees Celsius.

    (6) The pH of sewage sludge shall be raised to 12 or higher by 

alkali addition and, without the addition of more alkali, shall remain 

at 12 or higher for two hours and then at 11.5 or higher for an 

additional 22 hours.

    (7) The percent solids of sewage sludge that does not contain 

unstabilized solids generated in a primary wastewater treatment process 

shall be equal to or greater than 75 percent based on the moisture 

content and total solids prior to mixing with other materials.

    (8) The percent solids of sewage sludge that contains unstabilized 

solids generated in a primary wastewater treatment process shall be 

equal to or greater than 90 percent based on the moisture content and 

total solids prior to mixing with other materials.

    (9)(i) Sewage sludge shall be injected below the surface of the 

land.

    (ii) No significant amount of the sewage sludge shall be present on 

the land surface within one hour after the sewage sludge is injected.

    (iii) When the sewage sludge that is injected below the surface of 

the land is Class A with respect to pathogens, the sewage sludge shall 

be injected below the land surface within eight hours after being 

discharged from the pathogen treatment process.

    (10)(i) Sewage sludge applied to the land surface or placed on an 

active sewage sludge unit shall be incorporated into the soil within six 

hours after application to or placement on the land, unless otherwise 

specified by the permitting authority.

    (ii) When sewage sludge that is incorporated into the soil is Class 

A with respect to pathogens, the sewage sludge shall be applied to or 

placed on the land within eight hours after being discharged from the 

pathogen treatment process.

    (11) Sewage sludge placed on an active sewage sludge unit shall be 

covered with soil or other material at the end of each operating day.

    (12) The pH of domestic septage shall be raised to 12 or higher by 

alkali addition and, without the addition of more alkali, shall remain 

at 12 or higher for 30 minutes.



[58 FR 9387, Feb. 19, 1993, as amended at 64 FR 42571, Aug. 4, 1999]