United States Environmental Protection Agency Environmental Regulations and Technology Control of Pathogens and Vector Attraction in Sewage Sludge EPA/625/R-92/013 Revised July 2003 Environmental Regulations and Technology Control of Pathogens and Vector Attraction in Sewage Sludge (Including Domestic Septage) Under 40 CFR Part 503 This guidance was prepared by U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Office of Research and Development National Risk Management Research Laboratory Center for Environmental Research Information Cincinnati, OH 45268 Recycled/Recyclable P rinted with vegetable-based ink on paper that contains a minimum of 50% pos t-consumerfiber content processe d chlorinefree. Notice This report has been reviewed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and approved for publication. The process alternatives, trade names, or commercial products are only ex­ amples and are not endorsed or recommended by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Other alternatives may exist or may be developed. ii Foreword The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is charged by Congress with protecting the Nation’s land, air, and water resources. Under a mandate of national environmental laws, the Agency strives to formulate and implement actions leading to a compatible balance between human activities and the ability of natural systems to support and nurture life. To meet this mandate, EPA’s research program is providing data and technical support for solving environmental problems today and building a science knowledge base necessary to manage our ecological resources wisely, understand how pollutants affect our health, and prevent or reduce environmental risks in the future. The National Risk Management Research Laboratory (NRMRL) is the Agency’s center for investigation of technological and management approaches for preventing and reducing risks from pollution that threaten human health and the environment. The focus of the Laboratory’s research program is on methods and their cost-effectiveness for prevention and control of pollution to air, land, water, and subsurface resources; protection of water quality in public water systems; remediation of contaminated sites, sediments and ground water; prevention and control of indoor air pollution; and restoration of ecosystems. NRMRL collaborates with both public and private sector partners to foster technologies that reduce the cost of compliance and to anticipate emerging problems. NRMRL’s research provides solutions to environmental problems by: developing and promoting technologies that protect and improve the environment; advancing scientific and engineering information to support regulatory and policy decisions; and providing the technical support and information transfer to ensure implementation of environmental regulations and strategies at the national, state, and community levels. This publication has been produced as part of the Laboratory’s strategic long-term research plan. It is published and made available by EPA’s Office of Research and Development to assist the user community and to link researchers with their clients. Hugh W. McKinnon, Director National Risk Management Research Laboratory iii Contents Chapter 1 Introduction ..................................................................................................................... 1 1.1 What is Sewage Sludge? ..................................................................................................1 1.2 U.S. Regulation of Treated Sewage Sludge (Biosolids) .....................................................4 1.3 Implementation Guidance ..................................................................................................4 1.4 Definitions .........................................................................................................................5 1.5 Pathogen Equivalency Committee .....................................................................................6 1.6 What is in this Document? ................................................................................................6 Chapter 2 Sewage Sludge Pathogens .............................................................................................8 2.1 What are Pathogens? ..................................................................................................... 8 2.2 Pathogens in Sewage Sludge ..........................................................................................8 2.3 General Information on Pathogens .................................................................................. 10 2.4 Protecting Public Health -The Part 503 ........................................................................... 11 2.5 Frequently Asked Questions ........................................................................................... 16 Chapter 3 Overview of Part 503 Subpart D Requirements, Their Applicability, and Related Requirements ................................................................................................. 20 3.1 Introduction ..................................................................................................................... 20 3.2 Pathogen Reduction Requirements ................................................................................. 20 3.3 Vector Attraction Reduction (VAR) Requirements [503.33] ............................................. 21 3.4 Applicability of the Requirements [503.15 and 503.25] ................................................... 21 3.5 Frequency of Monitoring .................................................................................................. 22 3.6 Sampling Stockpiled or Remixed Biosolids ..................................................................... 22 3.7 Recordkeeping Requirements [503.17 and 503.27] ......................................................... 23 3.8 Reporting Requirements for Sewage Sludge [503.18 and 503.28] ................................... 23 3.9 Permits and Direct Enforceability [503.3] ........................................................................ 25 Chapter 4 Class A Pathogen Requirements .................................................................................. 26 4.1 Introduction ..................................................................................................................... 26 4.2 Vector Attraction Reduction to Occur With or After Class A Pathogen Reduction [503.32(a)(2)] .................................................................................................. 26 4.3 Monitoring of Fecal Coliform or Salmonella sp. to Detect Growth of Bacterial Pathogens [503.32(a)(3)-(8)] ............................................................................................................. 27 4.4 Alternative 1: Thermally Treated Sewage Sludge [503.32(a)(3)] ....................................... 28 4.5 Alternative 2: Sewage Sludge Treated in a High pH-High Temperature Process (Alkaline Treatment) [503.32(a)(4)] ................................................................................................. 30 4.6 Alternative 3: Sewage Sludge Treated in Other Processes [503.32(a)(5)] ....................... 31 4.7 Alternative 4: Sewage Sludge Treated in Unknown Processes [503.32(a)(6)] ................. 32 4.8 Alternative 5: Use of PFRP [503.32(a)(7)] ....................................................................... 32 4.9 Alternative 6: Use of a Process Equivalent to PFRP [503.32(a)(8)] ................................. 33 4.10 Frequency of Testing .................................................................................................... 33 Chapter 5 Class B Pathogen Requirements and Requirements for Domestic Septage Applied to Agricultural Land, a Forest, or a Reclamation Site ..................................... 36 5.1 Introduction ..................................................................................................................... 36 5.2 Sewage Sludge Alternative 1: Monitoring of Fecal Coliform [503.32(b)(2)] ....................... 36 5.3 Sewage Sludge Alternative 2: Use of a Process to Significantly Reduce Pathogens (PSRPs) [503.32(b)(3)] ............................................................................... 37 5.4 Sewage Sludge Alternative 3: Use of Processes Equivalent to PSRP [503.32(b)(4)] ....... 38 v 5.5 Site Restrictions for Land Application of Biosolids [503.32(b)(5)] .................................... 38 5.6 Domestic Septage [503.32(c)]......................................................................................... 41 Chapter 6 Processes to Significantly Reduce Pathogens (PSRPs) .............................................. 43 6.1 Introduction ..................................................................................................................... 43 6.2 Aerobic Digestion ........................................................................................................... 43 6.3 Anaerobic Digestion ........................................................................................................ 45 6.4 Air Drying ........................................................................................................................ 46 6.5 Composting ..................................................................................................................... 47 6.6 Lime Stabilization............................................................................................................ 48 6.7 Equivalent Processes