sewage sludge fertilizer to get dioxin limits

mmiller@pcsia.com
Wed, 22 Dec 1999 09:28:49 -0600

EPA PROPOSES LIMITS ON DIOXIN IN BIOSOLIDS
WASHINGTON, DC, December 21, 1999 (ENS) - The U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA) is proposing to set a standard for dioxin levels in biosolids.
Biosolids are treated sewage sludge - the byproduct of municipal wastewater
treatment - and can be recycled and applied as a fertilizer, disposed of in
surface disposal units or incinerated. The EPA’s proposal sets a limit of
300 parts per trillion toxic equivalents for dioxins in biosolids that are
recycled and applied to the land as fertilizer. Facilities preparing
biosolids for land application would also be required to follow new
monitoring, record keeping and reporting requirements for dioxins in
biosolids that are to be land applied. Based on risk assessment results,
the proposed rule does not contain additional limits for dioxins in
biosolids that are being placed in landfills or incinerated.

In February 1993, EPA set limits for metals, pathogens and total
hydrocarbons for land application, surface disposal and incineration of
biosolids. The Clean Water Act also requires regulation for pollutants not
regulated under other rules, such as dioxin, a toxic byproduct of waste
incineration and chemical and pesticide manufacturing. Dioxin has been
linked to cancer and birth defects, and was an ingredient of the defoliant
Agent Orange. The new biosolids proposal was signed on December 15, and
published in the Federal Register. EPA will take comment for 60 days
following publication in the Federal Register. A fact sheet and a
pre-publication version of the Federal Register notice are available at:
http://www.epa.gov/OST/standards, or by calling 1-800-490-9198.

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