Draft Rules

Sewage Sludge (OAC 3745-40)

Note:  On January 4, 2011, final rules were adopted. Go here for more information.

Comment deadline - 5:00 p.m. on May 22, 2009

Note: This is the second draft of these rule revisions.  The Agency considered comments submitted during the first draft of these rule revisions distributed in July 2008, made changes in response to the comments and is now offering a second opportunity to comment.

The draft rules are available below. Notice has been sent out for interested party review.  After considering comments on this second draft and making changes, if necessary, to the rules, a public hearing and another public comment period will be scheduled later this year.

Background

Sewage sludge is the solid, semi-solid or liquid residue generated during the treatment of domestic sewage. Sewage sludge must be periodically wasted, or removed, from a treatment works so as to not cause a bottleneck in the system or result in a pass through of sewage sludge to rivers or other surface waters. There are many alternatives for the final disposition of sewage sludge including, but not limited to, incineration, disposal in a landfill, and application to the land for agronomic benefit.

At this time the Agency is soliciting comments on the rules in Chapter 3745-40 of the Administrative Code, governing sewage sludge. The Agency is considering rescinding all seven rules in that chapter and replacing them with twelve new rules. The increase in the number of rules is being considered to provide the reader with shorter rules, making information easier to find.

Overall the technical changes being considered include a balance of “more stringent” and “less stringent” requirements, all of which are designed to be protective of public health and the environment. See the fact sheet below for more information on the changes being considered.

For additional information about Ohio EPA's sewage sludge (also referred to as biosolids) program, visit the Ohio EPA Biosolids Program Web page.

Available documents

Letter to interested parties [PDF 207K]
Fact sheet [PDF 15K]
Response to comments on the July 2008 draft rule revisions [PDF 248K]

Draft Rules
For a rescinded rule, text is left unchanged and “To Be Rescinded” is at the top of each page of the rule. For a new rule, all text is underlined.

Download all the draft rules to be rescinded here [PDF 108K] or download individual rules below.
Download all the draft new rules here [PDF 1,611K] or download individual rules below.

For additional information or to submit comments

Please submit any comments you have on the draft rules in one of the following manners.

If you would like further information about this rulemaking, please contact Jacob Howdyshell at jacob.howdyshell@epa.state.oh.us or by calling (614) 644-2018.

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