Draft Rules
Sewage Sludge (OAC 3745-40)
| NEW! A second version of draft revisions to these rules is available for review and comment. Comments must be submitted by 5:00 p.m. on May 22, 2009. Go here for more information. |
Comment deadline - 5:00 p.m. on October 10, 2008
The draft rules are available below. Notice has been sent out for interested party review. After considering comments and making changes, if necessary, to the rules, a public hearing and another public comment period will be scheduled in late 2008 or early 2009.
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 148K]
Fact sheet [PDF 38K]
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For a rescinded rule, text is left unchanged and “To Be Rescinded” is at the top of each page of the rule.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Download all the draft rules to be rescinded here [PDF 113K] or download individual rules below.
Download all the draft new rules here [PDF 1,137K] or download individual rules below.
| Rule # |
Rule Title |
Action |
| 3745-40-01 |
Definitions [PDF 24K] |
Rescind |
| 3745-40-01 |
Definitions [PDF 86K] |
New |
| 3745-40-02 |
Purpose, applicability and exclusions [PDF 5K] |
Rescind |
| 3745-40-02 |
Purpose, applicability, general requirements, exclusions and prohibitions [PDF 28K] |
New |
| 3745-40-03 |
Permits, plans and authorizations [PDF 7K] |
Rescind |
| 3745-40-03 |
NPDES permit requirements and management plan requirements [PDF 21K] |
New |
| 3745-40-04 |
Land application agronomic management [PDF 16K] |
Rescind |
| 3745-40-04 |
Biosolids classifications [PDF 835K] |
New |
| 3745-40-05 |
Land application restrictions [PDF 27K] |
Rescind |
| 3745-40-05 |
Notice and necessary information requirements for biosolids and other notification requirements [PDF 9K] |
New |
| 3745-40-06 |
Land application monitoring and reporting [PDF 20K] |
Rescind |
| 3745-40-06 |
Authorization for a land application site, site transfer requirements and site amendment requirements for class B biosolids; and requirements for bulk quantities of biosolids to be stored in rail cars or other mobile storage units [PDF 12K] |
New |
| 3745-40-07 |
Other management practices, prohibition [PDF 6K] |
Rescind |
| 3745-40-07 |
Requirements for the storage of biosolids: isolation distance requirements and requirements for field storage and regional facility storage [PDF 38K] |
New |
| 3745-40-08 |
Requirements for the beneficial use of biosolids: general requirements, prohibitions, isolation distance requirements, site specific requirements and additional site restrictions for the beneficial use of class B biosolids [PDF 288K] |
New |
| 3745-40-09 |
Approved sampling methods, monitoring frequency requirements, record retention and annual reporting requirements [PDF 509K] |
New |
| 3745-40-10 |
Facility storage requirements [PDF 10K] |
New |
| 3745-40-11 |
Signage requirements for beneficial use sites receiving class B biosolids [PDF 9K] |
New |
| 3745-40-12 |
Compliance and enforcement; and spill notification requirements [PDF 16K] |
New |
For additional information or to submit comments
Please submit any comments you have on the draft rules in one of the following manners.
| By e-mail: elizabeth.bailik@epa.state.oh.us |
By mail: Elizabeth Bailik
Ohio EPA
Division of Surface Water
P.O. Box 1049
Columbus, Ohio 43216-1049 |
| By fax: (614) 644-2745 |
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.