Newly Adopted Rules

Sewage Sludge / Biosolids (OAC 3745-40)

Final rules were adopted on January 4, 2011 and become effective on July 1, 2011. 

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. “Biosolids” are sewage sludge that have been treated for beneficial use.

The Agency is rescinding all seven currently effective rules in Chapter 3745-40 and replacing them with twelve new rules. The increase in the number of rules is to provide the reader with shorter rules, making information easier to find. Overall the technical changes adopted include a balance of “more stringent” and “less stringent” requirements, all of which are designed to be protective of public health and the environment.

For additional information about Ohio EPA's biosolids program, visit the Ohio EPA Biosolids Program web page.

Available documents

• Public notice [PDF 15K]
• Response to comments on the May 2010 proposed rules [PDF 159K]
   
• Adopted Rules
  For the rescinded rules, text is left unchanged and “TO BE RESCINDED” is at the top of each page of the rules. For the new rules, all text is underlined.

Download all the adopted rules to be rescinded here [PDF 110K] or download individual rules below.
Download all the adopted new rules here [PDF 948K] or download individual rules below.
Download the currently effective rules and the new rules with the underlining removed.

See the November 30, 2010 refiled rules here.
See the May 5, 2010 proposed rules here. 

For additional information

If you would like further information about this rulemaking, please contact:

Jacob Howdyshell
(614) 644-2018
jacob.howdyshell@epa.state.oh.us

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