340-050-0026 General Standards (1) Unless the Department determines that the context requires otherwise, all general provisions of 40 CFR §503.1 through §503.9 and land application requirements in 40 CFR §503.10 through §503.18 are applicable for the purpose of this rule. (2) To be considered acceptable for land application, biosolids or domestic septage shall meet: (a) Pollutant concentration and cumulative pollutant loading limits required under 40 CFR §503.13. NOTE: Not required for domestic septage. (b) One of the pathogen reduction standards established under 40 CFR §503.32; (c) One of the vector attraction reduction standards required under 40 CFR §503.33; and (d) Management practices required under 40 CFR §503.14 and 40 CFR §503.32(b)(5). (3) In addition to meeting pollutant concentration and loading limits required under 40 CFR §503.13, biosolids derived products must meet federal Class A pathogen reduction standards pursuant to 40 CFR §503.32(a) and one of the vector attraction reduction standards required under 40 CFR §503.33(b)(1)–(8). (4) Biosolids imports must meet the following criteria; (a) 40 CFR §503.13(b)(1), Table 1 pollutant ceiling concentration limits; (b) One of the 40 CFR §503.32(b) Class B pathogen reduction standards; (c) One of the 40 CFR §503.33(b)(1)–(8) vector attraction reduction standards; (d) Minimum biosolids quality requirements of the County, State, or Regional government where they are produced; and (e) They must be applied within beneficial use (agronomic) rates. (5) Prior to land application, domestic septage shall be screened to ensure the removal of hair, plastics, and other coarse materials. Screenings shall be disposed at a permitted solid waste landfill. Further, septage shall undergo the following additional treatment prior to land application: (a) Domestic septic tank pumpings: The pH of the domestic septage shall be increased by introducing and actively mixing sufficient alkaline agent to elevate the pH to 12 or higher (without further addition of alkaline agent) for a minimum period of 30 minutes. (b) Domestic holding tank, chemical toilet, and vault toilet pumpings: (A) Prior to alkaline stabilization, domestic holding tank, chemical toilet, or vault toilet pumpings shall be mixed with domestic septic tank pumpings at a ratio of at least three gallons septic tank pumpings per gallon holding tank, vault toilet, or chemical toilet pumpings. (B) The pH of blended domestic septage shall be increased to 12 or more by introducing and actively mixing sufficient alkaline agent to elevate the pH to 12 or more (without further addition of alkaline agent) for minimum period of 2 hours. At the end of the active mixing process, the domestic septage-alkaline agent mixture shall be allowed to further react for at least 22 additional hours. At the end of the 22-hours reaction process, the pH of the domestic septage-alkaline agent mixture shall be at least 11.5. (6) When biosolids will be applied above normal agronomic rates for the purpose of land reclamation, the Department may require that an evaluation for potential groundwater quality impacts be conducted in accordance with OAR 340, division 40. If the Department determines the application rate proposed could cause an adverse impact on groundwater quality, a groundwater quality protection program shall be required pursuant to OAR 340-040-0030. Statutory/Other Authority: ORS 459.045, 468.020 & 468B.095 Statutes/Other Implemented: ORS 459.020, 468B.035 & 468B.095 History: DEQ 18-1995, f. & cert. ef. 7-20-95