California Code of Regulations › Title 14 - Natural Resources › Division 7 - Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery › Chapter 3.1 - Compostable Materials Handling Operations and Facilities Regulatory Requirements › Article 2 - Regulatory Tiers for Composting Operations and Facilities › Section 17862 - Research Composting Operations

Current through Register 2024 Notice Reg. No. 28, July 12, 2024
(a) An operator conducting research
				  composting operations shall not have more than 5,000 cubic yards of feedstock,
				  chipped and ground material, amendments, additives, active compost, and
				  stabilized compost on-site at any one time, and shall comply with the EA
				  Notification requirements set forth in Title 14, California Code of
				  Regulations, Division 7, Chapter 5.0, Article 3.0 (commencing with section
				  18100), except as otherwise
				  provided by this Chapter.
(b) An
				  operator conducting research composting operations utilizing within-vessel
				  processing, may exceed 5,000 cubic-yards of feedstock, chipped and ground
				  material, additives, amendments, active compost, and stabilized compost, if the
				  EA determines that such increased volume will not pose additional risk to the
				  public health, safety and the environment.
(c) In addition to the EA Notification
				  requirements set forth in Title 14, California Code of Regulations, Division 7,
				  Chapter 5.0, Article 3.0, section
				  18103.1(a)(3),
				  the operator shall provide a description of the research to be performed,
				  research objectives, methodology/protocol to be employed, data to be gathered,
				  analysis to be performed, how the requirements of this subchapter will be met,
				  and the projected timeframe for completion of the research operation.
(d) After no more than a two year period of
				  operation the operator of a research composting operation shall submit to the
				  EA a report that includes the results and conclusions drawn from the research.
				  If the EA determines based on the report that there are further research
				  objectives to be met or data to be gathered, the EA may extend the research for
				  a specified time period not to exceed two years. If the EA determines based on
				  the report that there are no further research objectives to be met or data to
				  be gathered, the operator shall conduct site restoration at the facility
				  pursuant to section
				  17870, or obtain other appropriate
				  authorization pursuant to Article 2 of this Chapter prior to continuing
				  operations.
(e) Research composting
				  operations that will be using unprocessed mammalian tissue as a feedstock for
				  the purpose of obtaining data on pathogen reduction or other public health,
				  animal health, safety, or environmental protection concern, shall satisfy the
				  following additional requirements:
(1)
				  Unprocessed mammalian tissue used as feedstock shall be generated from on-site
				  agricultural operations, and all products derived from unprocessed mammalian
				  tissue shall be beneficially used on-site.
(2) The operator shall prepare, implement and
				  maintain a site-specific, research composting operation site security plan. The
				  research composting site security plan shall include a description of the
				  methods and facilities to be employed for the purpose of limiting site access
				  and preventing the movement of unauthorized material on to or off of the
				  site.
(3) After no more than a
				  six-month period of operation the operator of a research composting operation
				  using unprocessed mammalian tissue as feedstock shall submit to the EA a report
				  that includes the results and conclusions drawn from the research and
				  documentation of additional requirements of this section. If the EA determines
				  based on the report that there are further research objectives to be met or
				  data to be gathered, the EA may extend the research for a specified time period
				  not to exceed two years. If the EA determines based on the report that there
				  are no further research objectives to be met or data to be gathered, the
				  operator shall conduct site restoration at the facility pursuant to section
				  17870, or obtain other appropriate
				  authorization pursuant to Article 2 of this Chapter prior to continuing
				  operations.