North Carolina Administrative Code › Title 15A - Environmental Quality › Chapter 02 - Environmental Management › Subchapter T - WASTE NOT DISCHARGED TO SURFACE WATERS › Section .1100 - RESIDUALS MANAGEMENT › Section 02T .1106 - PATHOGEN REDUCTION REQUIREMENTS

Current through Register Vol. 39, No. 2, July 15, 2024
(a)
				  Class A biological residuals shall meet the following requirements:
(1) The requirements in this Paragraph shall
				  be met no later than meeting the vector attraction reduction requirements in
				  Rule .1107 of this Section, unless the vector attraction reduction methods in
				  Rule .1107(a)(6), Rule .1107(a)(7), and Rule .1107(a)(8) of this Section are
				  met.
(2) Biological residuals shall
				  be monitored for the density of fecal coliform or Salmonella sp. bacteria at
				  the time that the residuals are used or disposed, or at the time they are
				  prepared for sale or giving away in a bag or other container for land
				  application, to demonstrate that:
(A) the
				  density of fecal coliform is less than 1,000 Most Probable Number per gram of
				  total solids on a dry weight basis; or
(B) the density of Salmonella sp. bacteria is
				  less than three Most Probable Number per four grams of total solids on a dry
				  weight basis.
(3) The
				  biological residuals meet one of the following requirements:
(A) Time and Temperature. The temperature of
				  the biological residuals shall be maintained at a specific value for a period
				  of consecutive time in accordance with the following:
Total Solids (percent)
Temperature (t) (degrees Celsius)
Time
Equation to Determine Minimum Holding Time (D)
								  (days)
>=7
>=50
>=20 minutes
131,700,000
100.1400t
>=7
>=50
>=15
								  seconds1
131,700,000
100.1400t
<7
>=50
>=15 seconds
<30 minutes
131,700,000
100.1400t
<7
>=50
>=30 minutes
50,070,000
100.1400t
1 - when residuals are heated by
					 warmed gases or an immiscible liquid
(B) Alkaline Treatment. The pH of the
				  biological residuals shall be raised to above 12 and shall remain above 12 for
				  72 consecutive hours. The temperature of the biological residuals shall be
				  above 52 degrees Celsius for 12 hours or longer during the period that the pH
				  of the biological residuals is above 12. At the end of the 72-hour period
				  during which the pH is above 12, the biological residuals shall be air dried to
				  achieve a total solids greater than 50 percent;
(C) Prior Testing for Enteric Viruses or
				  Viable Helminth Ova. The biological residuals shall be analyzed prior to
				  pathogen reduction treatment to determine whether the biological residuals
				  contain enteric viruses or viable helminth ova. The density of enteric viruses
				  prior to pathogen reduction treatment shall be less than one Plaque-forming
				  Unit per four grams of total solids on a dry weight basis or the density of
				  viable helminth ova shall be less than one per four grams of total solids on a
				  dry weight basis. When the density of enteric viruses or viable helminth ova
				  are equal to or greater than these values, the biological residuals shall be
				  considered Class A following pathogen reduction treatment if the resultant
				  densities are less than these values and the operating parameters for the
				  pathogen reduction treatment are documented. After this demonstration, the
				  biological residuals shall be considered Class A if the operating parameters
				  for the pathogen reduction treatment are met and documented;
(D) No Prior Testing for Enteric Viruses or
				  Viable Helminth Ova. The density of enteric viruses in the biological residuals
				  shall be less than one Plaque-forming Unit per four grams of total solids on a
				  dry weight basis or the density of viable helminth ova in the biological
				  residuals shall be less than one per four grams of total solids on a dry weight
				  basis at the time that the biological residuals are used or disposed or are
				  prepared for sale or giving away in a bag or other container for land
				  application;
(E) Process to Further
				  Reduce Pathogens - Composting. The biological residuals shall be composted
				  using either the within-vessel method or the static aerated pile method, during
				  which the temperature of the biological residuals is maintained at 55 degrees
				  Celsius or higher for three consecutive days or longer. Alternatively, the
				  biological residuals shall be composted using the windrow method, during which
				  the temperature of the biological residuals is maintained at 55 degrees Celsius
				  or higher for 15 consecutive days or longer. The windrow shall be turned five
				  times during the period when the biological residuals are maintained at 55
				  degrees Celsius or higher. Natural decay of the biological residuals under
				  uncontrolled conditions shall not be deemed to comply with these composting
				  requirements;
(F) Process to
				  Further Reduce Pathogens - Heat Drying. The biological residuals shall be dried
				  by direct or indirect contact with hot gases to reduce the moisture content of
				  the biological residuals to 10 percent or lower. During the process, either the
				  temperature of the biological residuals particles shall exceed 80 degrees
				  Celsius or the wet bulb temperature of the gas in contact with the biological
				  residuals as they leave the dryer shall exceed 80 degrees Celsius;
(G) Process to Further Reduce Pathogens -
				  Heat Treatment. The biological residuals shall be heated to a temperature of
				  180 degrees Celsius or higher for 30 minutes. This process shall be applied
				  only to biological residuals that are in a liquid state;
(H) Process to Further Reduce Pathogens -
				  Thermophilic Aerobic Digestion. The biological residuals shall be agitated with
				  air or oxygen to maintain aerobic conditions, and the mean cell residence time
				  of the biological residuals shall be 10 days at between 55 and 60 degrees
				  Celsius. This process shall be applied only to biological residuals that are in
				  a liquid state;
(I) Process to
				  Further Reduce Pathogens - Beta Ray Irradiation. The biological residuals shall
				  be irradiated with beta rays from an accelerator at dosages of at least 1.0
				  megarad at room temperature, approximately 20 degrees Celsius;
(J) Process to Further Reduce Pathogens -
				  Gamma Ray Irradiation. The biological residuals shall be irradiated with gamma
				  rays from certain isotopes, such as Cobalt 60 and Cesium 137, at room
				  temperature, approximately 20 degrees Celsius; or
(K) Process to Further Reduce Pathogens -
				  Pasteurization. The temperature of the biological residuals shall be maintained
				  at 70 degrees Celsius or higher for 30 minutes or longer.