Pennsylvania Code › Title 25 - ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION › Part I - Department of Environmental Protection › Subpart D - Environmental Health and Safety › Article VIII - Municipal Waste › Chapter 271 - MUNICIPAL WASTE MANAGEMENT-GENERAL PROVISIONS › Subchapter J - BENEFICIAL USE OF SEWAGE SLUDGE BY LAND APPLICATION › PATHOGENS AND VECTOR ATTRACTION REDUCTION › Section 271.932 - Pathogens

Current through Register Vol. 54, No. 28, July 13, 2024
(a)
Sewage
						  sludge other than residential septage-Class A.
(1) The requirement in paragraph (2) and the
						  requirements in paragraph (3), (4), (5), (6), (7) or (8) shall be met for a
						  sewage sludge to be classified Class A with respect to pathogens.
(2) The Class A pathogen requirements in
						  paragraphs (3)-(8) shall be met either prior to meeting or at the same time the
						  vector attraction reduction requirements in §
														271.933 (relating to vector
						  attraction reduction), except the vector attraction reduction requirements in
						  § 271.933(b)(6)-(8), are met.
(3)
Class A-Alternative 1.
(i) Either the density of fecal coliform in
						  the sewage sludge shall be less than 1,000 most probable number per gram of
						  total solids (dry weight basis), or the density of salmonella sp. bacteria in
						  the sewage sludge shall be less than three most probable number per 4 grams of
						  total solids (dry weight basis) at the time the sewage sludge is used; at the
						  time the sewage sludge is prepared for sale, give away or other distribution,
						  in a bag or other container for application to the land; or at the time the
						  sewage sludge or material derived from sewage sludge is prepared to meet the
						  requirements in §
															271.911(b)(1) or
						  (3) (relating to special
						  requirements).
(ii) The temperature
						  of the sewage sludge that is used shall be maintained at a specific value for a
						  period of time.
(A) When the percent solids of
						  the sewage sludge is 7% or higher, the temperature of the sewage sludge shall
						  be 122°F (or 50°C) or higher; the time period shall be 20 minutes or
						  longer; and the temperature and time period shall be determined using Equation
						  (2), except when small particles of sewage sludge are heated by either warmed
						  gases or an immiscible liquid.
Where,
D = Time in days
T = Temperatures in degrees Celsius
(B) When the percent solids of the sewage
						  sludge is 7% or higher and small particles of sewage sludge are heated by
						  either warmed gases or an immiscible liquid, the temperature of the sewage
						  sludge shall be 122°F (or 50°C) or higher; the time period shall be 15
						  seconds or longer; and the temperature and time period shall be determined
						  using Equation (2).
(C) When the
						  percent solids of the sewage sludge is less than 7% and the time period is at
						  least 15 seconds, but less than 30 minutes, the temperature and time period
						  shall be determined using Equation (2).
(D) When the percent solids of the sewage
						  sludge is less than 7%; the temperature of the sewage sludge is 122°F (or
						  50°C) or higher; and the time period is 30 minutes or longer, the
						  temperature and time period shall be determined using Equation (3).
Where,
D = Time in days
T = Temperatures in degrees Celsius
(4)
Class
						  A-Alternative 2.
(i) Either the
						  density of fecal coliform in the sewage sludge shall be less than 1,000 most
						  probable number per gram of total solids (dry weight basis), or the density of
						  salmonella sp. bacteria in the sewage sludge shall be less than three most
						  probable number per 4 grams of total solids (dry weight basis) at the time the
						  sewage sludge is used; at the time the sewage sludge is prepared for sale, give
						  away or other distribution, in a bag or other container for application to the
						  land; or at the time the sewage sludge or material derived from sewage sludge
						  is prepared to meet the requirements in §
															271.911(b)(1) or
						  (3).
(ii) pH adjustment as follows:
(A) The pH of the sewage sludge that is used
						  shall be raised to above 12 and shall remain above 12 for 72 hours.
(B) The temperature of the sewage sludge
						  shall be above 125°F (or 52°C) for 12 hours or longer during the period
						  that the pH of the sewage sludge is above 12.
(C) At the end of the 72-hour period during
						  which the pH of the sewage sludge is above 12, the sewage sludge shall be air
						  dried to achieve a percent solids in the sewage sludge greater than
						  50%.
(5)
Class A-Alternative 3.
(i)
						  Either the density of fecal coliform in the sewage sludge shall be less than
						  1,000 most probable number per gram of total solids (dry weight basis), or the
						  density of salmonella sp. bacteria in sewage sludge shall be less than three
						  most probable number per 4 grams of total solids (dry weight basis) at the time
						  the sewage sludge is used; at the time the sewage sludge is prepared for sale,
						  give away or other distribution, in a bag or other container for application to
						  the land; or at the time the sewage sludge or material derived from sewage
						  sludge is prepared to meet the requirements in § 271.911(b)(1) or
						  (3).
(ii) Virus monitoring
						  requirements are as follows:
(A) The sewage
						  sludge shall be analyzed prior to pathogen treatment to determine whether the
						  sewage sludge contains enteric viruses.
(B) When the density of enteric viruses in
						  the sewage sludge prior to pathogen treatment is less than one plaque-forming
						  unit per 4 grams of total solids (dry weight basis), the sewage sludge is Class
						  A with respect to enteric viruses until the next monitoring episode for the
						  sewage sludge.
(C) When the density
						  of enteric viruses in the sewage sludge prior to pathogen treatment is equal to
						  or greater than one plaque-forming unit per 4 grams of total solids (dry weight
						  basis), the sewage sludge is Class A with respect to enteric viruses when the
						  density of enteric viruses in the sewage sludge after pathogen treatment is
						  less than one plaque-forming unit per 4 grams of total solids (dry weight
						  basis) and when the values or ranges of values for the operating parameters for
						  the pathogen treatment process that produces the sewage sludge that meets the
						  enteric virus density requirement are documented.
(D) After the enteric virus reduction in
						  clause (C) is demonstrated for the pathogen treatment process, the sewage
						  sludge continues to be Class A with respect to enteric viruses when the values
						  for the pathogen treatment process operating parameters are consistent with the
						  values or ranges of values documented in clause (C).
(iii) Helminth monitoring requirements are as
						  follows:
(A) The sewage sludge shall be
						  analyzed prior to pathogen treatment to determine whether the sewage sludge
						  contains viable helminth ova.
(B)
						  When the density of viable helminth ova in the sewage sludge prior to pathogen
						  treatment is less than 1 per 4 grams of total solids (dry weight basis), the
						  sewage sludge is Class A with respect to viable helminth ova until the next
						  monitoring episode for the sewage sludge.
(C) When the density of viable helminth ova
						  in the sewage sludge prior to pathogen treatment is equal to or greater than
						  one per 4 grams of total solids (dry weight basis), the sewage sludge is Class
						  A with respect to viable helminth ova when the density of viable helminth ova
						  in the sewage sludge after pathogen treatment is less than 1 per 4 grams of
						  total solids (dry weight basis) and when the values or ranges of values for the
						  operating parameters for the pathogen treatment process that produces the
						  sewage sludge that meets the viable helminth ova density requirement are
						  documented.
(D) After the viable
						  helminth ova reduction in clause (C) is demonstrated for the pathogen treatment
						  process, the sewage sludge continues to be Class A with respect to viable
						  helminth ova when the values for the pathogen treatment process operating
						  parameters are consistent with the values or ranges of values documented in
						  clause (C).
(6)
Class A-Alternative 4.
(i)
						  Either the density of fecal coliform in the sewage sludge shall be less than
						  1,000 most probable number per gram of total solids (dry weight basis), or the
						  density of salmonella sp. bacteria in the sewage sludge shall be less than
						  three most probable number per 4 grams of total solids (dry weight basis) at
						  the time the sewage sludge is used; at the time the sewage sludge is prepared
						  for sale, give away or other distribution in a bag or other container for
						  application to the land; or at the time the sewage sludge or material derived
						  from sewage sludge is prepared to meet the requirements in § 271.911(b)(1)
						  or (3).
(ii) The density of enteric
						  viruses in the sewage sludge shall be less than one plaque-forming unit per 4
						  grams of total solids (dry weight basis) at the time the sewage sludge is used;
						  at the time the sewage sludge is prepared for sale, give away or other
						  distribution, in a bag or other container for application to the land; or at
						  the time the sewage sludge or material derived from sewage sludge is prepared
						  to meet the requirements in §
															271.911(b)(1) or
						  (3), unless otherwise specified by the
						  Department.
(iii) The density of
						  viable helminth ova in the sewage sludge shall be less than 1 per 4 grams of
						  total solids (dry weight basis) at the time the sewage sludge is used; at the
						  time the sewage sludge is prepared for sale, give away or other distribution,
						  in a bag or other container for application to the land; or at the time the
						  sewage sludge or material derived from sewage sludge is prepared to meet the
						  requirements in §
															271.911(b)(1) or
						  (3), unless otherwise specified by the
						  Department.
(7)
Class A-Alternative 5.
(i)
						  Either the density of fecal coliform in the sewage sludge shall be less than
						  1,000 most probable number per gram of total solids (dry weight basis), or the
						  density of salmonella, sp. bacteria in the sewage sludge shall be less than
						  three most probable number per 4 grams of total solids (dry weight basis) at
						  the time the sewage sludge is used; at the time the sewage sludge is prepared
						  for sale, give away or other distribution, in a bag or other container for
						  application to the land; or at the time the sewage sludge or material derived
						  from sewage sludge is prepared to meet the requirements in § 271.911(b)(1)
						  or (3).
(ii) Sewage sludge that is
						  used shall be treated in one of the processes to further reduce pathogens
						  described in Appendix A.
(8)
Class A-Alternative 6.
(i) Either the density of fecal coliform in
						  the sewage sludge shall be less than 1,000 most probable number per gram of
						  total solids (dry weight basis), or the density of salmonella, sp. bacteria in
						  the sewage sludge shall be less than three most probable number per 4 grams of
						  total solids (dry weight basis) at the time the sewage sludge is used; at the
						  time the sewage sludge is prepared for sale, give away or other distribution,
						  in a bag or other container for application to the land; or at the time the
						  sewage sludge or material derived from sewage sludge is prepared to meet the
						  requirements in § 271.911(b)(1) or (3).
(ii) Sewage sludge that is used shall be
						  treated in a process that is equivalent to a process to further reduce
						  pathogens, as determined by the EPA.