land application of biosolids be144 (fields 1 - 17) bedford county ...

INFORMATION ABOUT BIOSOLIDSBiosolids GenerattanBiosolids are Ihe accumulated, Ireaied solids separated from water during the treatment of wastewater by public andprivate wastewater treatment plants (Generators). The Generator is responsible for supplying biosolids that aresuitable for land application under state and federal regulations.Benofils of BiosolidsBiosolids provide nitrogen in a form that can be taken up by plants during their growth cycle. Biosolids also addphosphorus to the soil. If lime is added to biosolids, the biosolids will have the added benefit of a liming agent.Biosolids contain primary, secondary and micro nutrients that can be used by plants. Biosolids are primarily anorganic material; when added to soil, they improve water and nutrient retention, reduce erosion potential andimprove soil structure.BJosolids Recycling ConsiderationsWhile most biosolids contain traces of materials from household and industrial wastes, controls are required toensure that land application presents no increased risk to people, animals, or the environment. These conlrols alsoensure unrestricted future land use. Controls include federally mandated pretreatment programs to remove tracemetals and other by-products from industry from the water these facilities send to treatment plants, ongoing biosolidstesting and regulatory limits on both the amounts of metals contained in biosolidEand the amounts that can beapplied to the soil. Metals limits are very conservative based on decades of research by federal agencies and majoruniversities nationwide. Metals exist naturally in soils and many of the trace metals from bbsolids are essentialnutrients for plants, animals and people.Biosolids must be properly disinfected at the treatment plant to be eligible for land application. Any pathogens(bacteria and viruses) remaining after disinfection die off after land application from exposure to sunlight and thehostile soH environment. Regulations impose conservative waiting periods for livestock grazing, food crop and turfharvesting and public access for die-off to occur. After more than 40 years of land applying biosolids in the U.S., noillness related to land application of biosolids has been documented.While odor from bsosolids applications is not usually significant, and typically less than that from Ifi/eslock manure, itis possible that an odor from the decomposition of organic matter may be noticed. If this occurs, it generallydisappears in a short time. Injecting or Incorporating biosolids into the soil on cropland also reduces odor potential.Bbsolids Land Application RegulationsBbsolids applications are regulated by federal, slate and sometimes local agencies. Typically each land applicationsite must be permitted by a stats agency. This permitting process ensures that sites are suitable for application,bbsolids of acceptable quality are applied correctly (e.g., at appropriate rates), and records of application and testingare maintained. For farmland, bbsolids are applied at agricultural rates for cropping purposes and forreclamation/disturbed lands at rales designed to reestablish vegetation on the site.Regulations require that participants in land application programs follow certain site management conditions. Theseare outlined in item 3 on the front side of this Consent Form. Synagro ensures that (he leasee signs an agreementform to be responsible for these conditions where applicable before Synagro applies biosolids; however, you shouldadvise new leasees of these conditions in cases where they are not also working with Synagro.Agronomic ConsiderationsTractor-trailer units are used to deliver biosolids to the fields approved for bbsolids applications. Soil compactionmay occur on the travel areas used by the trucks and in areas where biosolids are unloaded for transfer to theapplicator vehicle.Since some biosolids contain lime, it is important lo recognize any increase in soil pH where biosolids have beenapplied and exercise care in using certain herbicides. If considering the use of a sulfonylurea herbicide, particularattenlbn should be paid to any label restrictions. High soil pH and dry weather may slow decomposifcn of thesechemicals, resulting in carry-over. For soils with low manganese levels, increased soil pH from lime addition (aloneor in lime treated bbsolids) may reduce manganese availability and thereby potentially reduce crop yields.Biosolids contain sails. Biosolids applications alone rarely cause salt problems. However, if combined with othersignificant sal I-increasing factors, such as drought, excessive soil compaction, saline irrigation water and saltcontainingfertilizers, salts may reach levels that could negatively affect germination and growth of some crops.