Biosolids

A Guide to the Federal EPA Rule For Land Application of Domestic Septage to Non-Public Contact Sites

The information in this domestic septage guidance is provided to help the users and disposers of septage understand and follow the Federal rule called "Standards for the Use or Disposal of Sewage Sludge" (40 CFR Part 503). Outlined in this overview and discussed in detail in this guidance are the requirements for persons who apply domestic septage to non-public contact sites (sites not frequently visited by the public). To meet the Federal requirements for application of domestic septage to non-public contact sites, the land applier must assure that he/she has only domestic septage.

This guidance to the Part 503 Regulation calls land application sites that are not frequently visited or used by the public, non-public contact sites. These non-public contact sites include agricultural land, forests, and reclamation sites. The requirements governing land application of domestic septage to non-public contact sites are less burdensome but not less protective than the other requirements for land application of sewage sludge in the Part 503 Regulation. These less burdensome requirements are described in detail in Section 3 of this guidance document.

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