Biosolids

Land Application of Sewage Sludge

Under the authority of Section 405(d) of the Clean Water Act as amended, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) promulgated, at 40 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 503, Phase I of the risk-based regulation that governs the final use or disposal of sewage sludge. The intent of this Federal program is to ensure that sewage sludge is used or disposed of in a way that protects both human health and the environment. Part 503, Standards for the Use or Disposal of Sewage Sludge, establishes the general requirements, pollutant limits, operational standards, and management practices, as well as frequency of monitoring, recordkeeping, and reporting requirements, that apply to sewage sludge that is land applied, placed on a surface disposal site, or fired in a sewage sludge incinerator (see 58 Federal Register 9248, February 19, 1993). For further general information about the regulation and the parties affected, refer to A Plain English Guide to the Part 503 Biosolids Rule (EPA, 1994). This document explains the requirements applicable to LAND APPLIERS of sewage sludge.

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  • Land Application of Sewage Sludge (PDF)(105 pp, 1 MB, December 1994, EPA/831-B-93-002b)
    A Guide for Land Appliers on the requirements of the federal standards for the use or disposal of sewage sludge, 40 CFR Part 503