1. Department of Environmental Quality
15 NCAC 13B SAMPLING and ANALYSIS PROPOSED RULE AMENDMENT
November 10, 2016 EMC Meeting
Tony Gallagher, Waste Management, Solid Waste Section
Department of Environmental Quality

2. Division of Waste Management
NC Septage Management Rules
(15A NCAC 13B Section .0800)
Pumping,
Transportation,
Disposal at a wastewater treatment plant or land application site.
Septage – liquid or solid waste removed from septic tanks, grease traps, Type III marine sanitation devices and portable toilets.
Currently there are approximately 119 septage land application sites in NC.
Department of Environmental Quality

3. 15A NCAC 13B .0840 SAMPLING AND ANALYSIS
Rule Change Overview
15A NCAC 13B SAMPLING AND ANALYSIS
Current rules require annual sampling and analysis of soil at septage land application sites (SLAS)
DEQ is requesting rule amendment to reduce frequency of soil sampling from every year to every other year to reduce the burden on the Department and on SLAS owner/operators (changes to frequency in (b) and (c)).
Counsel for the RRC pre-reviewed rule text. Additional changes to the rule were made for correction or clarification.
OSBM approved Fiscal Note on July 26, State government effect due to reduced revenue at Dept of Agriculture laboratory; however, net state benefit.
Department of Environmental Quality

4. Proposed Rule Change Department of Environmental Quality
15A NCAC 13B SAMPLING AND ANALYSIS
(a) Monitoring or sample analysis required by this Section, and all costs involved, are the responsibility of the septage management firm, site operator, or the owner of the wastewater system, as appropriate. This includes all costs of analysis of sampling,collection, handling, and analysis of samples.testing.
(b) The permit holder of a septage land application site shall arrange for annual representative soil samples to be taken once every two years from each field at the permitted site during the last quarter of each the calendar year.
(c) Soil samples shall be taken annually once every two years from each area designated as a separate field of a permitted septage land application site and analyzed for cation exchange capacity, pH, phosphorus, potassium, calciumcalcium, manganese, magnesium, zinc, and copper. If the results for zinc analysis are equal to or above 30 pounds per acre or the results for copper analysis are equal to or above 35 pounds per acre, analysis for the metals listed in Part (c)(10)(B) of Rule of this Section shall be required.Analysis for other metals shall be required when zinc levels reach 30 pounds per acre or copper levels reach 35 pounds per acre. Sites permitted to receive septage, septage other than domestic septage, septage shall be sampled once every two yearsannually to determine compliance with 40 CFR CFR
Domestic septage and grease septage shall be monitored in accordance with 40 CFR Part (b).
Cont. …
Department of Environmental Quality

5. Proposed Rule Change (cont.)
(e) Domestic treatment plant septage proposed to be land applied at a permitted septage land application site shall be sampled before the initial application, and annually thereafter, prior to being removed from a treatment facility for the following:
(1) Metals addressedlisted in 40 CFR ; and
(2) Total solids, pH, ammonia, nitrates, total kjedldahl kjeldahl nitrogen (TKN), biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), chemical oxygen demand (COD), total phosphorus, potassium, sodium sodium, and magnesium.
(f) Industrial or commercial septage, septage or commercial treatment plant septage, septage proposed to be land applied at a permitted septage land application site, site shall be sampled prior to being removed from a wastewater system. Analytical results shall be submitted to the Division for consideration prior to the issuance of a permit or approval to land apply the septage. Analysis shall be conducted for:
(1) Metals addressedlisted in 40 CFR ;
(2) Total solids, pH, ammonia, nitrates, TKN, BOD, COD, total phosphorus, potassium, sodium sodium, and magnesium; and
(3) Organic chemicals, using a complete Toxicity Characteristic Leaching Procedure or other appropriate sampling, such as EPA Test numbers or 8270, unless an examination of the industrial process and the material used indicates less extensive analysis is acceptable.
(g) Sample analysis required by this Section shall be performed by a laboratory certified for waste analysis. Analysis shall be conducted in accordance with 40 CFR Part Organic chemical analysis shall be conducted according to Subparagraph (f)(3) of this Rule. Results from the North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services laboratory will shall be accepted.accepted where appropriate.
Department of Environmental Quality

6. Action / Responsibility
Schedule
Action / Responsibility
Date
Fiscal Note Approved by OSBM
July 26, 2016
Request approval to go to EMC / GWWMC
September 7, 2016
Approve Amendment for Public Comment / EMC
November 10, 2016
Public Comment Period
December 15, 2016 – February 13, 2017
Earliest Date for Public Hearing
December 30, 2016
Approval of Amendment / EMC
March 10, 2017
RRC Approval
April 20, 2017
Earliest Effective Date for Rule
May 1, 2017
Department of Environmental Quality

7. Questions or Comments
Department of Environmental Quality