Code of Maine Rules
06 - DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
096 - DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION - GENERAL
Chapter 420 - SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT RULES: SEPTAGE MANAGEMENT RULES
Section 096-420-4 - Siting Requirements for Septage Land Application Sites
Current through 2024-38, September 18, 2024
Septage land application sites must meet the criteria of this section.
A. Sand and Gravel Aquifer. A site may not overlie a significant sand and gravel aquifer . No variances to this requirement will be granted.
B. Buffer Zones. The boundaries of a septage application area at a site must comply with the minimum distance requirements as specified in Table 1. The Department may specify that buffer zones be increased, as necessary, depending on site conditions, to prevent environmental or health impacts.
TABLE 1
MINIMUM BUFFER ZONES FOR SEPTAGE LAND APPLICATION SITES
| Minimum Distance in Feet From Septage Application Boundary to Feature | ||
| Type of Feature | Septage Utilization | Septage Non-utilization |
| Public Well | 1000 | 1000 |
| Private Well | 300 | 300 |
| Property Line | 50 | 250 |
| Dwelling/Occupied Building | 300 | 2500 |
| Perennial Waterbody/Watercourse | 300 | 300 |
| Intermittent Stream or Brook | 100 | 100 |
| Waterway/Constructed Drainage Ditch | 25 | 25 |
| Public Road | 50 | 250 |
C. Minimum Depth to Bedrock. A site may not be located on land areas where the bedrock is less than thirty-six (36) inches below the ground surface. Up to twelve (12) inches of soil meeting U.S.D.A. textural classification of loamy sand or finer, as determined by a Maine Certified Soil Scientist, may be placed on a septage land application site to meet the minimum depth-to-bedrock requirement. This fill material must be properly graded, seeded and mulched to prevent erosion.
D. Suitable Soil Drainage Classes. Septage land application sites may only be sited on the soil types which have drainage classes of: excessively-drained, somewhat excessively-drained; well-drained; moderately well-drained; or somewhat poorly-drained as determined by a Maine Certified Soil Scientist. All sand, or gravely soils which are excessively-drained must have a cap of loamy fine sand or finer soil which is at least twelve inches in thickness.
E. Surface Slopes. Ground surface slopes at any part of a site may not exceed eight (8) percent.
F. Traffic. The following design criteria must be met for all access roads to the site:
G. Endangered Species. Septage may not be applied to a land area if the application of septage will adversely affect a threatened or endangered species, or if it will adversely affect the species' designated critical or essential habitat. The Department finds that this requirement is met if the land application of septage is to occur upon an existing, active, agricultural site.
