Oklahoma Administrative Code
Title 252 - Department of Environmental Quality
Chapter 606 - Oklahoma Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (OPDES) Standards
Subchapter 8 - Biosolids Requirements
Section 252:606-8-6 - Land application of biosolids
Universal Citation: OK Admin Code 252:606-8-6
Current through Vol. 41, No. 13, March 15, 2024
(a) Compliance. All permittees shall operate a land application site pursuant to the terms of the DEQ issued permit and DEQ approved sludge management plan.
(b) Requirements.
(1)
Certification. When required by the DEQ, the owner, generator or
operator must certify that the land application system will be operated
according to this Chapter.
(2)
One applier. A land application site shall be used by only one
land applier at a time unless the DEQ approves other users.
(3)
Subsequent use for land
application. The DEQ may approve a previously used land application site
for subsequent land application.
(4)
Multiple sources. A land
applier who owns or operates more than one source facility or surface
impoundment may utilize the same land application site for the application of
biosolids from the multiple facilities or impoundments with prior written
approval of the DEQ.
(5)
Topography. A land application site must have minimal slope or be
contoured to prevent ponding and soil erosion. No application can occur on land
having a slope exceeding five percent (5%) but less than ten percent (10%)
unless erosion or runoff controls are implemented for liquid biosolids. Land
having a slope greater than ten percent (10%) may be utilized for land
application of dewatered and dried biosolids only with DEQ approval.
(6)
Off-site hauling. The owner,
generator or operator must prevent biosolids and mud from a land application
site from being carried off-site. If necessary, biosolids hauling vehicles must
be cleaned prior to leaving the site and the rinse water disposed of in
accordance with DEQ rules.
(7)
Manner. Land apply sludge in a manner to prevent surface runoff
and to control objectionable odors. Incorporate sludge into the soil before the
end of each working day. Do not store or land apply, or allow to run off,
sludge or wastewater to wetlands or waters of the state. Discharges to waters
of the state are prohibited without a discharge permit under OAC
252:606.
(8)
pH
limits. Any site with soil having a natural pH of less than 5.5 cannot
be used for the land application of biosolids unless the soil pH is amended
prior to application of biosolids. Documentation of soil amendment must be
placed in the land applier's compliance records.
(9)
Phosphorus and nitrogen.
Annual biosolids land application rate cannot exceed nitrogen and phosphorus
rates for the crop grown and cannot be applied in rates that result in
phytotoxicity.
(10)
Soil
sampling.
(A)
Sample and
analysis. All background and annual soil sampling and analyses must be
of a composite sample taken from an area 80 acres or less in size for each site
proposed or used for the land application of biosolids. The DEQ may approve
larger sampling areas on a case by case basis. Soil testing procedures
applicable for use in the local area in accordance with Oklahoma State
University soil testing guidance or the local NRCS may be used.
(B)
Operational soil monitoring.
A land applier must collect representative soil samples and have them analyzed
as follows:
(i) For soil pH and the nutrients
- nitrogen (N), ammonia (NH4 ), nitrates
(NO3 ), potassium (K) and phosphorus (P) prior to the
next annual application of biosolids;
(ii) For metals in Table 3 of
40 CFR §
503.13(b) after every third
year of use prior to the fourth year of use; and
(iii) For all required background metals
prior to the fourth year of biosolids application on each site.
(11)
Laboratory
analyses.
(A) All biosolids analyses
required by this Subchapter must be performed by an accredited
laboratory.
(B) All soil analyses
performed under 606-8-6(b)(10)(B)(i) must be performed by an accredited
laboratory or by a university laboratory that demonstrates to the reasonable
satisfaction of the DEQ to have the analytical expertise and be familiar with
Oklahoma crops and soils.
(12)
Monitoring wells. The DEQ
may require monitor wells and boreholes in connection with the land application
of biosolids. These wells must be designed, constructed and plugged in
accordance with OAC 785:35.
(c) Restrictions.
(1)
Weather. Do not land apply
when the ground is frozen or saturated.
(2)
Endangered or threatened
species. Land application cannot occur if it is likely to adversely
affect a threatened or endangered species listed under Section 4 of the federal
Endangered Species Act,
16
U.S.C. 1533(c), or the
critical habitat of such species.
(3)
Metal and selenium concentration
limits. A land applier must notify the DEQ by telephone within 24 hours
and follow up with a written report if the metal or selenium concentrations
exceed those in
40 CFR §
503.13(b)(3) (Table 3) or
risk the revocation of the land application permit. Municipal biosolids that
exceed the metal or selenium concentration limits set forth in
40 CFR, §
503.13(b)(1) (Table 1)
cannot be land applied, but may be:
(A)
incinerated at an incinerator permitted by the DEQ; or
(B) disposed at a solid waste landfill
permitted by the DEQ for such waste disposal. Any biosolids disposed in a
landfill must meet the pathogen and vector reduction requirements of this
Subchapter.
(4)
Heavy Metals. The DEQ shall not approve the land application of
biosolids that contains heavy metals above the concentration ranges normal to
biosolids or sludges with a demonstrated effectiveness on Oklahoma soils,
unless the permittee provides a study on the effects of the biosolids on a
variety of Oklahoma soils and crops found at the location of the proposed land
application site. Said study shall:
(A) be
conducted by a qualified research institute familiar with crops and soils in
Oklahoma and approved by the DEQ;
(B) be included with the sludge management
plan; and
(C) demonstrate the
effect of the sludge during four (4) growing seasons.
(5)
Biosolids generated outside the
State of Oklahoma. For municipal biosolids, whether Class A or Class B
generated outside the State of Oklahoma, the biosolids produced shall meet all
federal and state statutory requirements and the DEQ shall receive and approve
test results demonstrating the quality of the biosolids, including samples of
each load of biosolids performed by an independent laboratory approved by the
DEQ and an agreement that the DEQ may perform random quality assurance sampling
at the site of the generation of the biosolids prior to any biosolids coming
into the State of Oklahoma.
(6)
Karst soils. The use of land application sites that overlie areas
subject to karstification (i.e. sink holes or underground streams generally
occurring in areas underlain by limestone, gypsum or dolomite), is prohibited,
unless approved by the DEQ.
Added at 26 Ok Reg 1901, eff 7-1-09
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