South Carolina Code of Regulations
Chapter 61 - DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL
Subchapter 61-9 - Water Pollution Control Permits
Subchapter 61-9.503 - STANDARDS FOR THE USE OR DISPOSAL OF SEWAGE SLUDGE
Part C - SURFACE DISPOSAL
Section 61-9.503.C.22 - General requirements

Universal Citation: SC Code Regs 61-9.503.C.22

Current through Register Vol. 48, No. 9, September 27, 2024

(a) No person shall place sewage sludge on an active sewage sludge unit unless the requirements in this part are met.

(1) The following activities or conditions constitute surface disposal (unless the Department has issued a permit for the specific activity):
(i) Storage of sewage sludge, excluding sludge treatment, for more than two (2) years constitutes surface disposal.

(ii) The design storage capacity of sewage sludge will not be permitted to exceed two (2) years at the treatment plant design conditions, or

(iii) Accumulation of sewage sludge in a wastewater treatment unit to greater than fifty (50) percent of the capacity of the unit or to an average depth of greater than design depth constitutes surface disposal of sludge under this regulation, or

(iv) Storage of sewage sludge that adversely impacts the overall facility operation and maintenance or results in an excessive sludge inventory, may result in a facility being identified as a surface disposal site.

(2) For any facility, except a landfill or a sludge only monofill, meeting the definition of a surface disposal site on or after the date of this regulation, a report detailing the final closure of the site must be submitted to the Bureau of Water Pollution Control, Department of Health and Environmental Control, within one (1) year after the date of this regulation. The facility must be closed within five (5) years after the date of this regulation, and a plan must provide a schedule showing how the closure will be accomplished.

(3) Surface disposal of sewage sludge to existing active surface disposal facilities that are not permitted under R.61-258 must cease within three (3) years after the date of this regulation, or sufficient amounts of sludge must be removed from the facility in order to change the facility's classification.

(b) An active sewage sludge unit located within 60 meters of a fault that has displacement in Holocene time; located in an unstable area; or located in a wetland, except as provided in a permit issued pursuant to either section402 or 404 of the CWA, shall close by March 22, 1994, unless, in the case of an active sewage sludge unit located within 60 meters of a fault that has displacement in Holocene time, otherwise specified by the Department.

(c) The owner/operator of an active sewage sludge unit shall submit a written closure and post closure plan to the Department 180 days prior to the date that the active sewage sludge unit closes. The plan shall describe how the sewage sludge unit will be closed and, at a minimum, shall include:

(1) A discussion of how the leachate collection system will be operated and maintained for three years after the sewage sludge unit closes if the sewage sludge unit has a liner and leachate collection system.

(2) A description of the system used to monitor for methane gas in the air in any structures within the surface disposal site and in the air at the property line of the surface disposal site, as required in section503.24(j)(2)(j)(2).

(3) A discussion of how public access to the surface disposal site will be restricted for three years after the last sewage sludge unit in the surface disposal site closes.

(d) The owner of a surface disposal site shall provide written notification to the subsequent owner of the site that sewage sludge was placed on the land.

(e) Surface disposal of sludge in a landfill, including sludge only monofills, shall comply with State Solid Waste regulations and requirements in permits.

(f) Surface disposal of sludge by land application may be considered if the proposed application rates are at or below the agronomic rates as defined in section503.11(b)(b); additional requirements as defined in section503.12 may be applied on a case-by-case basis.

(g) If a deleterious impact to the groundwaters of the State from sewage sludge use or disposal practices is documented, through groundwater monitoring levels exceeding the standards set forth in R.61-68 or a significant adverse trend occurs, then it will be the obligation of the generator/preparer of the sewage sludge as directed by the Department to conduct an investigation to determine the vertical and horizontal extent of groundwater impact. The Department may require remediation of the groundwater to within acceptable levels for groundwater as set forth in R.61-68.

Disclaimer: These regulations may not be the most recent version. South Carolina may have more current or accurate information. We make no warranties or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness, or adequacy of the information contained on this site or the information linked to on the state site. Please check official sources.
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