§ 275.312. Site characteristics.
No person or municipality may apply sewage sludge to a site unless the site complies with the following:
(1) The site has soils that fall within the United States Department of Agriculture textural classes of sandy loam, loam, sandy clay loam, silty clay loam or silt loam, unless otherwise approved by the Department in the permit.
(2) The soils have a minimum depth from surface to bedrock of 20 inches.
(3) The site has a minimum depth from surface to seasonal high water table of 20 inches. The operator may establish this minimum depth through the use of a tile drain system, if approved by the Department in the permit.
(4) Slopes to be utilized for sludge application do not exceed 15%, except as follows:
(i) Slopes up to 20% may be approved in the permit for the surface application of sludge to well established hayfields, pastures and cover crops, or on no-till crops where the previous no-till crop was harvested in a manner that left adequate residue.
(ii) Slopes up to 25% may be approved in the permit for the subsurface injection of sludge if the following are met:
(A) The sludge is applied to well established hayfields, pastures and cover crops, or on no-till crops where the previous no-till crop was harvested in a manner that left adequate residue.
(B) The injection unit is capable of uniformly injecting the sludge beneath the surface on the slope to prevent ponding, runoff and other nuisances.
(5) Soil pH is 6.5 or greater prior to land application, unless the Department allows the operator to increase pH by application of sludge or other material, in which case soil pH shall be 6.5 or greater within 6 months following the first application of sludge.
(6) Except as provided in paragraph (5), soil pH at the site shall be maintained at 6.5 or greater for the life of land application operations and for 2 additional years following the last application of sludge to the site.
(7) If the site is planted with nursery crops that require a pH of less than 6.5, the Department may approve a soil pH of 5.8 or greater in the permit.
Notes of Decisions General Comments
This regulation is not ambiguous. P.A.S.S., Inc. v. Department of Environmental Protection, 1995 EHB 1308.
Cross References This section cited in 25 Pa. Code § 275.311 (relating to general requirements); and 25 Pa. Code § 285.134 (relating to storage of sewage sludge in piles).
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