Statewide General Permit for Biosolids Management Issued June 15, 2022
Permit Issuance
The Department of Ecology will issue the final statewide general permit for biosolids management on June 15, 2022. It will replace the expired general permit, and go into effect on July 15, 2022. This general permit is the primary regulatory mechanism in Washington for approving the final use or disposal of biosolids.
Ecology previously sought public comments on the draft general permit for biosolids management two separate times. Public comments were initially sought on the preliminary determination to issue a new general permit. This comment period ended on January 24, 2020. Ecology received twenty-five comments. This initial Response to Comments on the tentative decision to issue a general permit is available online.
Public comments were also requested on the draft statewide general permit. The comment period ended July 12, 2021. Ecology received one hundred and forty-six comments. The Response to Comments on the draft general permit is available online. An explanation of any changes made to the final general permit based on feedback received (other than editorial changes), and the principal reasons for adopting the changes is included at the start of the response to comments.
Operations subject to the Permit
The general permit will apply to all treatment works treating domestic sewage in the state.
This includes:
- Publicly owned wastewater treatment plants;
- Privately owned wastewater treatment plants that treat only domestic sewage;
- Composting facilities and other separate treatment facilities that use biosolids as a feedstock;
- Biosolids beneficial use facilities; and
- Septage management facilities.
Regulated activities include production, treatment, storage, transferring, beneficial use, and disposal of biosolids. Beneficial uses include application to the land (including septage from onsite wastewater treatment systems and similar devices), and selling or giving away biosolids or products derived from biosolids such as compost and soil products.
The general permit is applicable within the jurisdiction of the state of Washington. Facilities on federal lands and Washington tribal lands that manage biosolids wholly within their jurisdiction are not subject to this permit. Facilities on federal and Washington tribal lands, and those located in other states or countries that transport biosolids into the jurisdiction of the state of Washington are subject to state program requirements, may be required to pay a fee, and may or may not require coverage under the permit, depending on the reason for exporting biosolids.
Three hundred and seventy-five facilities originally submitted a notice of intent to apply for coverage under the new general permit. An updated list of facilities including what permit section(s) they are subject to and more information about the permit structure and application process is available online.
Permit Applications
Permit application requirements differ depending upon the coverage required. Some existing facilities (those without active management programs) will have automatic final coverage on the effective date of the permit (July 15, 2022). Other facilities must submit a complete permit application within 90 days of the issuance of the general permit, and are subject to further review, and potentially additional or more stringent requirements following evaluation of their permit application. All facilities that started operations after September 4, 2020, are required to submit a complete permit application within 90 days of the issuance of the general permit, and comply with any SEPA and public notice requirements. Facilities that have met all these requirements are "provisionally" approved for coverage under the general permit. Each active management facility's application and biosolids program operations will receive a full review prior to issuing "final" approval of coverage.
Appeals
The terms and conditions of the general permit may be appealed. Any appeal must be filed with the Pollution Control Hearings Board and served on ecology on or before July 15, 2022. More information about the appeals process is available online.
Contact Information
For more information or assistance, please contact:
Emily Kijowski
Acting Statewide Biosolids Coordinator
Department of Ecology
P.O. Box 47600
Olympia, WA 98504-7600
Phone: 360-789-6592
