U. S. EPA Finalizes Stricter Regulation of Sewage Sludge Incinerators

Update, 2/28/11:

After having a court decline EPA's request for a longer extension of time to finalize two new Clean Air Act rules affecting sewage sludge incinerators, Agency Director Linda Jackson signed the new definition of non-hazardous solid waste rule and the sewage sludge incinerator MACT rule on February 21, 2011.  Details in the NEBRA News....

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On October 14th, EPA proposed MACT standards under Section 129 of the Clean Air Act.  Details here.

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In late April, 2010, the U. S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) proposed new regulations clarifying what secondary non-hazardous materials are to be regulated under Section 129 rather than Section 112 of the Clean Air Act.  This proposed rule would significantly affect sewage sludge incinerators.  The comment period for this rule is closed.

NEBRA created an Information Update on this matter. 

For a copy of EPA's pre-publication discussion, click here.

More information about the proposed rule is available at this EPA website.

NEBRA's comments, submitted to the U. S. EPA docket on 8/3/10, are here.

As the rule-making above defines sewage sludge that is combusted as a non-hazardous solid waste, it requires that, in accordance with Clean Air Act Section 129, EPA set Maximum Achievable Control Technology (MACT) standards for sewage sludge incinerators.  An October 14, 2010 Federal Register notice announced a proposed rule with these new standards.  See NEBRA news story for details.