News

 (with information from the Government of Nova Scotia, Kings County Advertiser/NovaNewsNow.com, the Chronicle Herald, and Marc Hébert)

In a late summer news release, the Nova Scotia Department of Environment announced  stricter guidelines for the land-application and storage of municipal biosolids. “Biosolids are organic, nutrient-rich materials that help plants and trees grow, and need to be properly managed,” said Environment Minister Sterling Belliveau.  “The province has listened and we are addressing concerns about the way biosolids have been managed in the past, so that biosolids users, and all Nova Scotians benefit.”

The new guidelines come at a time when some local concerns about biosolids land application continue to simmer.  In Kings County, members of the Nova Scotia Environmental Network urged a county moratorium on land application.  But, instead, the county council decided to ask staff to prepare a report (http://thechronicleherald.ca/NovaScotia/1146137.html)

The stricter guidelines were developed from recommendations by an independent committee of citizens, facility managers, wastewater researchers, regulators, and representatives from all levels of government. The guidelines are based on the latest biosolids science and research.  The Nova Scotia Biosolids Science and Advisory Committee gave its report, Biosolids Management in Nova Scotia: Issues and Recommendations, to the Department of Environment last year.  The report contains many recommendations intended to improve the way biosolids are managed and used. The province is implementing all recommendations, many through the guideline revisions.  “We are thankful for the independent committee’s work,” said Mr. Belliveau.

The guidelines include the following measures:
•    It is not permitted to use untreated wastewater or sewage on agricultural land in Nova Scotia.
•    Biosolids users must follow proper land application and storage procedures.
•    Biosolids treatment and land application programs require permits from the Department of Environment.
•    Only the highest quality biosolids (Class A) are allowed on agricultural lands; no site approval is required for use of this material.  However, Class B biosolids require a site approval and can only be applied on non-agricultural land.
•    Biosolids quality standards have been simplified and made consistent with the province’s compost standards.  Both Class A and Class B classifications have standards for concentrations of metals, dioxins/furans, and PCBs, as well as pathogens.  Some of these standards were adopted from BNQ and Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment (CCME) standards for composts.  Pathogen treatments generally follow U. S. EPA Part 503 standards.
•    Receiving soils must be tested for cumulative metals and remain within limits set by the CCME.
•    Field stockpiling of biosolids with greater than 20% solids is allowed, as is land application on flood plain soils, with certain restrictions.
•    Treatment plants with land application programs must test for additional contaminants, including dioxins, furans, thallium, and fire retardants.
•    Increased review and enforcement of approved programs.

The Department noted that “the biosolids recycling process is an environmentally acceptable way to manage the sewage sludge that continues to be generated by municipal treatment facilities. The use of biosolids on land is common throughout Canada, the United States, and other countries…. Nova Scotia is working with other jurisdictions across the country to develop national standards and policies for the use of biosolids.”

For more information:  www.gov.ns.ca/nse/wastewater/.

(from http://www.ene.gov.on.ca/en/land/nasm/index.php)

On September 18, 2009, the Ministry of the Environment and the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs jointly announced new rules and guidelines for applying non-agricultural source materials (NASM) to farmland. Changes to the management of non-agricultural source materials are designed to strengthen the rules and remove overlapping approval processes for farmers and generators of NASM.

The new rules establish consistent standards and requirements across the province which focus on the quality of the material being land-applied, ensuring it meets strict criteria and is beneficial to the soil. The revised regulations will cover all Ontario farms where non-agricultural source material will be applied.

NASM includes yard waste, fruit and vegetable peels, food processing waste, pulp and paper biosolids and sewage biosolids. Proper spreading of these materials on farmland returns essential nutrients to the soil to help foster new plant growth. It allows the soil to breathe and hold water, decreasing water runoff and soil erosion and increasing overall water conservation. Soils that have good organic matter content are easier to work and plant roots can find water and nutrients more easily.

New requirements focus on the quality of the material being land applied, building on standards that already exist. They include greater consideration of alternatives and cover all the agricultural land where non-agricultural source material will be applied in Ontario.

The requirements are detailed in the regulation. A plain language guide to the regulatory requirements will be ready in late fall.

The requirements will take effect in two stages. Stage 1 changes will take effect immediately upon filing of the regulation and consists of general requirements that establish the framework. The general requirements are needed to transition to the requirements of the new system for managing NASM which take effect at stage 2 on January 1, 2011. Transition periods are also outlined within the regulation to assist in moving from the current framework of approvals to the new requirements.

Note:  This month, Toronto released its Biosolids Master Plan, which will provide guidance on the city’s biosolids management program up to 2025.  See details at http://www.toronto.ca/wes/techservices/involved/wws/biosolids/index.htm.