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DEP is the local defender of the environment, but they have little control over what GRU does. If GRU follows the standards established by FDEP and EPA, they will receive permits for sludge application on farmland. (See email below.) |
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Date: Wed, 22 May 2002 15:16:54 -0400
From: John Mousa
Ms Schwab,
See the attached information concerning the GRU sludge or "biosolids"
residuals that Joy McBane of EPD staff has obtained. I believe this answers
most of your questions. The remaining issues that Joy is trying to get some
information on is the analytical data from GRU on the analysis of the biosolids.
GRU has indicated they will send the information to us. EPD will review and
let you know about the comparison to state standards.
Another issue that we are following up on is a listing of all the sludge
application sites in the County and whether they are still being used by any
municipal utility and the permit status of these sites. This will take a little
longer.
In the meantime if you have any further questions you may call Joy McBane at
264- 6800 or you may also contact Paul Davis or James Hope at GRU.
John,
James Hope with GRU can be contacted regarding GRU's domestic wastewater
residuals and application sites. His number is 334-3501. I researched Ms.
Schwab's questions and here is some information that I came up with. Wastewater
residuals (also referred to as biosolids) can only be land applied if the
facility generating the residuals (ie. GRU) has a valid FDEP permit that
includes an approved Agricultural Use Plan for all it's application sites. For
GRU's upcoming permit renewal, three different Agricultural Use Plans were
submitted, one for each of the following sites; Roger Williams Farm in Archer,
Buddy Waters Farm in Hawthorne, and Kanapaha Backyard in SW Gainesville. Paul
Davis with GRU said that the majority of their residuals go to Roger Williams
Farm in Archer. He also stated that in 2001 the Main Street WWTP generated
1,001 dry metric tons of biosolids and the Kanapaha Reclamation Facility
generated 1,665 dry metric tons of biosolids.
As far as soil evaluation criteria for application site selection, the state
really doesn't require any (see Rule 62-640). The rule states that FDEP might
require monitoring of surface and ground water if they determine that, because
of the physical and hydrogeological characteristics of the site, monitoring is
necessary to protect the designated uses of water bodies. At this point, GRU is
not required by the state to conduct any water quality monitoring at it's land
application sites. The rule states that all land application sites shall have a
minimum unsaturated soil depth of two feet above the water table at the time of
application. The rule also states that the land application zone and the area
200 feet around the zone shall contain no visible evidence of subsurface
fractures, solution cavities, sink holes, excavation core holes, abandoned
wells, or any other natural or man-made conduits that could allow for the direct
contamination of ground water.
Finally, Paul Davis stated that GRU typically doesn't run into situations where
they can't land apply their biosolids. Roger Williams has a large storage tank
(175,000 gallons) on site to store the biosolids during inclement weather.
In the past, GRU has sampled private wells in the vicinity of Roger William's
Farm as a response to public concerns regarding possible impacts to their
drinking water. Paul Davis with GRU stated that lab results show nitrate levels
at or below background levels. For more information Paul Davis can be reached
at 334-3400 ext. 1636.
I have attached the state's Domestic Wastewater Residuals Rule (62-640) and the
components of the required Agricultural Use Plan. I hope this information
helps.
Joy McBane
Environmental Specialist
Alachua County Environmental Protection Department
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