Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. R. 391-3-4-.16 - Composting and Anaerobic Digestion Facilities
(1) Composting is a desirable means of
reducing the amount of solid waste destined for disposal. All composting
facilities not exempted in
391-3-4-.16(3)
shall either be regulated under Permit-by-Rule in
391-3-4-.16(5)(b)
or shall obtain a Solid Waste Handling Permit in accordance with either
391-3-4-.16(5)(c),
391-3-4-.16(5)(d),
391-3-4-.16(5)(e),
or 391-3-4-.16(5)(f)
depending on the technology employed and feedstocks processed.
(a) Composting facilities in existence on the
effective date of this Rule may continue to operate until March 31, 2015 under
their existing permit, or Permit-by-Rule, before demonstrating compliance under
conditions (i) - (vii) of this section. Existing facilities requesting major
modifications after the effective date of this Rule must fully comply with this
Rule. Facilities that cannot demonstrate compliance with conditions (i) - (vii)
of this section by March 31, 2015 shall initiate closure.
(i) Existing Permit-by-Rule composting
facilities that meet the criteria of
391-3-4-.16(5)(b)
1. must comply with the operating standards
of Class 2 Composting Facilities, but are exempted from the design standards of
Class 2 Composting Facilities.
(ii)
Existing permitted composting facilities that classify as Class 3 Composting
Facilities in
391-3-4-.16(5)(c) 1. and
2. must comply with the operating standards
of Class 3 facilities, but are exempted from the design standards of Class 3
facilities.
(iii) Existing
permitted composting facilities that classify as Class 4 Composting Facilities
in 391-3-4-.16(5)(d) 1. and
2. must comply with the operating standards
of Class 3 and Class 4 facilities, but are exempted from the design standards
of Class 3 and Class 4 facilities.
(iv) Existing permitted composting facilities
that classify as Class 5 Composting Facilities in
391-3-4-.16(5)(e)
1. must comply with the operating standards
of Class 3, Class 4, and Class 5 facilities, but are exempted from the design
standards of Class 3, Class 4, and Class 5 facilities.
(v) Existing permitted composting facilities
that classify as Class 6 In-vessel Composting and Anaerobic Digestion
Facilities in
391-3-4-.16(5)(f)
1. must comply with the operating standards
of Class 6 facilities, but are exempted from the design standards of Class 6
facilities.
(vi) All existing
composting and anaerobic digestion facilities are exempt from the siting
criteria of
391-3-4-.16(6),
unless applying for a major modification as in
391-3-4-.16(7)(a)
1. or 2.
(vii) All existing composting and anaerobic
digestion facilities, other than those operating as Permit-by-Rule facilities,
must comply with the testing requirements of
391-3-4-.16(8).
(2) Definitions. For the purposes of this
Rule:
(a) "Aerated Static Pile Composting"
means a process in which decomposing organic material is placed in piles over
an air distribution system to supply oxygen for the purpose of producing
compost.
(b) "Agricultural
Residuals" means the residuals from customary and generally accepted
activities, practices, and procedures that farmers adopt, use, or engage in
during the production and preparation for market of poultry, livestock, and
associated farm products; and in the production and harvesting of agricultural
crops, which include agronomic, horticultural, and silvicultural crops, and
residuals resulting from aquacultural activities. It also includes residuals
from harvesting and production of row crops and manures. The term does not
include dead animals, wastewater or special wastes, such as waste oils or other
lubricants, unused fertilizers, pesticides, or pesticide containers.
(c) "Anaerobic Digester" means an enclosed
vessel that processes organic material under anaerobic conditions to produce
biogas and digestate.
(d)
"Anaerobic Digestion" means the controlled decomposition of organic material
under anaerobic conditions in an anaerobic digester to produce biogas and
digestate.
(e) "Backyard
Composting" means composting of yard trimmings and food residuals, managed so
as not to attract vectors, at residential, commercial, or industrial property
by the owner or tenant for use on site. All feedstocks must be generated and
composted on site.
(f) "Biogas"
means gas generated by anaerobic digestion.
(g) "Compost" means a stabilized organic
product produced by a controlled aerobic decomposition process that can be used
as a soil additive, fertilizer, growth media or other beneficial use.
(h) "Composting Facility" means buildings,
grounds and equipment dedicated to the manufacture of compost.
(i) "Contact Water" means a liquid that has
passed through or emerged from raw feedstocks and materials that are being
processed; liquid that has come into contact with equipment that is dedicated
to the composting or anaerobic digestion process; and which contains extracted,
dissolved or suspended materials. Contact water also includes condensate from
gases resulting from the composting and the anaerobic digestion
processes.
(j) "Curing" means, for
the purposes of composting and anaerobic digestion, a continuation of the
composting process after the high heat stage during which stability and
maturity continue to increase. For the purposes of these regulations, compost
enters the curing stage after completing the process to further reduce
pathogens.
(k) "Digestate" means
the residual solids or liquids remaining after organic material has been
processed in an anaerobic digester.
(l) "Feedstock" means any organic material
used in the production of compost or processed in an anaerobic digester.
Feedstocks shall not include additives or amendments that are not part of the
composting process.
(m) "Food
Processing Residuals" means organic material generated as a by-product of the
food-processing sector that is non-hazardous and contains no domestic
wastewater. For the purposes of these regulations, the term applies to use as a
feedstock in the composting or anaerobic digestion process and does not include
dissolved air flotation (DAF) skimmings or fats, oil, and greases.
(n) "Food Residuals" means pre- and
post-consumer food used as a feedstock in a composting or anaerobic digestion
facility.
(o) "Industrial
By-product" means organic materials generated by manufacturing or industrial
processes that are non-hazardous, contain no domestic wastewater, and pass the
paint filter test.
(p) "In-vessel
Composting" means the aerobic decomposition of organic material in an enclosed
container for the purpose of producing compost.
(q) "Maturity" means a measure of the degree
of completion of the composting process.
(r) "Source-separated Organics" means organic
material including, but not limited to, food residuals, food processing
residuals, and compostable paper that has been separated from non-compostable
material.
(s) "Stability" means the
inverse measure of the potential for a material to rapidly decompose that is
measured by indicators of microbial activity, such as carbon dioxide
production, oxygen uptake, or self-heating.
(3) Exemptions.
(a) The following composting operations are
exempt from a Solid Waste Handling Permit:
1.
Backyard composting.
2. A facility
composting only Category A feedstock.
3. A facility processing less than 40 tons
per year of food residuals generated on site and composted in leak-proof
containers that prohibit vector attraction and prevent nuisance odor
generation.
4. Composting of food
residuals and yard trimmings generated on site at a K-12 institution for
educational purposes.
5. Composting
of biosolids at a treatment works regulated by a National Pollutant Discharge
Elimination System (NPDES) permit, Land Application System (LAS) permit, or
other permit from EPD, and in which case that permit has been modified in
accordance with the Georgia Rules for Water Quality Control
391-3-6-.17(3)(c)
1. to incorporate any necessary requirements
for regulating the composting operation.
6. Composting of dead animals, provided such
composting is in accordance with the requirements of the Georgia Dead Animal
Disposal Act (O.C.G.A. §4-5) and Georgia Department of Agriculture Rules
(Chapter 40-13-5).
7. Anaerobic
digestion facilities that are permitted in accordance with the Georgia Rules
for Water Quality Control. These include facilities located at a wastewater
treatment plant and on-farm anaerobic digesters or lagoons.
8. Manures managed in accordance with the
Georgia Rules for Water Quality Control.
(4) Feedstock Categories.
(a) The categories described below are not
intended to be all-inclusive. Case-by-case determinations by the Division may
be necessary concerning selection of the appropriate category for a particular
feedstock, including industrial by-products not elsewhere classified.
Accordingly, the Division may require that analytical and/or process
information be supplied by the owner or operator to assist in making such
determinations. At a minimum, the Division will require applicants to provide
an analysis of metals and proof of compostability of the potential feedstock,
including C:N ratio and soluble salts.
1.
Feedstock Category A: Yard trimmings, land-clearing debris, agricultural
residuals generated and processed on site, untreated and unpainted wood, or any
combination thereof.
2. Feedstock
Category B: Agricultural residuals generated off site, herbivorous animal
manure generated at a zoo, and/or source-separated organics.
3. Feedstock Category C: Sewage sludge and
biosolids not managed as part of a treatment works under an NPDES or LAS
permit.
4. Feedstock Category D:
Dissolved air flotation (DAF) skimmings or sludge generated from food
processing and dewatered septage.
(b) Prohibited feedstocks include:
1. Asbestos-containing wastes.
2. Biomedical wastes.
3. Painted and treated wood.
4. Any other prohibited wastes included in
391-3-4-.04(6).
(5) Design and Operating Standards for
Composting Facilities by Class.
(a) Class 1
Composting Facilities
1. Facilities composting
only Category A feedstock do not require a Solid Waste Handling
Permit.
2. A permitted solid waste
handling facility shall submit a minor modification prior to adding a Class 1
composting operation on site.
(b) Class 2 Composting Facilities
1. Facilities composting Category A and B
feedstocks that meet both of the following criteria may operate under a
Permit-by-Rule for Composting Facilities:
(i)
Facilities receiving less than 500 tons of Category B feedstock per calendar
month.
(ii) For Class 2 facilities,
Category B feedstocks shall be restricted to exclude the receipt of
non-vegetative food processing residuals and manures.
2. The design standards for Class 2
facilities include:
(i) The composting area
shall be constructed to maintain its structural integrity under operating
conditions and be capable of supporting vehicular traffic.
(ii) The composting facility shall be
adequate in size and capacity to manage the projected volume of compost and
residue generated. The areas for storing feedstocks prior to processing shall
be clearly defined and the maximum capacity specified.
(iii) For windrow operations, the maximum
composting process windrow size and minimum composting process windrow spacing
shall match the capability and requirements of the equipment used at the
facility.
3. The
operating standards for Class 2 facilities include:
(i) The composting facility shall have a sign
at its entrance that lists the name of the facility, hours of operation,
feedstocks accepted, and emergency contact information.
(ii) The composting facility shall have storm
water control measures.
(iii) The
composting facility shall prevent flow of contact water from the active
composting area into surface water and curing or finished compost
areas.
(iv) Suitable measures to
control vectors shall be applied.
(v) Suitable measures to control odors shall
be applied.
(vi) Suitable measures
to prevent, control, and extinguish fires shall be applied.
(vii) By the end of each operating day, all
incoming Category B feedstock must be processed into the active composting
area, transferred to leak-proof containment, or mixed with bulking material and
covered in a manner that minimizes nuisance odors and scavenging by
vectors.
(viii) No material shall
be stored in excess of the designated capacity.
(ix) Storage of finished compost on site is
limited to 12 months, unless approved by the Division on a case-by-case
basis.
(x) Non-compostable material
and solid waste generated on site shall be stored in a waste container and then
either recycled or disposed of at a permitted solid waste facility.
(xi) Facilities accepting Category B
feedstocks from off site shall track incoming feedstocks and finished compost.
Records documenting compliance of the composting facility with these Rules
shall be kept for a minimum of three years in a form suitable for submission to
or inspection by the Division. Records shall include the weight or volume (in
tons or cubic yards) of the feedstocks accepted, total compost produced, and
any amount sold or used. Records shall be retained at the composting facility
unless an off- site storage location is approved by the Division.
(xii) Operation and management shall be under
the supervision and control of an individual properly trained in the operation
of such facilities at all times. Facility operations managers must be able to
document training in the basics of composting facility operations.
(xiii) Notice of final closure shall be
provided to the Director within 60 days from final receipt of feedstock. Any
site not receiving feedstock in excess of 180 days, unless properly closed or
otherwise approved by the Division, shall be deemed closed and in violation of
these Rules. Notice of closure shall include documentation that all feedstocks
and active, curing, and final compost materials have been removed from the
facility and that the site has been stabilized in accordance with the Manual
for Erosion and Sediment Control in Georgia.
(c) Class 3 Composting Facilities
1. Any composting facility that is neither
exempt under
391-3-4-.16(3), nor
meets the conditions for Class 2 Composting Facilities in
391-3-4-.16(5)(b),
shall obtain a permit in accordance with following requirements:
2. Class 3 composting facilities may compost
Category A and B feedstocks.
3. The
design standards for Class 3 facilities include:
(i) The composting facility shall be designed
by a professional engineer licensed to practice in Georgia.
(ii) An all-weather compost pad shall be
designed, constructed, and maintained to (1) prevent ponding and impede
downward migration of potential contaminants from contact water; (2) reliably
transmit any free liquid present during the storage, treatment, and processing
of materials laterally to a containment structure to prevent liquids from
entering surface water or groundwater; (3) support vehicular traffic; and (4)
prevent conditions that could contribute to or cause contamination.
(iii) Surfaces on which composting takes
place shall be graded with a slope between 2% and 6% to prevent ponding of
water.
(iv) The site shall be
graded to prevent the flow of water from the active composting area into curing
or finished compost areas.
(v)
Prior to receiving feedstocks, the Division shall be provided with written
certification by a professional engineer licensed to practice in Georgia, that
the facility has been constructed in accordance with the approved permit.
Unless notified otherwise by the Division, within 15 days of receipt of the
written certification, the facility owner or operator may commence composting
operations.
(vi) The owner or
operator shall fully satisfy all applicable financial responsibility
requirements, as provided by Chapter
391-3-4-.13. The financial assurance
mechanism shall be updated at least annually for inflation and for any
modifications required and approved by the Division.
(vii) An as-built survey of the facility,
prepared by a Georgia-registered professional surveyor, shall be submitted with
the engineering certification.
(viii) Contact water collection and removal
systems shall be designed for incorporating the liquid back into the compost
piles or for removal and treatment in a manner approved by the Division.
Contact water may be used in the composting operation for moisture addition
only in active compost piles that have not completed the process to further
reduce pathogens.
(ix) The maximum
composting process windrow size and minimum composting process windrow spacing
shall match the capability and requirements of the equipment used at the
facility.
(x) The composting
facility shall submit a site-specific odor minimization plan that includes, at
a minimum, the following:
(I) A complaint
response protocol.
(II) A
description of operating procedures for minimizing odor.
(III) A description of the processes and
technologies used to control odors.
(IV) A description of procedures to monitor
odor, including sampling frequencies and method(s) used to measure
odors.
(xi) The
composting facility shall submit a contingency plan detailing corrective or
remedial actions to be taken in the event of equipment breakdown; odors;
unacceptable waste delivered to the facility; spills; and other undesirable
conditions such as fire, dust, noise, vectors, unusual traffic conditions, and
litter. The plan shall also include the proposed emergency provisions for
equipment breakdown or power failure.
4. The operating standards for Class 3
include:
(i) Operation and management shall be
under the supervision and control of an individual properly trained in the
operation of such facilities at all times. Facility operations managers must be
able to document training in the basics of composting facility
operations.
(ii) The facility shall
install and maintain storm water management controls.
(iii) Suitable measures to control vectors
shall be applied.
(iv) Suitable
measures to prevent, control, and extinguish fires shall be applied.
(v) By the end of each operating day, all
incoming Category B feedstock shall be processed into the active composting
area, transferred to leak-proof containment, or mixed with bulking material and
covered in a manner that minimizes nuisance odors and scavenging by vectors.
Prior to being incorporated into the active composting area, feedstocks with
free liquid shall be mixed with drier feedstocks, bulking material, or compost
so that the liquid is promptly absorbed and not allowed to flow from the mixing
area.
(vi) Compost processing time
and temperatures shall be sufficient to kill weed seeds, reduce pathogens and
vector attraction, and produce compost that meets the stability necessary for
the intended use. Pathogen and vector attraction reduction compliance shall be
achieved as follows:
(I) Windrow composting:
The compost material shall be maintained at a minimum average temperature of
55°C or higher for 15 days or longer. During the period when the compost is
maintained at 55°C or higher, there shall be a minimum of five turnings of
the windrow. The 15 or more days at or above 55°C do not have to be
continuous.
(II) Aerated static
pile or in-vessel composting: The compost material shall be maintained at a
minimum average temperature of 55°C or higher for three consecutive days,
followed by at least 14 days at over 40°C with an average temperature of
over 45°C.
(vii)
Facilities using aerated static piles shall insulate piles to ensure that all
parts of the decomposing material reach and maintain temperatures at or above
55°C for a minimum of three days.
(viii) The all-weather compost pad must be
maintained to its specified slope and resist deformation that would cause
ponding or increase infiltration of contact water.
(ix) Storage of finished compost on site is
limited to 12 months, unless approved by the Division on a case-by-case
basis.
(x) Non-compostable material
and solid waste generated on site shall be stored in a waste container and then
either recycled or disposed of at a permitted solid waste facility.
(xi) Records shall be maintained to track
incoming feedstocks and finished compost. By September 1 of each year,
operators shall submit a report to the Division that includes the weight or
volume (in tons or cubic yards) of the feedstocks accepted, total compost
produced, and any amount sold or used in the previous fiscal year (July 1 -
June 30).
(xii) Records documenting
compliance of the composting facility with these Rules shall be kept for a
minimum of three years in a form suitable for submission to or inspection by
the Division. Records shall be retained at the composting facility unless an
off-site storage location is approved by the Division.
(xiii) A facility odor minimization plan
shall be maintained and updated as stipulated in the following:
(I) The odor impact minimization plan shall
be revised and submitted to the Division for any major modification as
described in
391-3-4-.16(7).
(II) The odor impact minimization plan shall
be reviewed annually by the operator to determine if any revisions are
necessary.
(III) The odor impact
minimization plan and results of the odor monitoring shall be used by the
Division to determine whether the facility is following the procedures approved
in its permit and its design and operational plan.
(xiv) The composting facility shall have a
sign at its entrance that lists the name of the facility, permit number, days
and hours of operation, feedstocks accepted, and emergency contact
information.
(xv) The composting
facility shall be closed in accordance with Rule
391-3-4-.11.
(d) Class 4 Composting
Facilities
1. Any composting facility that is
neither exempt under
391-3-4-.16(2), nor
meets the conditions for Permit-by-Rule for Composting Facilities in
391-3-4-.16(4)(b),
shall obtain a permit in accordance with following requirements:
2. Class 4 composting facilities may compost
Category A, B, and C feedstocks.
3.
Class 4 composting facilities shall comply with the design and operating
standards for Class 3 composting facilities and the additional design and
operating standards listed below:
(i) The
design standards for Class 4 include:
(I) The
compost pad for the receiving, mixing, and active composting areas shall
prohibit ponding and limit infiltration of contact water by being uniformly
graded at a minimum slope of 2%. The compost pad shall contain a layer to limit
infiltration. This layer shall either be one foot in thickness with a hydraulic
conductivity not exceeding 1x10-5 cm/sec or an approved alternative which meets
or exceed this specification for the purpose of limiting infiltration. The
layer to limit infiltration shall be constructed on a prepared and compacted
subsurface, and overlain by a wearing surface that will resist deformation,
prevent ponding, and prevent the infiltration of contact water. A minimum
separation of five feet is required between the bottom of the infiltration
layer and the seasonal high water table. Industrial waste proposed for the use
in the construction of the compost pad shall be approved by the
Division.
(II) Contact water shall
be contained in a tank with secondary containment or in an impoundment with a
liner system consisting of a one-foot layer of compacted soil with a hydraulic
conductivity of no more than 1x10-7 cm/sec. The liner shall be overlain by a
protective marker layer of sand or stone no less than one foot in thickness. An
alternate liner system with the equivalent ability to limit infiltration may be
approved by the Division.
(ii) The operating standards for Class 4
include:
(I) The composting pad shall be
maintained and repaired as needed. Cracks or other defects identified in the
wearing surface shall be promptly repaired under the supervision of the
facility manager. Any repairs or reconstruction of the layer limiting
infiltration shall be completed under the supervision of a professional
engineer, who shall prepare a report and certification of the repairs. A copy
of the report(s) shall be maintained in the facility's operating records.
Compost materials shall not be placed in areas with damage to the infiltration
layer, and berms or other diversions shall be installed to prevent run-on of
contact water into these areas.
(II) Facilities that compost biosolids or
sewage sludge shall comply with all applicable federal regulations regarding
sludge management at 40 CFR 501 ; 40 CFR 503 ; and 40 CFR 503, Subpart
B.
(III) Groundwater monitoring
systems shall be designed and installed in accordance with
391-3-4-.14. Additionally:
(A) Monitoring parameters shall be
established based on the hydrogeologic data related to the site, the type of
feedstocks accepted at the facility, and waste characterization analyses
performed on incoming feedstocks.
(B) Monitoring shall be conducted
semi-annually, at a minimum.
(IV) By the end of each operating day, all
incoming Category B and C feedstocks shall be processed into the active
composting pile, transferred to leak-proof containment, or mixed with bulking
material and covered in a manner that minimizes nuisance odors and scavenging
by vectors.
(e) Class 5 Composting Facilities
1. Class 5 composting facilities may compost
Category A, B, C, and D feedstocks.
2. Class 5 composting facilities shall comply
with the design and operating standards for Class 3 and 4 composting facilities
and the additional design and operating standards listed below:
(i) The design standards for Class 5 include:
Reserved.
(ii) The operating
standards for Class 5 include:
(I) The
feedstock receiving and mixing areas shall be in an enclosed structure. The
receiving area of the composting operation shall be constructed of asphalt,
concrete, or a composite liner system. Receiving entrances shall be closed and
under negative pressure during receipt and processing of Category D
feedstocks.
(II) By the end of each
operating day, all incoming Category B, C, and D feedstocks shall be processed
into the active composting pile, transferred to leak-proof containment, or
mixed with bulking material to minimize nuisance odors and scavenging by
vectors.
(f) Class 6 In-vessel Composting and
Anaerobic Digestion Facilities
1. Class 6
facilities employ in-vessel composting or anaerobic digestion. These facilities
may process Category A, B, C, and D feedstocks.
2. The design standards for Class 6
facilities include:
(i) A description of the
basic site design.
(ii) A
description of the type of technology to be used, including a copy of the
drawings and specifications of the composting or digestion equipment and a
process flow diagram that includes the types of the major material handling
equipment and material flow.
(iii)
A description of the unit's requirements for power, water, and wastewater
removal.
(iv) A description of the
type and quantities of feedstock to be processed.
(v) A description of the storage capacity for
feedstocks, products and digestate, if applicable.
(vi) Anticipated annual operational capacity
in cubic yards or gallons per day.
(vii) A description of the proposed methods
used to control spills, run-off, litter, odors, dust, rodents, and insects,
including the storage of feedstocks, compost and digestate, leak-prevention and
spill release measures, and the methods to monitor effectiveness for control
measures.
(viii) The facility shall
have a site-specific odor minimization plan that includes, at a minimum, the
following:
(I) A complaint response
protocol.
(II) A description of
operating procedures for minimizing odor.
(III) A description of the processes and
technologies used to control odors.
(ix) A contingency plan detailing corrective
or remedial actions to be taken in the event of equipment breakdown; odors;
unacceptable waste delivered to the facility; spills; and other undesirable
conditions such as fire, dust, noise, vectors, unusual traffic conditions, and
litter. The plan shall also include the proposed emergency provisions for
equipment breakdown or power failure.
3. The operating standards for Class 6
facilities include:
(i) Operation and
management shall be under the supervision and control of an individual properly
trained in the operation of such facilities at all times. Facility operations
managers must be able to document training in the basics of composting and/or
anaerobic digestion operations through a course approved by the
Division.
(ii) The facility shall
have a sign at its entrance that lists the name of the facility, permit number,
days and hours of operation, feedstocks accepted, and emergency contact
information.
(iii) The facility
shall install and maintain storm water management controls.
(iv) Suitable measures to control vectors
shall be applied.
(v) Suitable
measures to prevent, control, and extinguish fires shall be applied.
(vi) The operator shall take measures to
prevent spillage and promptly respond to any leaks or spills that
occur.
(vii) By the end of each
operating day, all incoming Category B, C, and D feedstocks shall be processed,
transferred to leak-proof containment, or mixed with bulking material and
covered in a manner that minimizes odors and scavenging by vectors. For
facilities with an anaerobic digester, the feedstocks can be stored in
leak-proof containers with lids that prevent vector or odor problems for a
period of time to allow for proper organic loading of the digester. This time
period shall not exceed four days.
(viii) Digestate not contained in an
in-vessel digester, sealed container, or sealed structure, shall, within 24
hours, be removed from the site and either disposed or processed at a permitted
solid waste facility or incorporated into a permitted, on-site compost
operation. Digestate may be stored in a sealed container or sealed structure
for up to nine months. By-products from the separation of digestate shall be
stored separately and in sealed containers.
(ix) Non-compostable waste shall be stored in
a waste container and then recycled or disposed of at a permitted solid waste
facility.
(x) For in-vessel
composting operations, the operator shall ensure that the composting process
reduces pathogens. The compost material shall be maintained at a minimum
average temperature of 55°C or higher for three consecutive days, followed
by at least 14 days at over 40°C with an average temperature of over
45°C.
(xi) Facilities employing
anaerobic digestion must minimize the uncontrolled release of biogas.
(xii) Notice of final closure shall be
provided to the Director within 60 days from final receipt of feedstock. Any
site not receiving feedstock in excess of 180 days, unless properly closed or
otherwise approved by the Division, shall be deemed closed and in violation of
these Rules. Notice of closure shall include documentation that all feedstocks,
compost materials and digestate have been removed from the facility and that
the site has been stabilized in accordance with the Manual for Erosion and
Sediment Control in Georgia.
(6) Criteria for Siting Composting
Facilities.
(a) Class 2 composting facilities
shall comply with the following criteria:
1.
The facility shall not be located in the 100-year floodplain.
2. A 50-foot undisturbed buffer shall be
maintained between the composting operation and the property line.
3. A 200-foot buffer shall be maintained
between the composting operation and any adjacent residences and/or drinking
water supply wells.
4. A 50-foot
buffer shall be maintained between the composting operation and all
streams.
5. A description of
surrounding land uses up to a 1/2-mile radius shall be provided.
6. Airport safety restrictions, as required
by Rule 391-3-4-.05(1)(c)
for MSWLF units, shall be met.
(b) Classes 3-6 composting facilities and
anaerobic digestion facilities shall comply with the following criteria:
1. The facility shall submit a letter from
the local government authority stating that the proposed facility complies with
local zoning and land use ordinances.
2. The facility shall submit written
verification by the applicant that the facility is consistent with the local or
regional solid waste management plan, as required in Rule
391-3-4-.02(4)(c)
5.
3. The facility shall not be located in the
100-year floodplain.
4. The
facility shall submit a map of the topographic setting depicting features,
including all upstream and downstream drainage areas affecting or affected by
the proposed site, floodplain, gullies, karst conditions, wetlands, unstable
soils, and percent slope.
5. A
100-foot undisturbed buffer shall be maintained between the composting
operation and the property line.
6.
A 500-foot buffer shall be maintained between the composting operation and any
adjacent residences and/or any drinking water supply wells.
7. A 50-foot buffer shall be maintained
between the composting operation and all streams.
8. A description of surrounding land uses up
to a 1/2-mile radius shall be provided.
9. Airport safety restrictions as required by
Rule 391-3-4-.05(1)(c)
for MSWLF units, shall be met.
10.
The facility shall submit a site assessment report, prepared by a professional
geologist or geotechnical engineer registered in Georgia, addressing the
above-listed criteria.
(c) In addition to meeting the Class 3 siting
requirements, Class 4 and 5 composting facilities shall comply with the
following siting criteria:
1. Submission of a
hydrogeological assessment, as specified in
391-3-4-.05(1)(j)
may be required.
2. Submission of
an odor assessment that includes, at a minimum:
(i) The proximity of existing odor
receptors;
(ii) An evaluation of
the site and operation characteristics to determine the potential for impacts
on the neighboring community from the off-site migration of odors from the
proposed facility; and
(iii) A
description of the design considerations or practices to be implemented to
control the potential impacts of off-site odors generated from the
facility.
(7) Permit Modifications for Class 3-6
Facilities.
(a) All modifications of existing
facilities shall be classified as follows:
1.
Major modifications include those changes which substantially alter the design
of the facility, management practices, the types or categories of feedstocks
processed, or the technologies employed, and due to the nature of the changes,
would likely impact the facility's ability to adequately protect human health
and the environment. Major modifications, therefore, require closer review and
public input than minor modifications.
2. Major modifications shall include, but are
not limited to, the following:
(i) A
modification which adds a new solid waste handling process. This shall include,
but not be limited to, the addition of a materials recovery facility, a
composting operation co- located at an anaerobic digestion facility, baling
operation, shredding operation, or liquid solidification operation.
(ii) A modification which involves a change
to a site suitability requirement, which could have originally impacted the
siting of the facility.
3. Minor modifications include changes that
do not substantially alter the permit conditions, that do not reduce the
capacity of the facility to protect human health or the environment, or that do
not prevent the facility from responding in a timely manner. These changes
include common variations in the type and quantities of feedstocks managed,
technological advancements, or changes necessary to comply with new Rules,
where these changes can be implemented without substantially changing design
specifications or management practices in the permit.
(i) Minor modifications shall include, but
are not limited to, the following:
(I)
Changing the name of the facility.
(II) A modification which involves the
relocation of access roads.
(III) A
modification which adds scales.
(IV) A modification which involves the
addition or removal of on-site structures.
(V) A modification which involves the
addition of or a change to a groundwater or surface water monitoring
system.
(VI) A modification which
involves the addition or removal of a Permit-by-Rule facility.
(VII) A modification which involves the
removal of any solid waste handling facility.
(VIII) A modification which involves the
addition of or a change to a closure or post- closure plan.
(IX) A modification which involves the
addition of or a change to a method of contact water handling and/or
treatment.
(X) A modification which
involves the addition of a corrective action plan.
(XI) A modification which involves a change
in ownership, or in the case of a corporation of over five percent of the stock
in a corporation holding a permit, but does not involve the transfer of the
permit.
4. All
major modifications shall be subject to the following requirements:
(i) Submission of a completed application for
a permit modification.
(ii)
Submission of supporting documents accompanying the application for a permit
modification that describe the exact change(s) to be made to the permit
conditions and supporting documents referenced by the permit that explain why
the change is needed.
(iii)
Submission of a revised design for the requested change(s).
(iv) Submission of written verification by
the applicant, as required by Rule
391-3-4-.05(1)(a),
that the facility, as proposed to be modified, conforms to all local
zoning/land use ordinances, if any.
(v) Submission of written verification by the
applicant that the facility, as proposed to be modified, is consistent with
local or regional solid waste management plans. The verification shall consist
of letters from the host jurisdiction and generating jurisdictions verifying
consistency with the approved local solid waste plan.
(vi) Submission of written verification by
the applicant that a public hearing was held by the governing authority of the
county or municipality in which the facility requesting the modification is
located, not less than two weeks prior to granting approval of the
modification. Submission of a typed transcript of the hearing. Submission of
written verification that notice of such hearing was posted at the site of such
facility and advertised in a newspaper of general circulation serving the
county or counties in which the facility is located at least 30 days prior to
such hearing.
(8) Testing.
(a) Class 3-6 composting facilities and
anaerobic digestion facilities that compost on site shall meet the following
test standards and requirements:
1. Samples
and measurements taken for the purpose of product testing shall be
representative of the composting activity and shall be conducted in accordance
with methods and procedures approved by the Director.
2. The minimum number of samples that shall
be collected and analyzed is shown in the table below. Samples to be analyzed
shall be composted prior to the analysis.
|
Compost Quantity1(tons/yr) |
Frequency |
|
1 - 6,200 |
Once per quarter |
|
6,201 - 17,500 |
Once every two months |
|
Greater than 17,500 |
Once per month |
1Either the amount of finished compost applied to the land, prepared for sale or given away on an "as is" (wet weight) basis.
If test results show the finished product is stable and in compliance with both metals and pathogens standards for a two-year period, the facility may request a reduction in the frequency of testing, provided there are no changes in feedstocks composted at the facility. Class 3 facilities may test for pathogens and trace metals at half the frequency, but overall testing for all other characteristics must be as defined in the table above.
3. All compost shall be tested for
stability in accordance with methods and procedures approved by the Director.
(i) The stability results shall be documented
in the facility's operating records.
4. All compost shall be tested for the
presence of pathogens in accordance with methods and procedures approved by the
Director.
(i) Either the density of fecal
coliform in the finished compost shall be less than 1,000 most probable number
(MPN) per gram of total solids (dry weight basis), or the density of Salmonella
sp. bacteria in the finished compost shall be less than three MPN per four
grams of total solids (dry weight basis) before the compost may be sold, given
away, or applied to the land.
5. All compost shall be analyzed for metals
in accordance with methods and procedures approved by the Director.
(i) The following pollutant concentrations
shall not be exceeded:
|
Pollutant |
Monthly average concentration (milligrams per kilogram) 1 |
|
Arsenic |
41 |
|
Cadmium |
39 |
|
Copper |
1,500 |
|
Lead |
300 |
|
Mercury |
17 |
|
Nickel |
420 |
|
Selenium |
100 |
|
Zinc |
2,800 |
1 On a dry weight basis.
(b) For Class
6 facilities that operate an anaerobic digester, the facility shall, at a
minimum, monitor or test the following:
1.
Chemical Oxygen Demand shall be tested daily if the feedstocks change on a
daily basis or weekly if the feedstocks are consistent or if the digester is at
steady state, with steady state being defined as the treatment level or the gas
production is constant for at least three Hydraulic Retention Times
(HRT).
2. Alkalinity shall be
measured daily if the feedstocks change on a daily basis or weekly if the
feedstocks are consistent or if the digester is at steady state, with steady
state being defined as the treatment level or the gas production is constant
for at least three Hydraulic Retention Times (HRT).
3. Gas production shall be
monitored.
(c) Digestate
that has not been analyzed for metal concentration, pathogen concentration, and
any other contaminants as stipulated by the Division, or is known to contain
any metal in amounts that exceed the maximum metal concentrations in
391-3-4-.16(8)(a)(5)(i),
shall be designated for disposal or additional processing.
(d) The Division may approve alternative
methods of compliance to meet the requirements of this section including, but
not limited to, sampling frequencies.
Notes
State regulations are updated quarterly; we currently have two versions available. Below is a comparison between our most recent version and the prior quarterly release. More comparison features will be added as we have more versions to compare.
No prior version found.