For the purposes of furthering necessary research, the land
application of nonexceptional quality biosolids is exempt from the agronomic
rate requirements in WAC
173-308-190 or
173-308-270, the reporting
requirements in WAC
173-308-295, and the permitting
requirements in WAC
173-308-310 if all of the
following requirements are met:
(1) A
research proposal must be submitted containing, at a minimum, the following:
(a) A description of the nature of the
project, what may be learned, the anticipated benefits, provisions for progress
reports, provisions for peer review, and provisions for providing a final
report to the department.
(b) A
discussion of any potential adverse impacts of application rates in excess of
agronomic rates, along with potential mitigation or response to adverse effects
if observed.
(c) An explanation for
the sizing of the research plot(s) that will receive biosolids. Plot size must
not exceed the minimum area required to support the goals of the
research.
(2) The
generator of the biosolids must report the dry tons of biosolids land applied
in the research project in their annual biosolids report required under WAC
173-308-295.
(3) The department must approve, in writing,
the research proposal required in subsection (1) of this section.
(4) There must be no sustainable objections
to the approval required in subsection (3) of this section from the EPA or the
local health jurisdiction(s) in the county(s) where the biosolids will be
managed.
(5) All other applicable
requirements of this chapter must be met.
(6) All other local, state, and federal
regulatory requirements must be met.
