Part 503 appears to be the only regulation whose purpose does not include minimum standards to protect public
health and the environment. The Surface disposal requirements of 503 would come close but it would prevent the
use of sludge on farms and lawns.
Part 503 is a result of a court order that EPA could not issue pretreatment removal credits without a use and
disposal regulation in place. The only pollutants address are those for which removal credits could be issued.
According to the court, "EPA has consistently interpreted the Section 307(b) requirement that removal credits not
prevent the use or disposal of sludge to mean that whatever use or disposal the POTWs make of their sludge, they
must comply with all applicable federal, state, and local requirements, not just whatever guidelines EPA may have
explicitly promulgated under Section 405(d). See 43 Fed. Reg. 27749 (1978); 40 C.F.R.403.7(a)(3)(iv).
EPA failed in this case.
Electronic Code of Federal Regulations (e-CFR)
BETA TEST SITE
e-CFR Data is current as of November 22, 2005
Title 40: Protection of Environment
PART 503—STANDARDS FOR THE USE OR DISPOSAL OF SEWAGE SLUDGE
Subpart A—General Provisions
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§ 503.1 Purpose and applicability.
(a) Purpose. (1) This part establishes standards, which consist of general requirements, pollutant limits,
management practices, and operational standards, for the final use or disposal of sewage sludge generated during
the treatment of domestic sewage in a treatment works. Standards are included in this part for sewage sludge
applied to the land, placed on a surface disposal site, or fired in a sewage sludge incinerator. Also included in this
part are pathogen and alternative vector attraction reduction requirements for sewage sludge applied to the land or
placed on a surface disposal site.
(2) In addition, the standards in this part include the frequency of monitoring and recordkeeping requirements when
sewage sludge is applied to the land, placed on a surface disposal site, or fired in a sewage sludge incinerator. Also
included in this part are reporting requirements for Class I sludge management facilities, publicly owned treatment
works (POTWs) with a design flow rate equal to or greater than one million gallons per day, and POTWs that serve
10,000 people or more.
(b) Applicability. (1) This part applies to any person who prepares sewage sludge, applies sewage sludge to the
land, or fires sewage sludge in a sewage sludge incinerator and to the owner/operator of a surface disposal site.
(2) This part applies to sewage sludge applied to the land, placed on a surface disposal site, or fired in a sewage
sludge incinerator.
(3) This part applies to the exit gas from a sewage sludge incinerator stack.
(4) This part applies to land where sewage sludge is applied, to a surface disposal site, and to a sewage sludge
incinerator.
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Last updated: July 27, 2005