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FROM CONCEPT TO EQUIVALENCY: THE 503 REGULATIONS AND THE PATHOGEN EQUIVALENCY COMMITTEE
Citation:
ACQUISTO, B. AND J. E. SMITH. FROM CONCEPT TO EQUIVALENCY: THE 503 REGULATIONS AND THE PATHOGEN EQUIVALENCY COMMITTEE. Presented at U.S. Composting Council's 14th Annual Conference and Tradeshow, Albuquerque, NM, January 23 - 26, 2006.
Impact/Purpose:
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Description:
Since its creation in 1985, the Pathogen Equivalency Committee (PEC) has been reviewing innovative and alternative sludge disinfection technologies with regards to their abilities to protect human health and the environment. The PEC is charged to make recommendations on whether these novel technologies provide equivalent protection to those technologies already included in 40 CFR Part 503, Standards for the Use and Disposal of Sewage Sludge. This paper provides an overview of the Part 503D regulations and the process through which the PEC makes equivalency recommendations. Since the promulgation of Part 503, few composting type processes have been recommended as equivalent through the PEC. Currently, the use of worms to compost sewage sludge (vermicomposting) is under investigation along with other disinfection technologies including the use of chemicals such as chlorine dioxide, lime, and a fumigant. Updates on composting processes will be given. In addition to reviewing applications for equivalency, the PEC provides advice on project design and testing of new sludge disinfection technologies and expertise on all issues related to pathogens and the protection of human health, including concerns with emerging pathogens. Information on emerging pathogens of concern will also be shared.