MPCA Rulemaking Project for Source-Separated Organic Compost

(SSOC) Facilities

Stakeholder Meeting on Preliminary Draft Language

October 12, 2011

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Purpose of SSOC Rule ProcessRecognize state strategy of moving organic

material management up the hierarchy

Clarify regulatory requirements appropriate to SSOC facilities

Provide regulatory relief without jeopardizing environmental protection

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Compost Rules MPCA Mgmt. Team

Solid Waste Program Manager: Steve Giddings

Permitting Unit Supervisor: Paula Connell

Rulemaking Unit Supervisor: Dave Richfield

Integrated SW Unit Supervisor: Mark Rust

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Compost Rules MPCA Staff Team

Rulemaking Coordinator - Yolanda Letnes

Engineering - Tony Bello

Hydrogeology related to siting - John Elks

Operations & compost testing - Ginny Black

Solid Waste Policy Expert - Jim Chiles

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Tentative Rule ScheduleRequest for Comments: 10/17/11

(revised) Comment period closes at 4:30pm 11/18/11

Dual Notice (DN) – Summer 2012

Final Adoption: with hearing - 6 months after DN w/o hearing - 3 months after DN

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Overview: SSOC Rule ProcessHow this meeting fits in the larger

timeline, leading to publication of a draft ruleMeeting purposeTimeline of rule process

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Preliminary Draft Rule sections:7001.3075 Solid Waste Management Facility Permit Application7001.3375 Final Application Information Requirements for Compost

Facilities7001.3410 Extended Permit Notification and Termination

Procedures7035.0300 Definitions7035.2525 Solid Waste Management Facilities Governed7035.2555 Location Standards7035.2585 Annual Report7035.2836 Compost Facilities

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Overview of preliminary draft requirements:

Extended Permits

Small Compost Sites

Design and Location Standards

Operations, Compost Classification and Compost Distribution

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Extended PermitRevisions contained within 7001.3075,

7001.3375, 7001.3410 & 7035.2585

7001.3075, subp. 4What exactly is an extended permit?What are conditions?

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Extended Permit7001.3375 – municipality approvals

Extended permit notification and termination procedures (i.e., return to permitting process)

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Small Compost SitesExisting Rule – Exempts household

compostingProposed rule changes:

Acceptable materials: food scraps, garden waste, weeds, lawn cuttings, leaves

Prohibited materials: fats, oil, grease, meat, dairy, animal manure, diapers, sanitary products, non-recyclable paper and compostable/biodegradable plastics

Materials do not exceed 80 yd3on site at any given time

Compost operations accepting food waste generated off-site must attend compost training

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Small Compost Sites

Materials on-site do not exceed 80 yd3on site at any given time

Compost operations accepting food waste generated off-site must attend compost training

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New Definitions

Small Compost Site

Source-separated organics waste compost facility (SSOC)

Source separated organics wasteSeparated by the generator

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Source Separated Organics WasteAcceptable Material

Food wasteSoiled or unrecyclable paperYard wasteVegetative waste generated from

manufacturing of food for humansCompostable materials-ASTM

D6400/D6868Materials approved by the commissioner

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Source Separated Organics WasteUnacceptable materials

BiosolidsSludgeSeptageDiapersSanitary productsAnimal manure

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SSOC Location StandardsNot in Karst

Must be 5 feet above water table

Minimum of 500 feet of horizontal separation from the facility to the nearest residence, business or public contact area

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SSOC Location StandardsEnclosed facility may have reduced

separation distances

Excluded from separation distances:Land owner’s or operator’s residencePlant nurseries, orTurf farms

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SSOC Operation requirementsStrengthened training

24 initial contact hours within 12 months of employment

10 contact hours every 3 years (1 contact hour = 50 minutes)

Minimum C:N ratio 1:1

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SSOC Operation requirementsPFRP unchanged

No static piles

Windrows or enclosed vessel systems only

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SSOC Operation requirementsSSO waste delivered to the facility must

be processed immediately or covered with a biofilter and processed by the end of the day

Acceptable bulking agent – untreated wood, non-recyclable paper, ground tree/shrubs 23

SSOC Operation requirementsNon-attainment area for O2 - Biofilter

cover after 21-days of processing

Progressive odor minimization plan

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SSOC Classification requirementsClass I standards remain the same

MetalInert Opt out for Hg and PCB’s after 5 years

if all testing is non-detects

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SSOC Classification requirementsClass II standards remain the same

MetalInert

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SSOC Distribution and End Use requirements

Dept. of Ag rule 18.C, subp.?005 - same

Class I compost does not need a compost distribution plan

Class II compost distribution plan requirements unchanged

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Questions?

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