Biosolids

We regulate the wastewater treatment plants that produce biosolids and the businesses that apply biosolids for farmers, including how this material is treated, tested, and used.

Biosolids are a product of wastewater treatment systems. Rich in organic material and nutrients, biosolids are used by farmers across Washington to grow a variety of crops like wheat, corn, grass hay, and hops. Proper oversight, testing, and application ensures biosolids benefit farmers and soil without leaching nutrients into surface or groundwater.

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2020: New statewide general biosolids permit in development

All biosolids facilities that require permit coverage must submit a notice of intent (NOI) by March 9, 2020.

The current statewide general biosolids permit in Washington expires on Sept. 4, 2020. We will issue a new statewide permit that takes effect after that.

All facilities that treat, store, land apply, or dispose of septage or biosolids (as applicable under WAC 173-308) must complete and submit their NOI no later than March 9, 2020.
Your facility’s responsible official must sign the NOI before submission.

The responsible official is the person accountable for the completeness and accuracy of information of all reports and other information required by the state biosolids rules and permit program, and which is reported to us.

The responsible official must sign the NOI. The responsible official is typically not the facility’s operator.

For corporations, the responsible official can be the president, secretary, treasurer, or vice president in charge of the principal business function, or someone with a similar function.
For partnerships or sole proprietorships, the responsible official can be the sole proprietor or partner.
For local, state, and federal governments, or other public agencies, the responsible official will generally be the mayor or chief county or city executive.

For a more detailed description, please see WAC 173-308-310(10).

See our preliminary notice about the planned changes.

We will propose a new statewide general biosolids permit. With this new general permit, we are aiming to streamline permitting for facilities with straightforward requirements, which will allow us to focus on facilities with more complex needs.

The opportunity to comment on the use of a general permit ended on Jan. 24, 2020. Look out for future opportunities to comment on the content and requirements of the statewide general permit.

To be added to our list of interested parties, please contact:

Email emily.kijowski@ecy.wa.gov.
Mail:
- Emily Kijowski
  Department of Ecology, Solid Waste Management
  P.O. Box 47600, Olympia, WA 98504-7600

Learn about biosolids

Research on biosolids
How wastewater treatment plants make biosolids
Pollutants and pathogens in biosolids
Biosolids use in Washington

Permitting and forms

Basics of the biosolids permit system
Biosolids general permit
Step-by-step permitting process
Common forms:

Biosolids laws and rules

Washington state rule for biosolids
Notes on reading a state rule
Standards and frequency for biosolids analysis
Agronomic rate requirement & beneficial use
Septage applied to the land
Federal rule for biosolids

Contact information

For statewide policy and technical issues, and out-of-state, federal and other agency inquiries:

Kyle Dorsey
State Biosolids Program Coordinator
kyle.dorsey@ecy.wa.gov
360-407-6559

Ecology regional biosolids staff:

Betty Ann Bickner
Regional Biosolids Program Coordinator
Biosolids and septage permits and related issues for these Eastern Region counties: Grant, Ferry, Lincoln, Pend Oreille, Spokane, Stevens
bettyann.bickner@ecy.wa.gov
509-329-3505

Terri Costello
Regional Biosolids Program Coordinator
Biosolids and septage permits and related issues for these Eastern Region counties: Adams, Asotin, Columbia, Garfield, Franklin, Walla Walla, and Whitman
Septage permits and related issues for these Central Region counties: Chelan, Douglas, Okanogan
terri.costello@ecy.wa.gov
509-329-3579

Canming Xiao
Regional Biosolids Program Coordinator
Septage permits and related issues for these Central Region counties: Benton, Kittitas, Klickitat, Yakima
canming.xiao@ecy.wa.gov
509-575-2842

Peter Severtson
Regional Biosolids Program Coordinator
Biosolids (non-septage) permits and related issues in the Central Region
peter.severtson@ecy.wa.gov
509-379-4737

Amber Corfman
Regional Biosolids Program Coordinator
Biosolids and septage permits and related issues in the Northwest Region
amber.corfman@ecy.wa.gov
360-255-4406

Shawnté Greenway
Regional Biosolids Program Coordinator
Biosolids and septage permits and related issues in the Southwest Region
shawnte.greenway@ecy.wa.gov
360-407-6055

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Biosolids

I want to...

2020: New statewide general biosolids permit in development

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