Sussex County Council (County) submitted a permit application requesting a distribution and marketing (DM) permit to store and sell or give away fertilizer products that contain heat dried “Class A” “Exceptional Quality” (EQ) biosolids. The biosolids distributed and marketed under the DM permit would be generated at the Inland Bay Regional Wastewater Facility (IBRWF) which is located approximately 5 miles northeast of the Town of Millsboro, Delaware. The sludge that is processed to make the EQ biosolids product proposed for distribution by the County is generated by several wastewater treatment plants located throughout Sussex County, Delaware.

The stabilization of EQ biosolids product at the IBRWF involves a stabilization process known as heat drying. To achieve the Class A/EQ biosolid certification, the biosolids are required to be heated to at least 80^○ C (176^○ F) and the moisture content be raised to at least 90% solids. Additionally, the product will be required to meet State and Federal “pollutant concentration standards” for metals and vector attraction reduction requirements prior to being sold or given away. The aforementioned requirements render biosolids products suitable for use as a fertilizer for agricultural, horticultural, and use for lawns and gardens.

IBRWF requests issuance of a distribution and marketing permit in the State of Delaware for their biosolids product under the Department’s Guidance and Regulations Governing the Land Treatment of Wastes, Part III, B., Regulations Governing the Land Treatment of Sludges and Sludge Products which allows for such activity pending public notice.

Copies of the proposed permit amendment referenced above are available by contacting:

Brian Churchill
Surface Water Discharges Section
89 Kings Highway, Dover, DE 19901
302-739-9946
Brian.Churchill@Delaware.gov

A public hearing on the above application will NOT be held unless the Secretary of DNREC determines that a public hearing is in the public interest or if a written meritorious objection to the application is received by 4:30 p.m. November 17, 2020. A public hearing request shall be deemed meritorious if it exhibits a familiarity with the application and provides a reasoned statement of the action’s probable impact.

Related Topics:  biosolids, fertilizer, permitting and regulation, public notice, water