Status Report:Blue Plains Biosolids Master Plan and COG Staff Support

Report to the Blue Plains Regional Committee

by Chris Peot and Karl Berger

July 23, 2009

Presentation Outline

Current status Program highlights Digester implementation opportunities Research projects BPRC biosolids program costs

Blue Plains Biosolids TonnageAnnual Biosolids Reuse Totals

0

100000

200000

300000

400000

500000

600000

2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008

Year

Wet

To

ns

WSSC

WASA III

WASA II

WASA I

year

Continued Dependence on Virginia Land Application Program

MCMRF closure

ERCO closure

Challenges We Face

Organized public opposition Legislative and regulatory initiatives

11 VA General Assembly bills on biosolids passed since 2001; more expected

Nutrient management, environmentally–sensitive site, storage and health-related restrictions

Legal challenges Virginia case settled for reported $300,000 Pennsylvania court case pending

NIEHS study now underway in NC, VA

Strategic Initiatives

Digester implementation beginning in 2014 Exploration of new end use options (composting) Broad-based research program

Digestion parameter research in association with Va Tech

New options/beneficial re-use research Va Tech University of Maryland

Microconstituents

Tactical Initiatives

Invest in Virginia biosolids institutions VAMWA Virginia Biosolids Council

Participate in key forums VA Biosolids Expert Panel (2007-2008) Chris Peot VA DEQ Biosolids Technical Advisory Committee (2008-2009)

Karl Berger

Invest in existing dewatering/stabilization process Biosolids EMS elements have included improvements to lime

mixing/odor control, polymer dosing, dewatering capabilities Biosolids Workgroup monthly meetings

Blue Plains Biosolids Contracting Costs

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

45

50

1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012

Year

Co

st (

$/w

et t

on

)

Blue Plains Blended-New Blue Plains Blended-Existing Linear (Blue Plains Blended-New)

New WASA contracts

New WSSC contract

Recent Program Highlights Virginia Biosolids Council

Biosolids News, web page, proactive promotion of biosolids recycling VA DEQ Expert Panel and Technical Advisory Committee (TAC)

Panel found no evidence that biosolids harms human health or the environment

TAC is considering regulatory changes based on the findings of the EP Research continues at USDA/U of MD and Va Tech

Fate of organic compounds in land applied biosolids (triclosan and PBDE’s)

Odor monitoring, modeling, and prevention Biosolids use and crop drought resistance Trenching and surface application to hybrid poplar trees

New enclosed storage facility (Urban Services/Nutri-blend) Composting initiatives No biosolids landfilled this year

New Storage Facility – 15,000 tons capacity, Cumberland County, VA

Two Composting Projects

25 wtpd onsite facility 200 wtpd contracted facility

McGill – Fully enclosed, biofilter odor control

DCWASA Digester Project

Class A product in 2014 Designing a thermal hydrolysis pre-digestion plant Diversification of end use

land application blended soil product

Potential savings $6.5M w/product marketing Can establish market through composting initiatives

Drafting a strategic plan to introduce compost back to DC for review by the GM’s office

Previous Blue Plains compost projects 300 wtpd at Site II 200 wtpd at Blue Plains All marketed and recycled

Examples of other marketing

Baltimore LA County Milwaukee850,000 cy marketed 50 yrs experience $12.50/bag at Home Depot

Tacoma, Washington

Digested, Class A biosolids blended with soil and sawdust

Tagro mix sells for $8/yard for residents, $10/yard for non-residents and commercial customers

Tagro potting soil sells for $30/cy

Ongoing Research Projects

Under BPRC Biostimulant/greenhouse gas study Wye surface application Task Order projects on greenhouse gas balance, land base analysis

DC-WASA funded Va Tech trenching study Triclosan, triclorocarbon (DC-WASA) PBDEs (DC-WASA) Odor modeling and prevention

WSSC funded ERCO-University of MD (WSSC)

BPRC Sponsored Projects

Project Research Institu-tion

Approve Date

1st Year Funding (source)

Total Costs (unencum-bered)

Progress To Date

Biostimulant/carbon sequestration field trials

Va. Tech

August 08

$101,613 (FY09)

$317,256 over 3 years

1st crop planted in April 09; measurements begun

Surface application to hybrid poplars

U MD

February 09

$20,230 (FY09)

$52,625 over 3 years

Biosolids applied in March 09; measurements begun

Task Order projects 1) greenhouse gas

balance formula review

2) Land base analysis for phosphorus

Va. Tech Va. Tech

J anuary 08 J une 08

$20,000 (FY08) $20,000 (FY08)

$20,000 $20,000

Preliminary analysis completed No work done to date

Previous projects include: forest nutrient dynamics*, phosphorus fate and transport and heavy metals

* Final reports available on COG web site

Biostimulant Research at Tech

Hybrid Poplar Research at Wye

BPRC biosolids budget (proposed)

$130,000 for research task Will support 2nd year of biostimulant/carbon

sequestration project Will support 2nd year of surface application to poplars

project

$80,000 for outreach task TAC process/regulatory changes Coordination of VBC, VAMWA initiatives Coordination of legislative responses

Continued staff support to Biosolids Workgroup (under BPRC staff support task)

BPRC Biosolids Program Costs

0

50

100

150

200

250

300

2002

2003

2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

Dollars

in t

housands

Research Outreach

previously projected

Next Steps

Continue to support land application option Maintain digester implementation schedule Expand exploration of end use options post-

digestion