Sec. 15.18.04.04. Composting Facility Operator Requirements

A. A composting facility certified operator is responsible for complying with the requirements of this regulation when operating a composting facility.

B. For a composting facility receiving only agricultural or yard waste the following is required:

(1) Stabilized compost, or any compost product to be distributed from the facility, shall be tested by the operator each quarter, or once every 20,000 tons of compost, whichever is more frequent, for each parameter listed in Table 1 of Regulation .11 of this chapter, using a method acceptable to the Department;

(2) If the compost test results are within the testing limits set forth in Regulation .05A of this chapter during the first year of operation, then the operator may test only once a year, provided the test results remain within the limits set forth in Regulation .05A of this chapter;

(3) An alternative testing schedule may be approved by the Secretary, provided the operator demonstrates that the alternative testing schedule will provide at least equivalent protection to the public and to the environment;

(4) The operator shall make test results available to the Department for inspection during the facility's normal hours of operation.

C. For a composting facility receiving solid waste other than only agricultural or yard waste the following is required:

(1) The certified operator of a solid waste composting facility shall develop a quality assurance or quality control plan approved by the Department that describes monitoring, sampling, and analysis plans for testing the composting process and product to be distributed;

(2) The Department shall determine and the operator shall follow an appropriate monitoring and sampling schedule for the 15-month initial start-up period for any new facility;

(3) Using information gained during the start-up period, a monitoring and sampling schedule for ongoing operations shall be developed by the operator with the Department, based on statistical methods for quality assurance.

D. Samples of compost to be distributed shall be obtained by the operator in accordance with a plan approved by the Department. Samples of the compost produced at the facility shall be analyzed by the operator for each parameter listed in Table 1 of Regulation .11 of this chapter using a method acceptable to the Department.

E. Results of laboratory analysis for each parameter specified in Table 1 of Regulation .11 of this chapter shall be recorded by the operator and kept for 2 years at the facility and shall be available to the Department, upon request.

F. The Department may decrease or increase the parameters to be analyzed, or the frequency of analysis, based on monitoring data, changes in the waste stream or processing, or the potential presence of toxic substances.

G. The Secretary may conduct periodic sampling, without charge, and testing of any compost product to be distributed to determine if it complies with the requirements of this chapter.

H. The Secretary may establish additional limits on any classification of compost or any specific product if it is found that the compost contains a chemical or physical component that can cause unreasonable adverse effects to humans, animals, plants, or the environment.