AN ACT concerning industrial pretreatment standards and sewage sludge quality, and amending and supplementing P.L.1977, c.74.
BE IT ENACTED by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
C.58:10A-38 Findings, determinations.
1. The Legislature finds that contaminated sludges are often ocean dumped; that land-based disposal methods for sludge are environmentally preferable to the current practice of ocean dumping; that land-based disposal of sludge requires the removal of contaminants from the waste stream; that by requiring land-based sludge management criteria for sludges which are currently ocean dumped, the sewage treatment plants will have the option to cease ocean dumping in favor of a land-based disposal method; and that even if ocean dumping of sludge continues, it is prudent to minimize the presence of contaminants in the sludge. The Legislature further finds that the State should work toward developing alternatives to ocean disposal of sludge in the event that the practice is prohibited, and that the land-based sludge management criteria already established for sludge should be used to develop the standards for limiting the levels of contaminants discharged by industrial establishments into the sewerage systems, which limits should be incorporated in the discharge permits issued to facilities. The Legislature therefore determines that all sludge generated in the State from the operation of municipal treatment works should meet the quality standards established by the Department of Environmental Protection for the land-based sludge management of sludge and that the attainment of these standards should be reflected in the permits issued for pretreatment discharges.
C.58:10A-39 Definitions.
2. As used in this act: "Land-based sludge management criteria" means those standards established by the department in the Statewide Sludge Management Plan adopted pursuant to the "Solid Waste Management Act," P.L.1970, c.39 (C.13:1E-1 et seq.), or established pursuant to the Federal Water Pollution Control Act Amendments of 1972 (33 U.S.C. §1251 et seq.), or any regulations adopted pursuant thereto. "Pretreatment permit" means a permit issued by either the department or by a municipal treatment works or by both for the discharge of industrial wastewater into a sewerage system; :"Sludge" means the solid residue and associated liquid resulting from physical, chemical, or biological treatment of domestic or industrial wastewaters; "Wastewater" means residential, commercial, industrial, or agricultural liquid waste, sewage, stormwater runoff, or any combination thereof, or other residue discharged to or collected by a sewerage system.
C.58:10A-40 Pollutant discharge limits.
3. All pretreatment permits shall include limits on the discharge of pollutants, which limits shall be based on the attainment of landbased sludge management criteria for sludge from the municipal treatment works. Sludge that meets the land-based sludge management criteria shall be of sufficient quality to be disposed of in a landbased manner without degrading the environment or posing a threat to human health.
C.58:10A-41 Conformance to land-based sludge management criteria.
4. On or after March 17, 1991, all sludge generated in this State by municipal treatment works shall conform to the land-based sludge management criteria.
C.58:10A-42 Plan for land-based management.
5. Each municipal treatment works shall prepare a plan for the land-based management of sludges currently disposed of in the ocean. The plan shall provide for the termination of ocean disposal by March 17, 1991 and shall include, but need not be limited to, an analysis of the pretreatment, air pollution control, residuals management, funding requirements and potential sources thereof necessary for the implementation of the land-based management methods chosen by the municipal treatment works. Not later than April 30, 1989, each municipal treatment works shall develop a plan to implement land-based sludge management methods and shall so certify to the Department of Environmental Protection. Not later than June 30, 1989, the department shall submit the several plans to the Governor and the Legislature, together with its comments thereon and any recommendations for legislative or administrative action deemed appropriate.
C.58:10A-43 Compliance schedules.