Section 391.430  Site Monitoring

a)         For sludge application projects less than 5 years, and with sludge generated by treatment plants receiving minimal industrial waste load, the agronomic rate usually results in the application of heavy metals to the soil in low amounts that should not create problems from a water pollution, phytotoxic and food-chain standpoint.  In general, soil testing will not be required for these types of projects.

b)         For long term projects, soil testing shall be provided by the permittee.  The number of soil tests and frequency of monitoring will be dependent upon the quality of the sludge, sludge application rate and continuity of soil types of the sludge application site.  If more than 100 dry tons per acre of sludge are applied over the life of the site, the permittee shall perform a complete soils analysis for that particular site.  The soils shall be tested for parameters including, but not limited to, CEC, heavy metals (total and/or plant available), pH, plant available phosphorus, organic carbon content, soluble salts by electrical conductivity.  The collection of soil samples shall be performed in accordance with Section 391.510.

c)         Except as provided in Section 391.430(a), analysis of the soil prior to any sludge application will also be required for determining background levels.  Hydrogeologic data shall be required for specific sites including sites with unidentified hydrogeologic conditions.

d)         The information required in Sections 391.430(b) and (c) shall be required for projects with a sludge application rate greater than the nitrogen agronomic rate.