N.J. Admin. Code § 7:14A-20.9

Current through Register Vol. 57, No. 1, January 6, 2025

Section 7:14A-20.9 - Reed beds

(a) In addition to the information required in N.J.A.C. 7:14A-4 and 20.6, an applicant for a NJPDES permit to discharge residual to a reed bed shall submit:

1. Information on the characteristics of the residual proposed to be discharged, to the extent known at the time that the permit application is submitted, including, but not limited to;

i. The origin and volume of the residual;

ii. A dated analysis of the residual to be discharged for total solids (percent by weight), volatile solids (weight as a percent of total solids), and pH (standard units);

iii. A summary of all data generated pursuant to the Sludge Quality Assurance Regulations (SQAR), N.J.A.C. 7:14C, for the previous 12-month period;

iv. Additional analyses of the quality of the residual (including characteristics pursuant to N.J.A.C. 7:26G) as the Department determines necessary based upon an evaluation of past SQAR reports or other relevant information, such as information on industrial discharges that might contribute constituents not normally evaluated under the Sludge Quality Assurance Regulations (SQAR), N.J.A.C. 7:14C;

2. The proposed loading rate for the discharge of residual to the reed bed, based on the type of residual to be discharged and the total solids content of the residual to be discharged; and

3. An operation and maintenance manual that describes, at a minimum, how the management practices in (b) below will be followed.

(b) For a residual reed bed, the following management practices shall apply:

1. There shall be no standing water in a reed bed 48 hours following loading, except during periods of severe inclement weather.

2. Plants shall be harvested during winter dormancy, as weather permits, after the plants have turned brown. Approximately 10 inches of stubble shall be left standing after harvesting.

3. Once the reed bed is mature, debris, weeds and vegetative waste shall be removed during the annual reed harvest in a manner that will not disturb the reed plants. During the first year of operation, in order to protect the reed plants, unwanted weed growth shall be removed as necessary, whether or not during the annual reed harvest. Methods of weed removal that do not require workers to enter a bed are preferred, and should be attempted first.

4. A reed bed shall be evacuated when the depth of residual in the bed reaches six inches from the top of the freeboard.

(c) Residual shall be loaded onto a reed bed no more than once every 14 days after plants reach maturity, unless otherwise approved by the Department in a permit. Less frequent loading rates will be set forth in the permit during the time that plants are maturing or as required due to unfavorable loading conditions (for example, in the presence of standing water).

(d) The permittee shall take composite samples representative of the residual discharged to a reed bed and analyze them in accordance with the reporting requirements of, and frequency required in, the Sludge Quality Assurance Regulations, N.J.A.C. 7:14C.

(e) The permittee shall take one sample per calendar year that is representative of the residual discharged to a reed bed, and analyze it for pH and volatile solids.

(f) The permittee shall take an annual composite sample that is representative of the residual removed from a reed bed, and analyze it for the parameters at (d) and (e) above, if residual is removed from a reed bed for ultimate use or disposal during the calendar year.

(g) The permittee shall, no later than 180 days prior to the anticipated date of evacuation of a reed bed, submit to the Department for approval a plan for removal and management of all accumulated residual. The plan shall include and identify all residual removal and management activities that will be conducted prior to, during, and after a reed bed is taken out of service and residual removed. This plan shall include, at a minimum, the procedure for removing the residual from the reed bed, a description and analysis of the residual, method of management of the residual, anticipated date for evacuation of each bed, and approximate volume of residual material to be removed.

(h) Phragmites rhizomes shall be removed from the residual prior to the transportation of residual to an operation that will process it for land application.

N.J. Admin. Code § 7:14A-20.9

Repeal and New Rule, R.2009 d.7, effective 1/5/2009.
See: 40 N.J.R. 1478(a), 41 N.J.R. 142(a).
Section was "Fact sheet".