ALEXANDRIA, Va., Aug. 6, 2002 -- On July 2, the National Research Council (NRC) of the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) released its report, Biosolids Applied to Land: Advancing Standards and Practices.
The report represents the culmination of 18 months of work by a diverse committee of scientists, academicians and regulators with varying perspectives on biosolids utilization.
The National Biosolids Partnership said in a statement that it appreciates the work done by NAS in producing its report, and notes the report's "overarching finding" that "there is no documented scientific evidence that the Part 503 rule has failed to protect public health" further reinforcing what many years of operating history at numerous biosolids facilities have shown.
The partnership said it also supports the report's finding that there is a need to update the scientific basis of the rule and the report's recommendations to:
• Use improved risk-assessment methods to better establish standards for chemicals and pathogens
• Conduct a new national survey of chemicals and pathogens in sewage sludge
• Establish a framework for an approach to implement human health investigations
• Increase the resources devoted to EPA's biosolids program
The partnership has been an active proponent of improvements in the way biosolids are applied and managed, in particular being the primary developer of an Environmental Management System (EMS) for biosolids by publicly owned treatment works. The baseline for the EMS is total compliance with all biosolids regulations.
The EMS also committed the treatment works that implement it to follow extensive environmental and best-practice guidelines, seek continuous improvement in the way they manage their biosolids, seek public input, submit to inspection and verification by third-party auditors, and make the results of the audit available to anyone who expresses an interest.
"We believe the NAS biosolids report also adds to a collection of studies that show there is no scientific evidence that biosolids regulations have failed to protect public health, and reflects a general agreement concerning a need to continue with scientific research on biosolids," said Bob Hite, chairman of the partnership.
The partnership urged EPA to continue taking comments from the public and to consider the report's recommendations in its budgeting process. The partnership also urged Congress to provide EPA with the funding necessary to conduct further research, enforce the Part 503 rule, and enhance communication required to continue recycling biosolids through land-application as a viable option for society.
To read National Research Council's original report, visit http://www4.nationalacademies.org/news.nsf/isbn/0309084865?OpenDocument.
