1 / 32

Status Report: Blue Plains Biosolids Master Plan and COG Staff Support

This report outlines the current status of the Blue Plains Biosolids program, highlights program accomplishments, and discusses challenges faced. It also presents strategic initiatives, tactical initiatives, and ongoing research projects. The report includes information on costs, contracting, and recent program highlights.

wilsoncharles
Download Presentation

Status Report: Blue Plains Biosolids Master Plan and COG Staff Support

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. Status Report:Blue Plains Biosolids Master Plan and COG Staff Support Report to the Blue Plains Regional Committee by Chris Peot and Karl Berger July 23, 2009

  2. Presentation Outline • Current status • Program highlights • Digester implementation opportunities • Research projects • BPRC biosolids program costs

  3. Blue Plains Biosolids Tonnage

  4. Continued Dependence on Virginia Land Application Program ERCO closure MCMRF closure

  5. Challenges We Face • Organized public opposition • Legislative and regulatory initiatives • 11 VA General Assembly bills on biosolids passed since 2001; more expected • Nutrient management, environmentally–sensitive site, storage and health-related restrictions • Legal challenges • Virginia case settled for reported $300,000 • Pennsylvania court case pending • NIEHS study now underway in NC, VA

  6. Strategic Initiatives • Digester implementation beginning in 2014 • Exploration of new end use options (composting) • Broad-based research program • Digestion parameter research in association with Va Tech • New options/beneficial re-use research • Va Tech • University of Maryland • Microconstituents

  7. Tactical Initiatives • Invest in Virginia biosolids institutions • VAMWA • Virginia Biosolids Council • Participate in key forums • VA Biosolids Expert Panel (2007-2008) Chris Peot • VA DEQ Biosolids Technical Advisory Committee (2008-2009) Karl Berger • Invest in existing dewatering/stabilization process • Biosolids EMS elements have included improvements to lime mixing/odor control, polymer dosing, dewatering capabilities • Biosolids Workgroup monthly meetings

  8. Blue Plains Biosolids Contracting Costs New WSSC contract New WASA contracts

  9. Recent Program Highlights • Virginia Biosolids Council • Biosolids News, web page, proactive promotion of biosolids recycling • VA DEQ Expert Panel and Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) • Panel found no evidence that biosolids harms human health or the environment • TAC is considering regulatory changes based on the findings of the EP • Research continues at USDA/U of MD and Va Tech • Fate of organic compounds in land applied biosolids (triclosan and PBDE’s) • Odor monitoring, modeling, and prevention • Biosolids use and crop drought resistance • Trenching and surface application to hybrid poplar trees • New enclosed storage facility (Urban Services/Nutri-blend) • Composting initiatives • No biosolidslandfilled this year

  10. New Storage Facility – 15,000 tons capacity, Cumberland County, VA

  11. Two Composting Projects 25 wtpd onsite facility 200 wtpd contracted facility

  12. McGill – Fully enclosed, biofilter odor control

  13. DCWASA Digester Project • Class A product in 2014 • Designing a thermal hydrolysis pre-digestion plant • Diversification of end use • land application • blended soil product • Potential savings $6.5M w/product marketing • Can establish market through composting initiatives • Drafting a strategic plan to introduce compost back to DC for review by the GM’s office

  14. Previous Blue Plains compost projects • 300 wtpd at Site II • 200 wtpd at Blue Plains • All marketed and recycled

  15. Examples of other marketing Baltimore LA County Milwaukee 850,000 cy marketed 50 yrs experience $12.50/bag at Home Depot

  16. Tacoma, Washington • Digested, Class A biosolids blended with soil and sawdust • Tagro mix sells for $8/yard for residents, $10/yard for non-residents and commercial customers • Tagro potting soil sells for $30/cy

  17. Ongoing Research Projects • Under BPRC • Biostimulant/greenhouse gas study • Wye surface application • Task Order projects on greenhouse gas balance, land base analysis • DC-WASA funded • Va Tech trenching study • Triclosan, triclorocarbon (DC-WASA) • PBDEs (DC-WASA) • Odor modeling and prevention • WSSC funded • ERCO-University of MD (WSSC)

  18. BPRC Sponsored Projects Previous projects include: forest nutrient dynamics*, phosphorus fate and transport and heavy metals * Final reports available on COG web site

  19. Biostimulant Research at Tech

  20. Hybrid Poplar Research at Wye

  21. BPRC biosolids budget (proposed) • $130,000 for research task • Will support 2nd year of biostimulant/carbon sequestration project • Will support 2nd year of surface application to poplars project • $80,000 for outreach task • TAC process/regulatory changes • Coordination of VBC, VAMWA initiatives • Coordination of legislative responses • Continued staff support to Biosolids Workgroup (under BPRC staff support task)

  22. BPRC Biosolids Program Costs previously projected

  23. Next Steps Continue to support land application option Maintain digester implementation schedule Expand exploration of end use options post-digestion

More Related