Md. Code Regs. 15.18.04.04 - Composting Facility Operator Requirements
A. A composting facility certified operator
is responsible for complying with the requirements of this regulation when
operating a composting facility.
B.
For a composting facility receiving only agricultural or yard waste the
following is required:
(1) Stabilized
compost, or any compost product to be distributed from the facility, shall be
tested by the operator each quarter, or once every 20,000 tons of compost,
whichever is more frequent, for each parameter listed in Table 1 of Regulation
.11 of this chapter, using a method acceptable to the Department;
(2) If the compost test results are within
the testing limits set forth in Regulation .05A of this chapter during the
first year of operation, then the operator may test only once a year, provided
the test results remain within the limits set forth in Regulation .05A of this
chapter;
(3) An alternative testing
schedule may be approved by the Secretary, provided the operator demonstrates
that the alternative testing schedule will provide at least equivalent
protection to the public and to the environment;
(4) The operator shall make test results
available to the Department for inspection during the facility's normal hours
of operation.
C. For a
composting facility receiving solid waste other than only agricultural or yard
waste the following is required:
(1) The
certified operator of a solid waste composting facility shall develop a quality
assurance or quality control plan approved by the Department that describes
monitoring, sampling, and analysis plans for testing the composting process and
product to be distributed;
(2) The
Department shall determine and the operator shall follow an appropriate
monitoring and sampling schedule for the 15-month initial start-up period for
any new facility;
(3) Using
information gained during the start-up period, a monitoring and sampling
schedule for ongoing operations shall be developed by the operator with the
Department, based on statistical methods for quality assurance.
D. Samples of compost to be
distributed shall be obtained by the operator in accordance with a plan
approved by the Department. Samples of the compost produced at the facility
shall be analyzed by the operator for each parameter listed in Table 1 of
Regulation .11 of this chapter using a method acceptable to the
Department.
E. Results of
laboratory analysis for each parameter specified in Table 1 of Regulation .11
of this chapter shall be recorded by the operator and kept for 2 years at the
facility and shall be available to the Department, upon request.
F. The Department may decrease or increase
the parameters to be analyzed, or the frequency of analysis, based on
monitoring data, changes in the waste stream or processing, or the potential
presence of toxic substances.
G.
The Secretary may conduct periodic sampling, without charge, and testing of any
compost product to be distributed to determine if it complies with the
requirements of this chapter.
H.
The Secretary may establish additional limits on any classification of compost
or any specific product if it is found that the compost contains a chemical or
physical component that can cause unreasonable adverse effects to humans,
animals, plants, or the environment.
Notes
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