SB 1278 — Biosolids Management

Florida Senate - 2019 CS for CS for SB 1278 By the CommitteeCommittees on EnvironmentAppropriations; and Natural Resources;

and SenatorEnvironment Mayfieldand 592-02966-19Natural 20191278c1Resources; A bill to be entitled An act relating to biosolids management;

and Senator Mayfield 576-04620-19 20191278c2 A bill to be entitled An act relating to biosolids management;

403.0855,403.0616, F.S.;

providingrequiring legislativethe findingsDepartment andof intent;Environmental Protection, subject to appropriation, to establish a real-time water quality monitoring program;

encouraging the formation of public-private partnerships;

creating s.

403.08715, F.S.;

providing legislative findings;

requiringprohibiting the Departmentland application of Environmental Protection to adopt rules for biosolids managementon which meet certain requirements;sites;

exemptingprohibiting the rulemakingdepartment from specifiedissuing requirements;or renewing certain permits;

directing the department to initiate rulemaking by a specified date, adopt specified rules for biosolids management, and implement a specified water quality monitoring program;

authorizing a county or municipality to enact or retain in effect certain ordinances, moratoriums, or regulations;

providing that certain ordinances, moratoriums, or regulations remain in effect until they are repealed or expire;

defining the term “biosolids”;

1618 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:

1820 Section 1. Section 403.0855,403.0616, Florida Statutes, is created to read:

403.0855 Biosolids403.0616 Real-time management.—water (1) Thequality Legislaturemonitoring findsprogram.— that(1) Subject itto isappropriation, in the bestdepartment interestshall ofestablish thisa statereal-time towater regulatequality biosolidsmonitoring managementprogram to assist in orderthe torestoration, minimizepreservation, theand migrationenhancement of nutrientsimpaired thatwater impairbodies waterbodies.and coastal resources.

The(2) In Legislatureorder furtherto findsexpedite that the expeditedcreation and implementation of the recommendationsprogram, of the Biosolidsdepartment Technicalis Advisoryencouraged Committee, including permitting according to site-specificform applicationpublic-private conditions,partnerships anwith increasedestablished inspectionscientific rate,entities groundwaterwith andexisting, surfaceproven real-time water quality monitoring protocols,equipment and nutrientexperience management research, will improve biosolids management and assist in protectingdeploying thissuch state’sequipment. water resources and water quality.

TheSection Legislature2. Section intends403.08715, forFlorida innovativeStatutes, technologiesis increated biosolids processing to beread: implemented as a means to improve biosolids management and to protect this state’s water resources and water quality.

(2) As403.08715 Biosolids usedmanagement.— in(1) LEGISLATIVE thisFINDINGS.—The section,Legislature thefinds termit “biosolids”is hasin the samebest meaninginterest asof inthe s.state to:

(a) Regulate biosolids management to minimize the migration of nutrients, nitrogen, and phosphorus that impair or contribute to the impairment of water bodies.

(b) Expedite implementation of the recommendations of the Biosolids Technical Advisory Committee, which includes permitting based on site-specific application conditions, increased inspection frequencies, groundwater and surface water monitoring protocols, and nutrient management research to improve the management of biosolids and protect this state’s water resources and water quality.

(c) Expedite the implementation of biosolids processing innovative technologies as a means to improve biosolids management and protect water resources and water quality.

(2) DEFINITION.—As used in this section, the term “biosolids” has the same meaning as in s.

(3) The(3) PROHIBITED LAND APPLICATION.— (a) Beginning July 1, 2019, the department shallmay adoptnot rulesissue a new permit or renew an existing permit for biosolidsthe managementland whichapplication include,of butbiosolids arefor notany limitedsite to,where the following:land application of biosolids is prohibited pursuant to paragraph (b).

(a) Biosolids(b) Beginning landJuly application1, rates2020, thatthe ensureland thatapplication nutrientsof dobiosolids notis impairprohibited oron addany tosite anwhere existingthe impairmentbiosolids ofapplication surfacezone waterinteracts qualitywith orthe groundwaterseasonal qualityhigh inwater nearbytable. or downstream waterbodies;

(b) Site-specific(4) RULEMAKING.— land(a) For applicationsites criteria;that are not subject to the prohibitions imposed under subsection (3), the department shall adopt rules for biosolids management to:

1. Permit the use of biosolids in a manner that minimizes the migration of nutrients and (c) Monitoringthat requirements.does not impair or add to the impairment of surface water and groundwater quality, including:

(4) Rulesa. Site-specific adoptedland pursuantapplication torates thisof sectionbiosolids arebased noton subjectsoil characteristics, soil adsorption capacity, water table characteristics, hydrogeology, site use, and distance to ss.surface water;

120.541(3)b. An andevaluation 403.804(2).of the percentage of water-extractable phosphorus in all biosolids to inform the appropriate application rate;

(5) Nothingand hereinc. Criteria shallfor below-, construedmedium-, toand conflicthigh-risk withsites orthat supersedeguide s.application practices and required water quality monitoring.

373.4595.2. Establish site-specific groundwater and surface water monitoring requirements.

Section(b) The 2. Adepartment countyshall orinitiate municipalityrulemaking mayby enactAugust or1, retain2019. in effect an ordinance, moratorium, or regulation relating to the land application of Class B biosolids.

An(5) WATER ordinance,QUALITY moratorium,MONITORING.—The ordepartment regulationshall relatingimplement toan theoffsite landwater applicationquality ofmonitoring Classprogram Bsufficient biosolidsto adopteddetermine byimpacts afrom county or municipality shall remain in effect until the countyland orapplication municipalityof repealsbiosolids oron letsdownstream expireand thenearby ordinance,surface moratorium,water orand regulation.groundwater quality.

The(6) APPLICABILITY.— term(a) This “biosolids”section hasdoes thenot sameconflict meaningwith asor insupersede s.

373.4595(2),373.4595 Floridaor Statutes.s.

Section373.811. 3. This act shall take effect upon becoming a law.

(b) This section does not apply to Class AA biosolids that are marketed and distributed as fertilizer products in accordance with department rule.

(c)1. An ordinance, moratorium, or regulation adopted by a municipality or county before February 1, 2019, relating to the land application of Class B biosolids shall remain in effect until the ordinance, moratorium, or regulation is repealed by the municipality or county or until the effective date of the rules adopted by the department pursuant to subsection (4).