According to Chemical Processing, as of December 4th, the EPA has eliminated low production exemptions for chemicals containing PFAS. This will help to ensure that new PFAS that can have potential harm to humans are subject to full safety reivews before manufacturing. From the article:
“Today, we’ve modernized our chemical reviews and continued to protect people from unsafe new PFAS," said Michal Freedhoff, assistant administrator for the Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention.
According to FingerLakes1.com, Casella Waste Systems Inc. has offered to drop all plans to spread sewage sludge on fields in Thurston if the Steuben County town will allow to operate a composting facility instead at its Bonny Hill Organics site. But Town Supervisor Michael Volino said Sunday that Thurston won’t be accepting that informal offer made to him in an Aug. 5 letter from Tom West, the company’s attorney.
With continued plans to further expand Industrial Furnace operations throughout the United States, we have recently received our General Contracting License in North Carolina.
Please contact us with any questions.
The town of Cameron in Steuben County is moving toward banning the use of biosolids as fertilizer due to concerns about PFAS. The town passed a resolution to conduct an environmental assessment as part of the process required by the State Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQR). Cameron follows Thurston, a neighboring town that banned biosolids last year. The county now has 30 days to review the assessment, with a public hearing scheduled for August 14.
The Riverhead Town Board recently approved an increased project budget for a new wastewater treatment facility. This increase, largely due to COVID-related supply chain issues and design changes, will cost the town $18.65 million and is to be paid off over 30 years. The project will convert the current sludge handling process to create Class A biosolids, which are more environmentally friendly and will save the town an estimated $25 million in operational costs over the next three decades. The project will be financed through property assessments within the service area, with the town securing a $17 million no-interest loan from the N.Y. State Environmental Services Corporation.
Residents in Luzerne County, PA, are voicing their concerns over Biosolids being spread on farmland as fertilizer in Huntington Township. Biosolid is treated sewage sludge. Although Biosolids have been approved by the Environmental Protection Agency, residents are concerned that they could contain forever chemicals that could leach into streams. Since forever chemicals don't break down, they are concerned that these PFAS will build up over time and cause larger issues down the road.
While the state regulates biosolid use, there's no current standard for PFAS in biosolids. Township officials, like Barry Kyttle, are exploring ways to manage the issue, including possibly implementing a hauling fee to discourage farmers from using biosolids in the area. Currently, this "fertilizer" is free for farmers to use. One resident voiced his concern over this free fertilizer, saying “you have to wonder, if it’s so good and it’s supposed to be a premium fertilizer, then why is it free?”
The State of Connecticut legislature passed an Act (SB-292) that will ban the use, sell or offer for sale in the state as a soil amendment any biosolids or wastewater sludge that contain PFAS. This Act goes into effect on October 1, 2024.
The mayor of Warren, Michigan, Lori Stone, is seeking up to $100 million to upgrade the city's outdated wastewater treatment system, which serves over 137,000 residents. The proposed upgrade includes a new high-tech incinerator to better handle organic waste. The current system, built in 1957, is failing, leading to operational challenges like transporting sludge to landfills. The city is pursuing state and federal funding, including infrastructure grants, and aims to be a pilot program for this new technology.
The Mid-Atlantic Biosolids Association (MABA) highlights the role of incineration in biosolids management, particularly for destroying persistent organic pollutants like PFAS. The region's incinerators, such as those operated by DELCORA and ACUA, have undergone significant upgrades to comply with federal regulations and improve operations. Both facilities face challenges with regulatory scrutiny, especially concerning air emissions and power disruptions. Despite these challenges, their ability to manage biosolids from various agencies positions them as key players in the biosolids disposal market.
A news station in Madison, Wisconsin, WKNOW, recently reported on tests that showed an increase in PFAS chemicals in the local water in two nearby counties. PFAS, also known as "forever chemicals" are manmade chemicals that don’t break down and can have adverse health effects on people and animals. If not removed, they can seep into the cropland and water supply contaminating food and drink. The EPA is continues to tighten regulations on the removal of PFAS from sewage sludge, but there is still a long way to go. The use of a multiple hearth furnace can be an effective way to remove PFAS from sewage sludge.
According to the story, "New test results from Public Health Madison and Dane County conclude more PFAS contamination has been identified. The organization has conducted private well testing, and 15% of tests came back with PFAS levels above Wisconsin's standard of 70 parts per trillion."
As news continues to mount over an increase in problems, a recent article from CBS News highlights the continuing issue of contaminated sewage sludge getting into waterways and cropland, ultimately finding its way into food and drink. This sewage sludge can contain PFAS, also known as "forever chemicals" and can present health risks to people if consumed. The use of a multiple hearth furnace can be an effective tool for removing.
The article states: "Over the last five years, over 100 billion gallons of untreated sewage have flowed through Mexico's Tijuana River and into the Pacific Ocean at the shores of the seaside town, contaminating the air, water, and soil and posing environmental and public health hazards. '
In addition: "Dangerous pathogens and chemicals in contaminated waters pose a spectrum of short and long-term health risks, spanning gastrointestinal issues to neurological disorders," according to the SDSU report.
In our continued monitoring of PFAS making its way into sewage sludge, there is news out of Texas in which farmers claim that a waste management company supplied them with sludge that was contaminated by PFAS. As a result, there is a federal lawsuit against the waste management company. We've written before about the problem of PFAS being found in sewage sludge and how a multiple-hearth furnace can be an effective tool for removing PFAS from sewage sludge.
The article from The Guardian states: "A Texas county has launched a first-of-its-kind criminal investigation into the waste management giant Synagro over PFAS-contaminated sewage sludge it is selling to Texas farmers as a cheap alternative to fertilizer."
From CBS News - "Fish Contaminated with 'Forever Chemicals' Found in Nearly Every State" - See the Video
PFAS, also known as "forever chemcials" have been of growing concern as they are being found in food and water around the country.
PFAS are a group of manmade chemicals that don’t break down and can have an adverse health effects on people and animals. Used commonly in products since the 1950s, PFAS can be found in many items including food packaging, commercial household products, clothing, and more. They are considered useful in manufacturing because they are resistant to wear, heat, and oil – prolonging the life of the product. However, once disposed of, if not removed, they find their way back into the environment. Learn more about removing PFAS.
The EPA is hosting a free webinar - Everything you wanted to know about PFAS but were afraid to ask: From the operators’ perspective.
When: Wednesday April 12 at 1pm EST
About the Webinar:
In this webinar, Jamie Hope from the Florida Rural Water Association will examine emerging contaminants, PFAS and PFOA, and discuss what they are including uses, properties, environmental impacts, and potential treatment methods for wastewater and drinking water. The learning objectives of this webinar are to understand the complexity and impacts of Emerging Contaminants and UCMR 5 testing requirements. Participants will learn to identify the sources of Emerging Contaminants and how they were developed and subsequently released into the environment. Jamie will also identify potential treatment options for facilities including Activated Carbon, Ion Exchange Resin (IX), Reverse Osmosis (RO) and Nanofiltration (NF), Advanced Oxidation, and Biosolids Removal.
