9VAC25-31-543: Soils monitoring

A. Soil shall be sampled and analyzed prior to biosolids application to determine site suitability and to provide background data. No sample analysis used to determine application rates shall be more than three years old at the time of biosolids land application. Soil shall be sampled and analyzed in accordance with Table 1 of this section. Reduced monitoring may also apply to one-time biosolids applications to forest or reclaimed lands. For background analysis, random composite soil samples from the zone of incorporation are required for infrequent applications and frequent applications at less than agronomic rates (total less than 15 dry tons per acre).

TABLE 1

SOIL TEST PARAMETERS FOR LAND APPLICATION SITES1

Parameter

Soil pH (Std. Units)

Available phosphorus (ppm)2

Extractable potassium (ppm)

Extractable sodium (mg/100g)3

Extractable calcium (mg/100g)

Extractable magnesium (mg/100g)

Zinc (ppm)

Manganese (ppm)

1Note: Unless otherwise stated, analyses shall be reported on a dry weight basis.

2Available P shall be analyzed using one of the following methods: Mehlich I or Mehlich III.

3Extractable sodium shall be analyzed only where biosolids known to be high in sodium will be land applied.

B. The department reserves the right to require the permit holder to conduct additional soil monitoring including, but not limited to, additional parameters, based on site-specific history or conditions.

C. Samples shall be collected in accordance with § 10.1-104.2 of the Code of Virginia.