title
Accept the 2023 Annual Biosolids Land Application Report from the Department of Resource Management
body
Published Notice Required? Yes ___ No _X _
Public Hearing Required? Yes ___ No _X _
DEPARTMENTAL RECOMMENDATION:
The Department of Resource Management recommends that the Board of Supervisors accept the 2023 Annual Biosolids Land Application Report.
SUMMARY:
Solano County Code, Chapter 25, requires that a report be submitted annually to the Board of Supervisors presenting the results of the past season’s activities on the land application of Class B biosolids in Solano County. The report must also include an update on the generator’s progress toward utilizing alternative technologies for the reuse of biosolids other than land application or landfilling. This generator’s report, the 2023 Bay Area Clean Water Agency (BACWA) Report, is included as Attachment A of the County’s report (Attachment A) and documents the results of the 2023 season for the land application of biosolids in Solano County.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
The cost of managing and overseeing the biosolids land application program is recovered through fees collected for site registration and land spreading charged to the applicant. Costs for biosolids material sampling and sample analysis are also charged to the applicant. A per-acre surcharge for research, charged to the applicant, is used for conducting research activity to improve our understanding of potential impacts, if any, of the land application of biosolids.
The costs associated with preparing the agenda item are included in the Department’s FY2023/24 Working Budget.
DISCUSSION:
Solano County is one of the few California counties that regulate the land application of biosolids onto agricultural land as a soil amendment. Since 1997, the Department of Resource Management (DRM) staff has been implementing the local biosolids land application program by enforcing the Solano County Code (SCC) Chapter 25 which incorporates the requirements contained in CFR 50, Part 503 of the federal standards. SCC Chapter 25 was amended between 1998-2012 to include various requirements such as public notification for land-spreading activity, wet weather restrictions on biosolids land application and spreading, to prohibit the application of biosolids within primary and secondary marsh areas, and to expand soil and ground water testing related to biosolids land application. These amendments to SCC Chapter 25 have provided additional public health and environmental protections regarding the use of biosolids. This program is recognized nationally, and is focused on increased public participation, research partnership, and proactive enforcement of standards.
California Forever Properties
During the 2023 biosolids land application season, eight regional generators provided approximately 2,613 dry tons of Class B biosolids that were land spread over 495 acres of pasture and rangelands as a soil amendment. This is an approximate 67% decrease in tonnage and a 66% decrease in acres applied compared to 2022. This decrease in land application is attributed to the acquisition of properties utilized for biosolids land application by Flannery & Associates, a subsidiary of California Forever. Flannery & Associates have curtailed the land application of biosolids on properties they own and have indicated their properties will not be available for biosolids land application in 2024.
Odor Complaints
All biosolids samples were reported to meet both Class A and Class B standards for heavy metals in compliance with SCC Chapter 25 requirements. Two specific applications resulted in odor complaints that were received during the 2023 land application season from north-eastern Solano County. All complaints were attributed to Lystek’s fertilizer applications; Lystek brand’s Lystegro product is a fertilizer derived from Class A Exceptional Quality biosolids that has undergone additional processing, including chemical additives and the potential addition of other organic materials resulting in a liquid fertilizer registered by the California Department of Agriculture. No 2023 odor complaints were attributed to the permitted Synagro land application operations. Staff continue to explore mitigation measures for Lystek and other potentially odorous fertilizer products, to prevent re-occurrence of odor nuisance issues associated with the use of Lystegro or other odorous fertilizer products. Since all of the odor complaints received were related to the land-spreading of Lystegro, DRM staff are exploring options to address potential nuisances, including potential revisions to SCC Chapter 25.
This report discusses the pollutant loading rates and life expectancies of registered fields and nitrogen agronomic rate applications to maximize plant uptake of the nutrients and to minimize the potential for nitrate runoff from biosolids-applied fields. The report also includes a copy of the 2023 Bay Area Clean Water Agencies (BACWA) annual report that provides an update on the generator’s progress toward utilizing alternative technologies for the reuse of biosolids other than land application or landfilling and the outcome of the stakeholder meeting held on February 15, 2024.
ALTERNATIVES:
The Board of Supervisors may choose not to receive the 2023 Biosolids Land Application Report. This is not recommended as the report is provided in accordance with Solano County Code and details the activity of the Department relative to the land application of biosolids in 2023.
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
In obtaining information for this report, the Department consulted with County Counsel, County Administrator’s Office, County Agricultural Department, UC Agriculture Extension, US Environmental Protection Agency, the San Francisco Bay Area and Central Valley Regional Water Quality Control Boards, Synagro LLC, Lystek International Inc., and the Biosolids Stakeholder Group, which includes representation from interested constituents from the Rio Vista-Suisun areas of Solano County, East Bay Municipal Utilities District, Fairfield-Suisun Sewer District, Union Sanitary District, and the City and County of San Francisco Public Utilities Commission. Information contained in the 2023 Annual Biosolids Land Application Report is distributed to participants in the Biosolids Stakeholder Group.
CAO RECOMMENDATION:
APPROVE DEPARTMENTAL RECOMMENDATION