Bill Text

Bill Information


Add To My Favorites | print page

AB-1427 Biosolids: study.(2003-2004)

SHARE THIS: share this bill in Facebook share this bill in Twitter
AB1427:v93#DOCUMENT

Amended  IN  Assembly  April 21, 2003
Amended  IN  Assembly  May 07, 2003
Amended  IN  Assembly  June 02, 2003
Amended  IN  Senate  July 14, 2003
Amended  IN  Senate  July 24, 2003
Amended  IN  Senate  August 18, 2003

CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2003–2004 REGULAR SESSION

Assembly Bill
No. 1427

Introduced  by  Assembly Member Maddox

February 21, 2003

An act relating to biological solids.


LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


AB 1427, as amended, Maddox. Biosolids: study.
(1) The existing Porter-Cologne Water Quality Control Act generally requires the California regional water quality control boards to prescribe waste discharge requirements for individual waste discharges. The act requires the State Water Resources Control Board or a regional board, upon receipt of an application for waste discharge requirements for discharges of dewatered, treated, or chemically fixed sewage sludge and other biological solids, to prescribe general waste discharge requirements for those sludges and solids, as specified.
The California Integrated Waste Management Act of 1989, administered by the California Integrated Waste Management Board, establishes an integrated waste management program, including the regulation of solid waste disposal. Existing law authorizes the board to approve the use of compost, cocompost, and chemically fixed sewage sludge for use as solid waste landfill cover materials or for use as extenders for currently used cover material, if the board makes a specified evaluation.
The bill would require the California Environmental Protection Agency, and its boards, offices, and departments, in consultation with the Department of Food and Agriculture and the State Department of Health Services, the regulated industry, local jurisdictions, representatives of public water systems, and other stakeholders, to conduct a study, utilizing existing scientific data, existing research, and specified documents to determine the feasibility of establishing a statewide policy on biosolids treatment, disposal, and recycling. The bill would require this study to examine alternative technologies for the treatment, disposal, and recycling of biosolids and identify areas, jurisdictions, and other markets that can utilize treated biosolids. The bill would require the study to identify any data gap gaps in research, as specified, that should be addressed before the agency establishes a statewide policy on biosolids treatment, disposal, and recycling, and to recommend the best management practices that should be adopted for the transportation, handling, and spreading of biosolids.
The bill would, on or before December 31, 2005, require the agency to submit that study to the Legislature.
(2) The bill would require the Orange County Sanitation District to pay the California Environmental Protection Agency, including the boards, offices, and departments within the agency, the Department of Food and Agriculture and the State Department of Health Services, for the costs of conducting the study required by this bill, thereby imposing a state-mandated local program by imposing a new duty upon a local agency. (3) The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.
This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.
Vote: MAJORITY   Appropriation: NO   Fiscal Committee: YES   Local Program: YES  

The people of the State of California do enact as follows:


SECTION 1.

 (a) (1) The California Environmental Protection Agency, and its boards, offices, and departments, in consultation with the Department of Food an Agriculture, the State Department of Health Services, the regulated industry, local jurisdictions, representatives of public water systems, and other stakeholders, shall conduct a study, utilizing existing scientific data, to determine the feasibility of establishing a statewide policy on biosolids treatment, disposal, and recycling, taking into consideration any data gap identified pursuant to paragraph (5).
(2) Whenever possible, the study shall review and utilize existing biosolids research literature and scientific data as a basis for the policy development.
(3) The study shall utilize, but not be limited to, the analysis, scientific information, and the technical support documents generated during the development of the federal Environmental Protection Agency’s biosolids regulations that are found in Part 503 (commencing with Section 503.1) of Subchapter N of Chapter I of Title 40 of the Code of Federal Regulations and the scientific information and documents from the study recently conducted by the State Water Resources Control Board that was mandated by Section 13274 of the Water Code, as the basis for the statewide biosolids policy.
(4) The study shall examine alternative technologies for the treatment, disposal, and recycling of biosolids, and identify areas, jurisdictions, and other markets that can utilize treated biosolids.

(5)The study shall identify any data gap in research that should

(5) The study shall identify, if applicable, any data gaps in research on the fate and transport of microorganisms and heavy metals to groundwater that should be addressed before the agency establishes a statewide policy on biosolids treatment, disposal, and recycling.
(6) The study shall recommend the best management practices that should be adopted for the transportation, handling, and spreading of biosolids.
(b) On or before December 31, 2005, the California Environmental Protection Agency shall submit the study required pursuant to subdivision (a) to the Legislature.
(c) The Orange County Sanitation District shall pay the California Environmental Protection Agency, including the boards, offices, and departments within the agency, the Department of Food and Agriculture, and the State Department of Health Services for the costs of conducting the study required by subdivision (a).

SEC. 2.

 No reimbursement is required by this act pursuant to Section 6 of Article XIII B of the California Constitution because the only costs that may be incurred by a local agency or school district are the result of a program for which legislative authority was requested by that local agency or school district, within the meaning of Section 17556 of the Government Code and Section 6 of Article XIII B of the California Constitution.