Clean Water Current

(December 18, 2020) – Spurred on by recent criticisms of the national biosolids program and concerns that EPA may need to invest more in its biosolids efforts, EPA virtually convened the first National Biosolids Stakeholder Meeting since 2010 on December 8, 9 and 10. NACWA members from across the country and NACWA staff joined more than 150 stakeholders from EPA, the clean water community and academia to discuss the latest regulatory and research developments from EPA and to help inform EPA’s work in the coming years.

During the meeting, EPA sought input on a range of issues to help direct its resources to the areas where additional work is needed most. NACWA has stressed with EPA that it needs to commit the resources necessary to ensure the Agency can keep up with its statutorily-mandated work. This includes evaluating the pollutants in biosolids and conducting risk assessments when warranted to ensure the Part 503 regulations remain relevant and protective of human health and the environment regardless of management.

Over the past two years EPA has ramped up work in these areas and the stakeholder meeting helped to provide EPA with further direction. The slides used during the meeting, including information on the numerous breakout sessions, are available here.

Members with questions can contact Chris Hornback, NACWA’s Deputy CEO.