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H.425 1
Introduced by Representatives Morris of Springfield, Casey of Montpelier, 2
Emmons of Springfield, Logan of Burlington, Masland of 3
Thetford, McCann of Montpelier, Pouech of Hinesburg, and 4
Waszazak of Barre City 5
Referred to Committee on 6
Date: 7
Subject: Conservation and development; solid waste; sludge; septage; regional 8
management 9
Statement of purpose of bill as introduced: This bill proposes to require the 10
Secretary of Natural Resources to submit to the General Assembly a proposed 11
regional long-term septage, sludge, and solids management plan for the safe 12
and cost-effective disposition of septage, sludge, and biosolids in a manner that 13
eliminates or reduces environmental and public health risks. 14
An act relating to the regional management of the disposition of septage, 15
sludge, and biosolids 16
It is hereby enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Vermont: 17
Sec. 1. REGIONAL LONG-TERM SEPTAGE, SLUDGE, AND SOLIDS 18
MANAGEMENT PLAN 19
(a) As used in this section: 20 BILL AS INTRODUCED H.425
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(1) “Biosolids” means septage or sewage sludge derived, in whole or in 1
part, from domestic wastes that have been subjected to a treatment process for 2
the reduction of pathogens and have been demonstrated to meet the applicable 3
requirements in Agency rules for vector attraction reduction and pathogen 4
reduction. 5
(2) “Perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances” or “PFAS” means a 6
class of fluorinated organic chemicals containing at least one fully fluorinated 7
carbon atom. 8
(3) “Secretary” means the Secretary of Natural Resources. 9
(4) “Septage” means the liquid and solid materials pumped from a septic 10
tank, portable toilet, or cesspool during cleaning. 11
(5) “Sludge” means any solid, semisolid, or liquid generated from a 12
municipal, commercial, or industrial wastewater treatment facility or process, 13
water supply treatment plant, air pollution control facility, or any other such 14
waste having similar characteristics and effects. “Sludge” includes Class A 15
and Class B sewage sludge as those terms are defined under 40 C.F.R. Part 16
503. 17
(6) “Wastewater treatment facility” has the same meaning as in section 18
1295 of this title. 19
(b) On or before January 15, 2025, the Secretary of Natural Resources shall 20
submit to the House Committee on Environment and the Senate Committee on 21 BILL AS INTRODUCED H.425
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VT LEG #380946 v.1
Natural Resources and Energy a proposed a regional long-term septage, 1
sludge, and solids management plan for the safe and cost-effective disposition 2
of septage, sludge, and biosolids in a manner that eliminates or reduced 3
environmental and public health risks. The plan shall: 4
(1) propose how to establish multimunicipality member districts or 5
utilities for the regional management of septage, sludge, or biosolids; 6
(2) identify, assess, and designate existing wastewater treatment 7
facilities in the State for the purpose of serving as a regional acceptance site for 8
septage, sludge, and biosolids, while preserving the ability of each facility to 9
serve the municipality in which it is located; 10
(3) identify administrative burdens, cost, capacity, or other barriers that 11
may limit the ability to operate a regional acceptance site and proposed 12
methods to address each identified barrier; 13
(4) propose how to preserve the ability of wastewater treatment facilities 14
to support wastewater projects by villages or municipalities without a facility 15
through continued acceptance of septage; 16
(5) how to facilitate intermunicipal agreements for the operation and use 17
of regional acceptance sites, including how costs to operate, maintain, upgrade, 18
or construct a regional facility can be shared across participating towns; 19 BILL AS INTRODUCED H.425
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(6) assess and support options for the management of the outputs of 1
regional acceptance sites in order to ensure beneficial or value-added end use, 2
including whether: 3
(A) entering public-private partnerships for certain wastes or outputs 4
would benefit the operation of regional acceptance sites; and 5
(B) outputs could be utilized for resource recovery; 6
(7) propose how regional acceptance facilities would manage the 7
acceptance and disposition of septage, sludge, or biosolids containing 8
contaminants of concern, such as PFAS; and 9
(8) propose regional acceptance sites could charge for services, 10
including potential rate formulas, taxes, fees, or incentives. 11
(c) Prior to submitting the plan to the General Assembly under subsection 12
(b) of this section, the Secretary shall provide public notice of the proposed 13
plan and shall take public comment for a period of not less than 30 days. 14
Sec. 2. EFFECTIVE DATE 15
This act shall take effect on July 1, 2025. 16