OIG urges EPA to assess unregulated pollutants in biosolids

摘要

Following a 14-month performance audit of the EPA’s biosolids program, the EPA’s Office of Inspector General (OIG) found what it believes to be significant gaps in the Agency’s implementation of its statutory obligation to protect human health and the environment. The major weakness identified by the OIG relates to the EPA’s regulation of pollutants in biosolids. The Agency’s Biosolids Rule (40 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 503), which addresses biosolids used as fertilizer, covers nine pollutants (all heavy metals) and imposes requirements such as limits on pollutant concentrations. However, after piecing together information from studies and reports, the OIG says that biosolids contain 352 contaminants—including 61 that are listed as acutely hazardous, hazardous, or priority pollutants in other EPA programs—for which the Agency does not have complete risk assessment information. Therefore, says the OIG, the EPA cannot state that biosolids applied to land pose no risk to the public. Moreover, says the OIG, the number of pollutants in biosolids appears to be growing as emerging substances such as pharmaceuticals, steroids and hormones, and flame retardants are being detected. Biosolids also contain pathogens, such as bacteria, viruses, and parasites, which can cause disease.