Guidelines for a New Septage Land Application Site (SLAS)

Guidelines for a New Septage Land Application Site (SLAS)
The following information is needed to obtain a Permit for a Septage Land
Application Site
Please be aware that it is the responsibility of the permit applicant to obtain
applicable zoning approvals for the proposed site. Included in the submittal of an
application for a Septage Land Application Site shall be an approval letter from
the unit of local government having zoning authority over the area where the
facility is to be located. This approval letter shall state that the proposed facility
(such as a septage land application site or a septage detention or treatment facility)
meets all of the requirements of the local zoning ordinances, or that the site is not
zoned. However, production of a crop in accordance with an approved nutrient
management plan on land that is permitted as a septage land application site is a
bona fide farm purposed under G.S. 153A-340. It is highly recommended that
obtaining zoning approval is accomplished prior to any of the following steps.
After finding land that you wish to permit, you will need to find someone to do a
Site Evaluation. You will need to contact a licensed soil scientist, professional
engineer or licensed geologist to do the site evaluation. The NC Department of
Agriculture & Consumer Services (NCDA&CS) or the local Cooperative Extension
Office may also be of assistance. NC field agronomists or certified Soil & Water
Conservation technical specialists are another good resource. These individuals
may not be qualified to do a site evaluation but they may be able to recommend
someone local. Be sure to explain to the individuals that you talk with that the
evaluation is for septage land application, not sludge and the report will go to the
Division of Waste Management not the Division of Water Resources. The report
should also indicate in which stream watershed the site is located. You will also
need to find an environmental professional to write your Nutrient Management
Plan and Soil Erosion & Runoff Control Plan in regards to the proposed site and
crop stand that will receive the waste by land application. The local County
Cooperative Extension Office may have personnel that are qualified to write (at no
charge) a nutrient management plan and soil erosion & runoff control plan.
An Application for a Permit to Operate a Septage Land Application Site shall be
completed and submitted. Please note that if a proposed site is currently
agriculture it is exempt from the Endangered Species Law in item 7 on the back of
the form. Item 6 on the back of the application requires an explanation that you
will treat the septage with enough hydrated lime to raise the pH to 12 and hold it
at pH 12 for a half hour for domestic septage (and hold for two hours for grease
septage) prior to land application.

A notarized Landowner's Authorization form is required if anyone else's name is
currently on the deed other than the individual applying for the permit. Please
ensure all landowners' sign the authorization and that a definite time period with
a specific start date is indicated.
The individual that is going to conduct the evaluation will need a copy of the NC
Septage Management Rules in order to address all permit requirements with
respect to the site evaluation, site location, and meeting minimum setback
distances. State Septage Rules can be accessed from our website at
https://edocs.deg.nc.gov/WasteManagement/0/edoc/1280312/Septage%20Ma
nagement%20RuIes. pdf?search id=f59031e7-8449-4bc0-b501-95dff6578d57. An
Aerial Photograph must be used as the background for the map produced during
the evaluation and be included with the permit submittal. The aerial photograph
must extend for a distance of at least 2500 feet in all directions from the site, with
site property boundaries accurately depicted. An aerial photograph is usually
available from your local tax office or they can instruct you where to obtain one
in your area. The aerial should indicate the useable area and the setbacks from
any features noted in the rules. A Vicinity Map (county road map) showing the
site location shall be included with the permit submittal. Please mark the
proposed site location on the aerial photo and the vicinity map.
A Soil Sample shall be taken from each disposal field at the proposed site. The soil
shall be analyzed for Standard Soil Fertility conditions and for the regulated heavy
metals. See Septage Rules 15A NCAC 13B .0840(c)(10)(A) and (B) for details.
Usually the individual that you hire to perform your site evaluation will also take
the soil samples. The NCDA&CS Agronomic Services Lab does provide both analyses
for a regulated site. Please include a copy of the soil analysis in your permit
submittal.
Before a septage land application site permit can be issued, the permit applicant
shall attend a New Site Operator's Class. This class is typically held at the
Fayetteville Regional Office at 225 Green Street, Suite 714, in Fayetteville with the
date determined by Section staff who are reviewing the permit submittal. After the
permit is issued, there is an annual 3 hour training requirement that shall be
satisfied prior to being repermitted for each coming year. These annual training
classes are held at various locations around the state. These classes are offered by
NC Pumper Group or NC Septic Tank Association. For information concerning the
NC Pumper Group call 252-249-1097 or go to www.ncpumpergroup.org or. For
information concerning the NC Septic Tank Association call 336-416-3564 or 336-
345-8357 or go to www.ncsta. net.

The permit requirements for a Septage Detention (storage tank) or Treatment
Facility are similar to the submittal for a land application site permit. An
application form, approval letter from the local zoning authority, landowners'
authorization form (if different than the applicant), aerial photograph and vicinity
map are required. Please note that a permitted storage tank is required for the
land application of grease septage.
Please note that ORIGINAL signed forms, plans etc. are needed to issue a permit.
The time frame varies but on average it takes several months to obtain a septage
land application site permit. This is due to several reasons including the amount of
information that must be submitted, revisions that may be needed and the daily
workload that this office manages. Once the review of the permit submittal is close
to completion, this office will perform a site inspection to establish setbacks,
boundary markers and ensure compliance with septage management rules. An
adequate crop stand sufficient for land application is required in accordance with
the nutrient management plan for the proposed site.
Please be aware that use of a septage land application site or storage tank that is
not permitted may result in administrative penalties up to $15,000 per violation
per day in accordance with NC General Statute 130A-22. A pre -operational
inspection shall be performed and a permit issued (signed) before septage land
application or septage detention shall occur.
For permit forms and other information visit the Division of Waste Management
website at https://deg.nc.gov/about/divisions/waste-management/waste-
management-rules/septage.