Who is responsible for complying with sludge requirements?
From production through disposal, the generator of the sludge is responsible for complying with all sludge standards and permit requirements. The generator is considered the person owning the wastewater treatment facility producing the sludge. An exception is the single-family, residential septic tank. In this case, the septage hauler is the responsible party, rather than the homeowner. The generator remains responsible for final sludge disposal unless the sludge is hauled to another permitted sludge use or disposal facility. A contract hauler is considered an agent of the generator. The use of a contract hauler does not relieve the generator of responsibility under the EPA regulations, unless the contract hauler obtains a separate sludge permit (Table 1).
