Section NR 528.07 - End uses of accumulated sedimentThe sediment manager shall ensure that an end use is chosen for the accumulated sediment in accordance with this section.
(1) LICENSED LANDFILL DISPOSAL. (a) If the sediment manager determines that the accumulated sediment will be disposed of in a licensed landfill, the sediment does not need to be evaluated or sampled under s. NR 528.06. Note: The landfill operator should be contacted to determine whether the landfill requires the sediment be sampled before it is accepted at the landfill. The sediment may be appropriate for use as daily or final cover in accordance with the landfill's approved plan of operation.
(b) If any of the ceiling levels in s. NR 528.04(4) Table 2 are exceeded, the accumulated sediment shall be disposed of in a licensed landfill.(2) GENERAL FILL. (a) The accumulated sediment may be used as general fill in a designed excavation or to improve a site by restoring original contours, filling depressions, improving or stabilizing borrow areas or other disturbed sites. Note: Examples of uses may include reclamation of abandoned mines, fill in a topographic depression, or other uses that build up or shape the local landscape, mitigate safety or erosion hazards or otherwise improve disturbed sites.
(b) All of the following steps shall be taken to stabilize the site: 1. Complete placement and preparation of the sediment and any needed topsoil, substitute soil or cover material within 6 months or less of initiating placement in the project year.2. Stabilize the cover, topsoil, substitute soil or sediment to prevent erosion due to wind and water, perform all revegetation, mulching or other equivalent stabilization activities prior to the end of the growing season and minimize the exposure of the sediment to the environment by employing one or more of the following measures: a. Place an impermeable cover.b. Place a topsoil layer of no less than 6 inches.c. Use the accumulated sediment in lieu of or in combination with topsoil, provided it is capable of supporting a vegetative cover.3. Revegetate, mulch or otherwise stabilize the sediment within 48 hours of completing the sediment disposal.(c) Control erosion during and after the placement of sediment in accordance with s. NR 528.04(3).(3) CONFINED GEOTECHNICAL FILL. The accumulated sediment may be used as confined geotechnical fill for a variety of uses such as subbase under paved lots and subbase or subgrade for building construction. Note: Examples of confined geotechnical fill uses may include construction and maintenance of non-department of transportation projects, bridge abutment backfill or other similar uses in which the sediment is covered by an impervious surface such as concrete, asphalt, a building or similar material and thus not exposed to the environment.
(4) LANDSPREADING. The sediment manager shall ensure that the appropriate sections of the certification form provided by the department are completed and the other requirements in s. NR 528.06 are complied with. When landspreading the accumulated sediment, all of the following shall apply: (a)Site evaluation. The site where the accumulated sediment is proposed to be landspread shall be evaluated to ensure that the site is suitable. The site evaluation shall include the soil factors in Table 3 and may include assessment of organic matter content, cation exchange capacity, soil permeability and any other characteristics or factors that would affect the mobility and attenuation of pollutants present in the sediment. The site shall meet the locational criteria in s. NR 528.04(1) Table 1.(b)Application rate and depth. The application rate of accumulated sediment may not exceed 5 dry tons per acre per year and may not exceed 15 dry tons per acre total loading during the life of the landspreading site. The depth of the application may not exceed 18 inches.1. Neither the 5 dry tons per acre per year application rate limitation or the 15 dry tons per acre landspreading site life limit apply when accumulated sediment is used as a component of a marketable soil amendment product pursuant to a contract or used to facilitate nonmetallic mine reclamation as part of an approved reclamation plan.2. The 5 dry tons per acre annual limit and the total loading limit of 15 dry tons per acre landspreading life may be adjusted based on soil sampling results, plant tissue monitoring data, landspreading site records or other data. All data necessary to justify the exceedances and extended use shall be collected and evaluated and all data and records shall be maintained in accordance with s. NR 528.08. Table 3
Soil Factors for Site Evaluation
Soil Factor1 | Acceptability for Landspreading Accumulated Sediment |
Unacceptable | Poor | Adequate | Preferred |
pH standard units | Less than 5.3 or greater than 8.0 | 5.3 to 5.6 or 7.7 to 7.9 | 5.7 to 5.9 7.3 to 7.6 | 6.0 to 7.2 |
Texture | Silty clay2, clay2, sand3, loamy sand3 | Sandy loam, silty clay loam, sandy clay | Loam, silt loam, silt, clay loam, sandy clay loam |
1 Obtain from soil survey, not in-field test
2 Acceptable only when incorporated
3 Acceptable only with increased site management determined by the sediment manager
(c)Nutrient content. The nitrogen and phosphorous content shall be provided to the receiver of the accumulated sediment if the receiver has a nutrient management plan for the acreage where the accumulated sediment will be landspread. Note: Farmers required to follow a nutrient management plan need information on nutrient content in order to comply with NRCS Standard 590 available at: http://efotg.nrcs.usda.gov/references/public/WI/590.pdf.
(d)Uniform application. The application of accumulated sediment to the land surface shall be uniform when surface applied, as well as during injection or incorporation.(e)Application limitations. Accumulated sediment may not be applied under any of the following situations: 1. On frozen or saturated ground.2. When precipitation capable of producing runoff is forecast within 24 hours of the time of planned application, during or immediately after a precipitation event.3. On slopes greater than 6%.(f)Pathogens. In all cases where a pathogen risk exists due to the presence of pathogens, as indicated by evidence of the pathogen or indicator organism and level per s. NR 528.06(3) (b) 4., the following management practices shall be implemented: 1. At a minimum, accumulated sediment shall be incorporated into the surface soil to a depth of at least 6 inches by disking or an equivalent process and may include other measures such as signage, restriction on site access or other appropriate measures.2. The following waiting periods and access restrictions shall apply beginning on the date when the landspreading activity is completed: a. When lands are used for the production of forage crops, landspreading shall occur only after harvest has occurred and before any new growth reaches 6 inches.b. When lands are used for food crops intended for human consumption, a period of at least 14 months shall elapse prior to emergence of the food crop.c. When lands are used for grazing, at least 30 days shall elapse prior to allowing access to non-dairy animals and at least 60 days shall elapse before allowing access to dairy animals.d. When lands are subject to public access or used for the harvest of crops grown for fiber or any other forage or crop production, not covered in this subd. 2.a. to c., a period of at least 30 days shall elapse before the site may be accessed or used. (5) DEDICATED SEDIMENT MANAGEMENT SITE. The end use of landspreading or sediment treatment at a dedicated management site may be chosen if the sites are owned or leased by a municipality or other responsible unit of government. The sediment manager shall assume any additional site management, site monitoring and recordkeeping responsibilities that are necessary to minimize risk to public health, safety and the environment. (a) When sediment is used at a dedicated site, the sediment manager shall ensure that the appropriate portions of the certification form provided by the department are completed. Based on the information obtained in accordance with s. NR 528.06, the sediment manager may choose to use the accumulated sediment for productive purposes including the growth of herbaceous or woody plants for harvest or for treatment to reduce contaminants in the accumulated sediment in accordance with this subsection.(b) All of the following restrictions shall apply to dedicated sediment management sites: 1. The locational criteria in s. NR 528.04(1) shall be met.2. The sediment shall be applied to a depth of 18 inches or less below ground surface.3. When the dedicated site is used for sediment treatment so as to attenuate or reduce contaminants in the accumulated sediment, only non-food chain crops or woody plants for harvest or phyto-remediation purposes may be grown.4. In cases where the annual application rate or lifetime loading limit in sub. (4) (b) are not exceeded, the provisions of sub. (4) (b) 2. do not apply. In cases where the 5 dry tons per acre annual application rate limitation or the 15 dry tons per acre site life limit are exceeded, the sediment manager shall ensure that sub. (4) (b) 2. is followed as well as take any additional measures or practices that may be necessary to ensure safe long-term site use. These may include practices such as the collection and evaluation of contaminants in soils, plant tissue, other environmental receptors or monitoring devices. The sediment manager shall track the sediment application rates and cumulative site loading totals for contaminants in soil or other receptors as appropriate. The sediment manager shall ensure that any additional measures are implemented that may be necessary such as enhanced site management practices to control run-on and runoff and erosion control practices. At a minimum, the erosion control requirements of s. NR 528.04(3) shall be met.5. Accumulated sediment may be applied on frozen ground and on slopes greater than 6% or more provided the sediment management is performed in compliance with s. NR 528.04(3) and adequate and permanent run-on and runoff controls are in place and maintained.6. Sediment may not be applied when precipitation capable of producing runoff is forecast within 24 hours of the time of planned application, or during or immediately after a precipitation event.7. In all cases where a pathogen risk exists due to the presence of pathogens, as indicated by evidence of the pathogen or indicator organism and level per s. NR 528.06(3) (b) 4., then the waiting periods in sub. (4) (f) apply.8. In all cases where a pathogen risk exists due to the presence of pathogens, no grazing is allowed and no human food chain crops may be grown where the sediment has been applied.9. In all cases where a pathogen risk exists, permanent public access controls shall be put in place and access restricted during any year when the sediment application occurs.(c) The sediment manager shall ensure that an affidavit is filed indicating that the site was used for a dedicated sediment management site in the registrar of deeds office in the county where the site is located.(d) The sediment manager shall ensure that all appropriate completed certification forms, all sediment sampling results and all monitoring data and site use and sediment loading records are retained in accordance with s. NR 528.08.(6) SMALL QUANTITY, COARSE GRAINED SEDIMENT MANAGEMENT. The sediment manager may choose to manage certain kinds of coarse grained sediment as provided under this subsection. (a) If the annual volume of accumulated sediment to be managed is 100 cubic yards or less and comprised primarily of coarse-grained material such as that found in the forebay, the sediment manager shall complete the appropriate sections of the certification form provided by the department and indicate the following criteria are met: 1. The volume of accumulated sediment to be managed is 100 cubic yards or less.2. No more than 15% of the material, as a percentage by weight, passes a No. 200 sieve.(b) If the criteria in par. (a) are met, no chemical testing is required and the sediment shall be managed in accordance with s. NR 528.04(1) and (2). If either par. (a) 1. or 2. are not met, the accumulated sediment may not be used in accordance with this subsection and shall be managed in accordance with this section and ss. NR 528.04 to 528.06 and 528.08.(c) The sediment manager shall maintain responsibility for managing the accumulated sediment.(d) The sediment manager shall retain records in accordance with s. NR 528.08.(7) END USE UNDER OTHER CONTROL. Accumulated sediment may be used under the control of another program in accordance with this subsection. End use of accumulated sediment pursuant to this subsection is not subject to the other provisions of this chapter provided equivalent protectiveness is afforded, including the provisions of ss. NR 528.04(2) to (4). (a) Accumulated sediment may be used in accordance with a department of transportation facility construction and maintenance project contract of specific duration that requires compliance with department of transportation standard specifications for site restoration and stabilization. Sampling in accordance with s. NR 528.06(3) is not required when there is another requirement such as a contract or permit that requires sampling encompassing the s. NR 528.06(3) requirements. Sampling pursuant to s. NR 528.06(3) shall be performed if the contract or permit does not require sampling encompassing these requirements. Note: The requirements of the WDOT concerning the restoration of disturbed sites are found in sections of the standard specifications including those addressing erosion control, seeding, final clean-up and may be found in: WDOT Standard Specifications, see http://roadwaystandards.dot.wi.gov/standards/stndspec/index.htm.
(b) Accumulated sediment may be used in accordance with a ch. NR 135 nonmetallic mine reclamation permit issued pursuant to an applicable nonmetallic mining reclamation ordinance. Sampling in accordance with s. NR 528.06(3) is not required when there is another document such as a contract or permit that requires sampling encompassing the s. NR 528.06(3) requirements. Sampling pursuant to s. NR 528.06(3) shall be performed if the contract or permit does not require sampling encompassing these requirements.Wis. Admin. Code Department of Natural Resources NR 528.07
CR 08-111: cr. Register November 2009 No. 647, eff. 12-1-09.