06- 096 C.M.R. ch. 420, § 4

Current through 2024-51, December 18, 2024

Section 096-420-4 - Siting Requirements for Septage Land Application Sites

Septage land application sites must meet the criteria of this section.

A.Sand and Gravel Aquifer. A site may not overlie a significant sand and gravel aquifer . No variances to this requirement will be granted.

B.Buffer Zones. The boundaries of a septage application area at a site must comply with the minimum distance requirements as specified in Table 1. The Department may specify that buffer zones be increased, as necessary, depending on site conditions, to prevent environmental or health impacts.

TABLE 1

MINIMUM BUFFER ZONES FOR SEPTAGE LAND APPLICATION SITES

Minimum Distance in Feet From Septage Application Boundary to Feature
Type of Feature	Septage Utilization	Septage Non-utilization
Public Well	1000	1000
Private Well	300	300
Property Line	50	250
Dwelling/Occupied Building	300	2500
Perennial Waterbody/Watercourse	300	300
Intermittent Stream or Brook	100	100
Waterway/Constructed Drainage Ditch	25	25
Public Road	50	250

C. Minimum Depth to Bedrock. A site may not be located on land areas where the bedrock is less than thirty-six (36) inches below the ground surface. Up to twelve (12) inches of soil meeting U.S.D.A. textural classification of loamy sand or finer, as determined by a Maine Certified Soil Scientist, may be placed on a septage land application site to meet the minimum depth-to-bedrock requirement. This fill material must be properly graded, seeded and mulched to prevent erosion.

D.Suitable Soil Drainage Classes. Septage land application sites may only be sited on the soil types which have drainage classes of: excessively-drained, somewhat excessively-drained; well-drained; moderately well-drained; or somewhat poorly-drained as determined by a Maine Certified Soil Scientist. All sand, or gravely soils which are excessively-drained must have a cap of loamy fine sand or finer soil which is at least twelve inches in thickness.

E.Surface Slopes. Ground surface slopes at any part of a site may not exceed eight (8) percent.

F.Traffic. The following design criteria must be met for all access roads to the site:

(1) On-site roads must be suitable for movement of traffic within the facility.

(2) Sight distances at road entrances to the facility must be suitable, as determined by one of the following:

(a) The sight distance to the entrance of the facility is equal to or greater than a foot value of ten (10) times the posted speed limit. Measurements are to be taken from the road entrance, ten (10) feet behind the edge of the shoulder and 42" off the ground, to a point down the road shoulder, 51" above the pavement; or

(b) The Department of Transportation has issued a permanent site entrance permit for the access road; or

(c) The local highway department has issued a permanent site entrance permit for the access road.

G.Endangered Species. Septage may not be applied to a land area if the application of septage will adversely affect a threatened or endangered species, or if it will adversely affect the species' designated critical or essential habitat. The Department finds that this requirement is met if the land application of septage is to occur upon an existing, active, agricultural site.

06- 096 C.M.R. ch. 420, § 4