Beneficial Use of Biosolids Award Program, Invitation to Participate

The New York Water Environment Association (NYWEA) is pleased to announce its Beneficial Use of Biosolids Awards Program. This is an annual award that recognizes outstanding operating projects, research studies, technological advances, and public acceptance activities which promote the beneficial use of municipal biosolids. We are sending this to you to encourage your submission of nominations.

This program is designed to be similar to the USEPA program. This has been done so that individuals preparing for a nomination for the NYWEA award can easily modify the application and also submit it for the USEPA award.

USEPA continues to encourage states and regions to have local Beneficial Use of Biosolids Awards Program. These local programs increase the opportunity for recognition, promote public understanding of biosolids recycling at the local level, and emphasize the benefits and sound science behind use. The Water Environment Federation (WEF) Member Associations, the National Biosolids Partnership, and the Regional Biosolids Management Associations will be encouraging nominations in this year's awards program. This program in combination with the USPEA program will increase the number of deserving projects that receive recognition, and simultaneously helps achieve the goal of making the use of biosolids publicly acceptable.

This package describes the program and provides guidance for preparing and submitting nominations. Please send your nomination to the NYWEA office by October 15^th. The awards will be presented at the General Association Activities, held from January 1–.

Nomination Guidance for the NYWEA Beneficial Use of Biosolids Award Program

Purpose

The purpose of the Beneficial Use of Biosolids Award Program is to recognize significant contributions in the development and implementation of cost-effective, environmentally safe and publicly acceptable biosolids beneficial use practices. The beneficial use of biosolids recycle nutrients, improve soil conditions, or otherwise conserve valuable natural resources.

Award Categories

Nominations will be accepted for recognition of excellence in a wide range of activities that have stimulated beneficial use of municipal biosolids. National awards may be presented in the following categories:

Operating Projects (large & small). Outstanding, full-scale, beneficial use technologies.

Technology Development Activities. Significant technological improvements that have been developed and fully proven at the operational level; these may be pilot or full scale activities.

Research Activities. Studies that have substantially contributed to an improved understanding of biosolids beneficial use practices, improved public acceptance, and/or advances the technology.

Public Acceptance Activities (municipal & others). Significant local, regional, and national activities that have increased the acceptance by the public of biosolids beneficial use practices.

Nomination and Award Information

Nominations for awards may be submitted by anyone including the nominee, municipalities, consultants, researchers, or other interested parties.

Nominations may include both individuals and groups from private as well as public organizations.

As these nomination packages are prepared, it is important to tell the story about your biosolids beneficial use activity in a manner that clearly shows the benefits and simultaneously reduces natural public concern. This information can often be utilized locally for press releases, brochures and other public acceptance purposes.

For consideration in the Awards Program, two (2) copies of the completed nomination package must be received by the NYWEA on or before October 15th.

Nomination packages will be reviewed by a panel consisting of representatives from NYWEA's Residual Management Committee and the Awards Committee.

Award recipients will be notified by approximately December 15^th.

Awards consisting of a certificate and plaque will be presented at NYWEA's Annual Meeting held in New York City. Alternate provisions will be made to present awards to those unable to attend the meeting.

Short articles describing award winning beneficial use activities will be developed by NYWEA for publication in CLEARWATERS. Photographs and key facts about both winning and other entries are very useful for NYWEA publications.

Evaluation Criteria

The NYWEA Beneficial Biosolids Use Award candidates will be evaluated against the following criteria:

For Operating Projects

• Two Categories (1)<5MGD (2) >5 MGD Categories will be based upon the actual average daily flows, and not the design capacity.
• If the facility only processes biosolids, the the two categories are (1) <5 MGD dry tons per day [DTPD] and (2) >5 DTPD.
• Significant recycling/reuse of natural resources (e.g. nutrients, organic matter, and energy).
• Sustained (several years), full scale, proven operation.
• Consistent, cost-effective operation.
• Public Acceptance.
• Compliant with applicable Federal, State and local regulations.
• Excellence in project management.

For Technology Innovation or Development Activities

• Sustained excellence in advancing our knowledge of technologies that recycle biosolids. For example, improved design criteria or operational practice.
• Application technology that has potential for use at other facilities.
• Proven operation.
• Resolution of previous biosolids management or utilization problems.

For Research Activities

• Greater public acceptability of biosolids use.
• Improved understanding of the environmental effects associated with beneficial use of biosolids.
• Substantial contribution toward the development of improved technological design and operation.
• Key information generated for the development of improved wastewater solids regulations and guidance.

For Public Acceptance

• Two Categories: (1) Municipal (2) Others
• Demonstrated increases in both public acceptance and public demand (meeting WEF Biosolids 2000 goal). The term "public" is meant to include regulatory agencies, agricultural organizations, water quality professionals, public health officials, environmentalists, academic institutions, and the news media as well as, the general public. Indicators of "demand" include such factors as waiting lists and users paying for biosolids.
• Characterized by dedicated and successful individual and team efforts.
• Demonstrated willingness to share information and approaches for gaining public acceptance.
• Proactive successful approaches to coordinate with the press and other groups explaining the benefits of biosolids use, cultivating and gaining allies, and educating against unfounded stories that may arise.
• Excellence in local information transfer and training efforts that have made a positive local difference, (e.g., on-site demonstrations and collaborative efforts involving the involvement of municipalities, citizens, universities, and others.)

Nomination Format

The information contained in the nomination package should be developed using the format described in this section. The completeness of information provided and the manner in which the nomination addresses the Evaluation Criteria will impact the evaluation.

Two copies of the nomination package must be submitted.

1. Identifying Information: Name, address, affiliation, telephone number, email address and the contact for the project or activity.
2. Executive Summary (2 pages maximum): Describe the project or activity indicating the award category for which the nomination is proposed and how it meets the evaluation criteria.
3. Facility/Activity Information (4-5 pages)
   Provide the following information to:
   1. Biosolids type, quantity, expressed as dry solids used per day, characteristics, nutrient and micronutrient concentrations compared with NYSDEC Part 360 Regulations and the USEPA Part 503 Table 3 limits, processing information, and other details relevant to the beneficial use practice or activity. Be specific regarding the unit processes, including biosolids production and processing details. Account for the types and amounts of biosolids going to each management practice.
   2. Duration and size of the project or activity; ability to operate at design capacity; along with cost information.
   3. Describe the project monitoring program and how it is used for compliance, public information and performance evaluation.
   4. Describe the contributions of any cooperating parties to the program.
   5. Provide sufficient information so that the program can be evaluated for compliance with applicable Local, State, and Federal regulations.
   6. Describe important project management activities that maintain and promote excellence and maximize the benefits of biosolids use.
   7. Describe training that has improved operations, performance, and public acceptance.
   8. Describe the effectiveness of the local pretreatment program that has resulted in better quality and easier use of biosolids.
   9. Describe special innovative practices or activities.
   10. Discuss how obstacles have been overcome as a result of the program.
   11. Provide information regarding the enhanced benefits that have resulted from the program. Benefits include; lower costs for biosolids management, lower energy consumption, payments for biosolids by users, enhanced soil properties, better crop productivity and quality, enhanced plant disease resistance, and improved public acceptance and demand for biosolids products.
4. Attachments: Supporting materials may be attached. The attachments should include a short cover index page that lists the various supporting materials and gives about a 4 to 6 line description of each item.
5. Photographs of the activity are strongly encouraged. Please provide the actual photographic prints rather than photocopies of prints, since only the prints are suitable for printing in publications.
6. Sheer bulk of information is not desirable. Be concise and attach items that truly substantiate the importance and relevance of the benefical use project or activity. Please do not send materials that you wish to have sent back because application materials are not returned.

Sample Front Page (NYWEA Biosolids Beneficial Use Awards Program)

1. Proposed Award Category______________________________
2. Facility Identification Name:
   1. Official Name and Address of Nominee:
      Name__________________________________________
      Address________________________________________
      City, State, Zip__________________________________
      Phone____________________ Fax__________________
      Email_________________________________
   2. Type of Ownership_______________________________
      (Corporate, private, public, university, etc.)
   3. Contact Person Regarding the Nomination_____________
      ______________________________________________
      Title___________________________________________
      Address________________________________________
      City, State, Zip__________________________________
      Phone____________________ Fax__________________
      Email_________________________________
3. Award Notification
   1. Name, Organizational title, address, telephone number for local official, (Mayor, Authority Board President, corporate president, department chair, etc.)

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