Brief Summary of Minutes of Annual Meeting

1. Update on status of new project, recruiting new members - Greg Evanylo -Greg Evanylo gave an update on the list of individuals who have signed up in NIMSS to participate in the new (i.e., 2009-2014) project. He encouraged attendees to sign up soon. -Four external reviewers accepted to review the project proposal. Their comments will be submitted in February. Lee Sommers mentioned that an Experiment Station Committee will review proposal and the external reviews and comments will be available March 20, 2009. Lee commented also that the project has adequate participation and will be on track to begin in October 2009. Recruiting - need individuals that bring relevant expertise to the project. -Sally Brown mentioned that because the project scope is quite diverse, it might compete with the interest of other projects. -The question was raised as to whether there is potential overlap of the scope of this project to that of other technical committees, such as NE 1082. Lee Sommers suggested based on comments he has seen on other projects, it seems unlikely that this will not be an issue. -Nick Basta suggested that potential participants should be interested in working with by-products and not only on the constituents of interests. -Dave Parker asked whether there are incentives for participation in the project, and what is the maximum amount of funding that can be expected. Lee Sommers mentioned that each experiment station has its individual guidelines or formula for supporting their respect project participants. Dave Parker urged participants to request their department heads to provide funding for traveling to the W-1170 meeting at minimum. -Dr. Evanylo requested that attendees prepare a list of points that they intend to cover under each project objective. This will be used to determine the level of expertise available in the group and what additional expertise might be needed. Dr. Evanylo will then send out an email requesting leads for individuals to provide the required expertise. 2. Annual and final reports, impact statements - Paul Schwab -Paul Schwab clarified that the state reports should not be extensive and should be submitted to him by the end of February. The final report is due to the Director within 90 days after the annual meeting. -The impact statement of the final report that will be submitted is limited to two pages. A draft electronic copy will be sent to participants via listserv to make contribution. This is due to Paul Schwab in February. -Dr. Evanylo mentioned that some members usually submit multiple versions of reports, some of which are too detailed and/or somewhat redundant. He suggested that we conform to the short format similar to George OConnors that is circulated every year. Lee Jacobs emphasized that the longer versions of the report containing more data has been useful over the years, as they help us to better understanding the individual projects and provide feedback. The group agreed that for next project cycle the short report format will be used, with the impact statement for each project included. -The PowerPoint presentations will be put in pdfs and placed on the W-1170 website. 3. Directors message -- Lee Sommers -Lee Sommers presented an overview of the new Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI), which covers the former NRI and IFAFS programs. 4. USEPA update: National sewage sludge survey and results, EPA data needs -- Bob Brobst Bob Brobst suggested that there are three EPA projects on which the W-1170 could provide to assistance: - A book chapter - Fact sheets on nutrients in biosolids - Review of risk assessment for additional pollutants Al Page suggested that on the W-1170 group should focus on reviewing the inorganics The group agreed to review the risk assessment document. It will be distributed via the listserv. 5. Virginia Biosolids expert Panel report - Greg Evanylo -Greg gave a summary of the findings of the Virginia General Assembly Expert Report the safety of land application 6. Collaborative research projects - proposal by Tom Granato, MWRDGC -Lakhwinder Hundal and Albert Cox gave an overview of Chicagos idea a collaborative project on the fate of micro-constituents in biosolids. The idea is for current and potential members of the group collaborate to develop a proposal and Chicago will lead the effort to look for support from other municipalities. -Bob Brobst suggested that the group consider targeting compounds based on the results of the TNSS Survey. -Kokoasse Kpomblekou suggested that Chicago setup research plots and provide samples to project participants -Sally suggested that we design the project to use the existing land application fields or research plots and Chicagos Fulton County project site Plots and have different group members do separate parts of project -Lee Sommers indicated that there are many opportunities for collaborative research under the AFRI programs and the group might be able to develop a micro-constituents project under one of the programs. 7. Website (manager, public and/or password protected: populating with material from meetings and for general consumption) -Sally Brown mentioned that a website was not developed as recommended a few years ago. -Paul Schwab offered to take the lead on developing and maintaining a website through Purdue. The website can be password protected, but could also contain some public outreach info. -Dave Parker noted that maintaining a website could potentially mushroom into an overwhelming responsibility. Paul Schwab mentioned that he understands this but he can get sufficient assistance at Purdue to maintain the website. He mentioned also that W-1170 members should be prepared to contribute information to the website. 8. Listserv distribution list Dr. Brown has maintained the listserv distribution list. The list of subscribers will be updated. 9. Dates and locations for future meetings New meeting venues were proposed to make the meeting more convenient for participants to attend. It was noted that scheduling the meeting with other conferences tended to deemphasize the meeting. Greg Evanylo suggested that the meeting be scheduled to provide opportunities to visit relevant field projects. Future meetings will be schedule for late May. The future hosts are: 2010 - Chicago 2011 - Penn State 2012 - Seattle (tentative) 2013 - Denver (tentative)

Objective 1: Evaluate the risk-based effects of residual application to uncontaminated (e.g. baseline) soils on chemistry, bioavailability, and toxicity of nutrients and contaminants In Illinois, a large proportion of the Chicago area biosolids are utilized to fertilize farmland in Cook and other nearby counties and as a soil amendment in the Chicago area. In 2004, the District obtained the cooperation of two farmers to start a research and demonstration project on a silty clay loam textured soil in Will County and a sandy textured soil in Kankakee County to showcase the environmental safety and economic benefits of fertilizing corn with biosolids. Plots were established at both sites to compare the effects of centrifuge cake Class B biosolids (approximately 25% solids content) and conventional nitrogen (N) fertilizer on soil, water, and corn yield. The biosolids were applied at rates ranging from 0 to 2 times the typical agronomic rate (40 wet tons ac-1) and the fertilizer was applied at rates ranging from 0 to 1.5 times the typical agronomic rate. Lysimeters were installed in some of the plots to monitor the potential for leaching of biosolids-borne constituents. Soil samples were collected before application of the treatments and at the end of the growing season and analyzed for nutrients and trace metals. In general, a greater proportion of the total residual inorganic N was found in the soil profile in biosolids treatments as compared to fertilizer treatments, except in the 2 times agronomic rate fertilizer N treatment in the silty clay loam soil. More than 50 percent of the total inorganic N was present in the surface soil layer (0 to 15 cm) indicating that N movement in the silty clay loam soil profile was minimal. In the sandy soil about 50 to 70 percent of the total residual inorganic N in the higher fertilizer N (1 to 1.5 times the agronomic rate) and biosolids treatments (1.5 to 2 times the agronomic rate) was found in the 60 to 120 cm layer. In the silty clay loam soil, the mean NO3-N concentrations in subsurface water samples ranged from 21 to 72 mg L-1, and the highest value was observed in the agronomic bio-solids rate treatment followed by agronomic fertilizer N rate treatment. The mean inor-ganic N concentrations in the subsurface water samples from the 2 times agronomic rate biosolids treatment were considerably lower than those observed in the water samples from the agronomic rate biosolids treatment. Mean total P concentration in subsurface water was not affected by the treatments. In the sandy soil, the mean NO3-N concentra-tions in subsurface water samples ranged from 6.7 to 20.4 mg L-1 and the highest value was observed in the agronomic rate biosolids treatment, followed by the agronomic rate fertilizer N treatment. The mean trace metals concentrations observed in the subsurface water samples at both sites were very low and were either below or close to the analytical detection limits To study the effects of Colorado water-treatment residuals (WTR) and biosolids co-application on phophatase enzymes, three WTR rates (5, 10, and 21 Mg ha-1) and a single biosolids rate (10 Mg ha-1) were co-applied to semi-arid rangeland soils once in 1991 and then reapplied in 2002. Results for the top 5-cm of soil indicates phosphodiesterase and pyrophosphatase activity decreased while phosphatase and phytase activity increased in co-applied plots. Past applications of arsenical pesticides to many former sugarcane lands in Hawaii might have resulted in elevated levels of arsenic (As) in surface soils. A study to remove some soil As with brake ferns (Pteris vittata) was conducted in the greenhouse on an Andisol having 300 mg/kg total As. There were 4 treatments: control, 0.5% Fe(OH)3, 1.0% chicken manure-based compost, and 250 mg P/kg as treble super phosphate, each was replicated 3 times. Our results showed that the ferns took up considerable amounts of As: Their frond tissues contained approximately 30 mg As/kg at transplanting and over 500 mg As/kg 4 months later. In the state of Washington, concern over the persistence, fate and phytoavailability of microconstituents in biosolids amended soils is emerging as a potential barrier to land application. These microconstituents include a wide range of common household products such as antimicrobial compounds, flame retardants, and surfactants. Nonylphenol (NP) is a detergent metabolite with endocrine disrupting potential that is present in municipal biosolids in high concentrations (900 mg kg-1 in this study). We assessed the fate of NP in soils amended with biosolids at 17 Mg ha-1. Half of the columns were planted with Triticum aestivum L., red hardy winter wheat seeds, whereas the remaining columns were unplanted to access plant effects on NP fate. The degradation of total NP and eight NP isomers was monitored over 45 d. The half-life of NP in this soil system ranged from 16 to 23 d depending on treatment. After 45 d, 15% of the initial biosolids-NP remained in the planted columns, whereas ~30% remained in the unplanted columns, indicating enhanced degradation in the presence of plants. The 8 NP isomers exhibited different degradation rates, but minimal amounts of all isomers persisted after 45 d. Movement of NP below the zone of incorporation was slight (<2% of total NP present at any sampling interval) and no NP was detected in column leachates or in wheat above-ground tissue. Again in Illinois, samples of the biosolids, biosolids-amended soil and corn tissues from a field study were analyzed to determine concentrations and plant uptake of PBDEs. The mean concentration of total PBDEs in Stickney water reclamation plant (WRP) biosolids was 6,526 µg kg-1 (dry weight basis) and most (71%) consisted of the BDE-209 congener. The congeners BDE-206, 207 and 208 contributed approximately 5.8%, 1.9% and 0.87%, respectively. The mean PentaBDE concentration (sum of BDE-49 to 154) was 1,361 µg kg-1. In the silty clay loam soil, the concentrations of PBDEs increased linearly (r2= 0.87) with biosolids rate, reaching a maximum total PBDEs concentration of 565 µg kg-1 (dry weight). As observed in the biosolids, the major congener detected in biosolids-amended soil was BDE-209, constituting 67% to 100% of the total PBDEs. The maximum total PentaBDE (sum of constituent congeners) detected was 93.5 µg kg-1. Low (12.3 and 43.4 µg kg-1) levels of total PBDEs were also detected in the Control plots. The congeners observed consisted of >90% BDE-209. In the sandy soil, PBDEs tended to increase with biosolids rate, but were not highly correlated, probably due to field heterogeneity. The highest mean concentration of total PBDEs, 277 µg/kg, was observed at the 20 wet ton biosolids acre-1 rate. Overall, the major congener detected in the soils was BDE-209, constituting 67% to 100% of the total PBDEs detected. The maximum total PentaBDE-associated congeners detected in soil was 36.7 µg kg-1. No PBDEs were detected in the Control sandy soil plots that did not receive any biosolids. There were no detectable levels of PBDEs in the corn stover, roots and grain tissues. The data from this study show that BDE-209 is the primary (67% to 100%) PBDE congener in biosolids and it is not readily taken up in corn tissues. Spent molding sand is generated at about 2000 foundries in the U.S. when the sand can no longer be reclaimed within the foundry. Interest in beneficial use, rather than disposal of spent foundry sand (SFS), grew in recent years as the cost of landfilling increased and the potential benefit of using SFS in agriculture and horticulture became increasingly apparent. Thus, USDA-ARS, Ohio State University and the U.S. EPAs Office of Solid Waste cooperated to conduct a risk assessment for beneficial use of SFS, and to develop guidance for such use. The sample sets included 43 foundries which cast iron, steel, aluminum, or non-leaded brass, and generated SFSs which contained low levels of potentially toxic elements and xenobiotics except for the brass SFS. Data from these 43 SFSs were evaluated and it was concluded that 40 of them could be used beneficially with no significant risk to humans or the environment. Only one element was above the Soil Screening Guideline, As at 0.426 mg As kg-1 dry soil. However, the arsenic and trace element composition of SFS were within the 95th percentile of U.S. soils. Because there are no known adverse effects of the 95th percentile of trace elements in soils, the risk assessment determined that iron, steel, and aluminum SFSs may be safely applied to land or used in manufacturing topsoils or potting media with only the limits set by the need of the users, as a small fraction of sand is used in their products. Biosolids fertilization of dryland pasture was evaluated in Hermiston, Oregon. We worked with the City of Portland Bureau of Environmental Services to assess soil and plant tissue monitoring data collected from biosolids land application sites near Hermiston, Oregon. Forage monitoring showed a dramatic grass yield and quality benefit to biosolids application, even for dryland pasture with annual precipitation of 6 to 8 inches. The major factors probably responsible for increased productivity are probably increased nitrogen availability and increased soil water storage. With biosolids, the median annual grass yield was approximately 3000 lb/acre, with grass N uptake of 100 lb/acre. Without biosolids, the grass was not able to take advantage of years with above average precipitation. Without biosolids, median annual grass yield was approximately 670 lb/acre with grass N uptake of 7 lb N per acre. Soil fertility monitoring showed that biosolids increased plant available nutrients in soil as demonstrated by agronomic soil testing. Nutrient soil test values increased from 1.5 to 20 times when compared to nearby sites that have not been fertilized with biosolids or other fertilizers. Soil samples collected repeatedly from "index sites" and soil samples collected from across the whole farm (approx. 4000 acres) showed similar increases in soil nutrient availability over time. Long-term biosolids application resulted in doubling of surface soil organic matter from approximately 1% to 2% (0 to 6 inch depth). Organic matter content in biosolids-fertilized soil increased during the first years of biosolids application, and has now reached a new "equilibrium value" in balance with a regime of annual biosolids applications. This data suggests that carbon sequestration (fixation of carbon within soil organic matter) is more likely to occur on new biosolids application sites than on long-established application sites. Accumulation of excessive levels of soil nitrate-N does not appear to be an issue at these dryland pasture sites. Approximately a one-year supply of plantavailable N was present in the soil profile throughout the 2001 to 2007 monitoring period. W-1170 members in Virginia continued to collect soil water and air samples from the biosolids trenching study initiated in 2006 at the Iluka heavy mineral mine reclamation site in Dinwiddie and Sussex Counties, Virginia to determine whether we can use hybrid poplars (Populus deltoides L. OP367) to assimilate high amounts of deep row incorporated biosolids-applied nutrients with environmentally insignificant N and P leaching during the reclamation of coarse-textured soils. Hybrid poplar stem cuttings that were planted over each trench in March 2007 grew rapidly and had attained heights of 3 to 4.5 m the end of the 2008 growing season. The poplars did not prevent leaching of biosolids nitrogen during 2008, when the initially high concentrations of ammonium N resulted in nitrate N concentrations in the lysimeter leachate of 300 to 600 mg L-1 by mid summer upon nitrification. Ortho-P concentrations, which had risen as high as 0.15 mg L-1 in the lysimeters during 2007 did not reach 0.05 mg L-1 in the leachate during 2008. There were no differences in ortho-P leached among any of the treatments, but more total P was leached from the highest rates of both the anaerobically digested and the lime-stabilized biosolids than the unfertilized control. The amounts of nitrous oxide emissions decreased in the order anaerobically digested biosolids > lime stabilized biosolids > fertilizer > unfertilized control. Redox potentials in the biosolids were negative, which supported denitrification as the mechanism for N2O loss. Virginia researchers continued to monitor the prime farmland soil reconstruction experiment established in 2004 at the Iluka Mineral Sands mining site. The four primary treatments (lime and N-P-K fertilizer only; 15 cm topsoil return over limed and P-fertilized tailings; 75 Mg ha-1 lime stabilized biosolids with conventional tillage; 75 Mg ha-1 lime stabilized biosolids with minimum/no-tillage) were cropped with winter wheat followed by soybeans in 2008. Winter wheat yields in June of 2008 were approximately 150% of the 5-year county average, and yields on the two biosolids treatments were equal to the off-site prime farmland control. Our findings and results were disseminated to local landowners, farmers, politicians and regulators at two on-site field days in October and to the international scientific community in at the June annual meeting of the American Society of Mining and Reclamation in Richmond, Virginia. Previous shorter-term (d1 growing season) studies in Florida successfully distinguished P phytoavailability differences among biosolids, but the longer-term (> 1 growing season) phytoavailability of biosolids-P is incompletely characterized. A 16-month greenhouse study was conducted to characterize the longer-term phytoavailability of biosolids-P and to identify a useful a priori measure of biosolids-P phytoavailability. Seven biosolids and triple super phosphate (TSP) were used as sources, and applied to an Immokalee fine sand A horizon at three application rates: 56 kg P ha-1 (P-based rate), 112 kg P ha-1, and 224 kg P ha-1 (N-based rate). Bahiagrass (Paspalum notatum Flugge) was grown continuously in soil columns, and bahiagrass tissue was harvested every 4-8 weeks to characterize P uptake. The longer-term relative P phytoavailability (RPP) of less soluble-P biosolids was ~50-80% that of TSP, but BPR and BPR-like biosolids-P was as phytoavailable as TSP-P. Phosphorus uptake was well correlated with the labile P load (biosolids P saturation index x total-P load), suggesting that biosolids P saturation index (PSI) is a useful a priori indicator of biosolids-P phytoavailability. Biosolids application rates should increase to account for the reduced relative P phytoavailability of less soluble-P biosolids, but no application rate adjustment is warranted for BPR and BPR-like biosolids. The environmental lability of biosolids-P also varied among sources, and was well correlated to the environmentally effective P load, equal to total P load times the percent of total biosolids-P that is water extractable. Objective 2: Evaluate the ability of in situ treatment of contaminated soil with residuals to reduce chemical contaminant bioavailability and reduce toxicity. In January 2007, an Illinois pilot project was started at the Districts John E. Egan Water Reclamation Plant (WRP) in which the secondary effluent was dosed with a 38% ferric chloride solution (3.3 gal/hr/MGD) to attain a target effluent concentration of 0.5 mg P L-1. Centrifuge cake biosolids were collected before (Pre) and following (Post) the start of the ferric chloride treatment to evaluate the impact of chemical P removal on the chemistry, phytoavailability and environmental significance of biosolids P. Treatments of 22.4 Mg ha-1 of pre- and post-biosolids were blended with soil and packed in metal trays. Three simulated rainfall events at intervals of days 1, 3, and 7 were applied to the trays at an intensity of 100 mm hr-1, and 30 minutes of runoff was collected. The runoff was analyzed for molybdate-reactive P (MRP), total soluble P, and total P. At the first rainfall event, the concentrations of all three forms of P in runoff were lower for the Post-biosolids than for the Pre-biosolids. At the second and third rainfall events, the trends were similar, but the differences between two biosolids sources were not statistically significant. The data indicate that although the chemical P removal process increases total P content of biosolids, the land application of the chemical P removal biosolids might decrease the potential for P losses and environmental impact compared to conventional biosolids. The bioavailability of Pb and Zn is linked to the solubility of solid phases and other soil chemical characteristics, which is associated with their environmental risk, suggesting that in situ stabilization of these elements can be accomplished by influencing their chemistry. A lab study was conducted to evaluate the effects of five different P amendments and time on Pb/Zn speciation in a contaminated soil using synchrotron-based techniques, while a field investigation studied the effects of composted beef manure on plant biomass production and the influence on microbial function, size, and community shifts. In the lab study, the Pb-phosphate mineral plumbogummite was found as an intermediate phase of pyromorphite formation, which has not been documented until now. Additionally, all fluid and granular P sources were able to induce Pb-phosphate formation, but fluid phosphoric acid (PA) was the most effective with time and distance from the treatment. However, acidity from PA increased the presence of soluble Zn species, which can have negative environmental consequences. Granular phosphate rock (PR) and triple super phosphate (TSP) reacted to generate both Pb- and Zn-phosphates, with TSP being more effective at greater distances than PR. In the field study, compost additions of 269 Mg ha-1 significantly decreased bioavailable Zn, while increasing estimated available water, plant nutrients, and plant biomass as compared to a contaminated control and low addition of compost (45 Mg ha-1) over three years. Additionally, compost additions of 269 Mg ha-1 significantly increased microbial enzyme activities, nitrification, and microbial biomass over the contaminated control through the duration of the study. Increases in microbial activity and biomass are related to increases in total C, available water, and extractable P, while negative relationships were found with electrical conductivity and with bioavailable Zn. The addition of lime or lime plus bentonite with compost did not further reduce metal availability, increase plant biomass, or improve the size or function of microbial communities. High compost additions caused a slight shift microbial community structure according to phospholipids fatty acid analysis. Increases in the mole percents of both Gram-positive (Gm +ve) and Gram negative (Gm ve) bacteria were found depending on site. Microbial biomass of Gm +ve, Gm ve, and fungi were also increased by high compost additions. Results indicate that large additions of compost are needed to increase microbial biomass, improve microbial activity, and re-establish a healthy vegetative community. This study proposes that organic matter and P amendments can be used to stabilize and reduce the bioavailability of heavy metals in soils and mine waste materials, but must be managed carefully and intelligently. Research in Ohio suggests that lead (Pb) sorption onto oxide surfaces in soils may strongly influence the risk posed from incidental ingestion of lead-contaminated soils. In this study, Pb was sorbed to a model soil mineral, birnessite, and was placed in a simulated gastrointestinal tract (in vitro) to simulate the possible effects of ingestion of a soil contaminated with Pb. The changes in Pb speciation were determined using extended X-ray absorption fine structure and X-ray absorption near edge spectroscopy. Birnessite has a very high affinity for Pb with a sorption maximum of 0.59 mol Pb kg-1 (approximately 12% Pb sorbed by mass) in which there was no detectable bioaccessible Pb (<0.002%). Surface speciation of the birnessite Pb was determined to be a triple corner sharing complex in the birnessite interlayer. Lead sorbed to Mn oxide in contaminated media will have a very low (H0) Pb bioaccessibility and present little risk associated with incidental ingestion of soil. These results suggest that birnessite and other Mn oxides would be powerful remediation tools for Pb-contaminated media because of their high affinity for Pb. Numerous studies in Florida, including lab, greenhouse, rainfall simulations, and field studies, confirm the effectiveness of an Al-WTR in reducing the off-site loss of P from various P-sources. Determining the appropriate application rate of WTR is complicated due to variation in chemical properties influenced by the source of water, treatment chemicals and processing used by drinking-water treatment plants. Soils, and P-sources co-applied with WTR, can also vary in physical and chemical properties. Thus, the compositional variability of soils, P-sources (if co-applied with WTR), and WTRs need to be considered when determining WTR application rate. A quantitative approach using WTRs to reduce P flux from P-amended soils should be based on ensuring sufficient reactive Al + Fe in the WTR to immobilize labile P in the soil. Nair and Harris (2004) developed a technique [soil phosphorus storage capacity (SPSC)] to predict the amount of P a soil can sorb before exceeding a threshold soil equilibrium concentration. The SPSC values are calculated from oxalate-extractable P, Fe, and Al concentrations of a soil as: SPSC(mg P/ kg) = (0.15  PSR)* (Alox + Feox)*31 where PSR = Phosphorus sorption ratio = Pox/(Alox+Feox) Pox, Alox, and Feox are 0.2 M oxalate-extractable P, Al, and Fe concentrations of the soil respectively (expressed in mmoles).The SPSC values can indicate the risk arising from P loading as well as the inherent P sorption capacity of the soil. The SPSC values range from negative values (for highly P-impacted soils with no remaining P retention capacity) to positive values (for less P-impacted soils, excess P retention capacity). Oladeji et al. (2007) identified zero SPSC as an agronomic threshold above which yields and P concentrations of plants may decline and below which there is little or no yield response to increased plant P concentrations. The consensus among researchers is that soils can be managed to maintain soil test P for optimal economic crop yields while minimizing the risk of offsite P loss. Applying P sources at any rate, along with sufficient WTR to give a SPSC value of 0 mg/kg, enhances environmental benefits (reduced P loss potential) without negative agronomic impact. There was no excessive Al accumulation in plant tissue in WTR-amended soils, either in greenhouse or field studies. The typical biodegradation of recalcitrant organic compounds in soil begins with an extended acclimation period before degradation is initiated, a time of active degradation, and a final residual contaminant level. Environmental and management influences such as amending the soil with biosolids could enhance bioremediation and reduce the human health risk from exposure to PAHs. In Arkansas, the influence of biosolids addition on the biodegradation rate of pyrene was determined in two soils. preliminary data indicated that the Milorganite® amended soil appeared to exhibit a much greater acclimation time than the control treatment (Fig. 1). The pH of the Milorganite® amended soil was >1 unit lower than the pH of the control treatment. Also, NO3 N levels in the Milorganite® amended soils were greater than the control soil. The longer acclimation time for the pyrene degradation in the Milorganite® amended Roxana soil could be related to the lower pH and possible selection for a different degrader community than in the control treatment, or it could be related to reduced biosurfactant production. Additional organic C provided by the Milorganite® could also result in increased competition from heterotrophic microbes that reduced pyrene degrader numbers or activity. Objective 3: Predict the long-term bioavailability and toxicity of nutrients, trace elements, and organic constituents in residual-amended agricultural and contaminated soils. Researchers in Colorado studied the effects of different biosolids rates (0 to 11.2 Mg ha-1 per application) over 12 years on grain concentrations and the soil extractability of Ba, Cd, Cu, Mn, Mo, Ni, P, and Zn with ammonium bicarbonate-DTPA within a dryland wheat-fallow agroecosystem. We compared several regression models and found that the best prediction of grain concentration occurred with paraboloid models that include the ammonium bicarbonate-DTPA concentrations plus the number of applications. Graphically, this model represents a 3-dimensional quadratic equation. In Kansas, the Tri-State mining district is heavily impacted by years of Pb- and Zn-mining activities. The primary ecological concerns in large areas within the Tri-State mining region are the impacts of the movement soluble metals and metal-laden sediment moving from landscape to surface water by surface runoff on terrestrial organisms and effects on aquatic ecosystems. One of the preferred remedial alternatives that the USPEA has proposed for this area is the excavation and disposal of material in selected flooded subsidence pits followed by some engineering and agronomic controls to manage and protect the subsequently covered pits from the water infiltration. While studies have documented soil submergence can be accompanied by formation of insoluble sulfides and decreased metal bioavailability, this process(s) has not yet been adequately explored as a remedial strategy for various mine waste materials rich in Cd, Zn and Pb in the Tri-State mining area. This information would be critical for determining the long-term fate of these potentially toxic elements. Preliminary laboratory experiments were carried out to examine potential changes in Cd, Zn and Pb chemistry in multi-metal rich mine waste materials from Galena, KS following different wet and dry conditions. This was followed by wet chemical measurements and metal speciation measurements using spatially resolved synchrotron based micro-scale x-ray techniques. Submerged mine waste materials showed that after one month of incubation in an anaerobic chamber these materials were only moderately reduced. This could be an indication that organic C in these materials could be very critical in determining the rate of sample reduction. Further x-ray absorption data showed slight but apparent increase in Fe(II) concentration in comparison to the original air-dried material and to samples that had been submerged and were then allowed to dry. Experiments are underway to study the effect of C addition on redox transformations in mine waste materials. In Florida, developing an understanding of the role of different residuals management practices on greenhouse gas emissions is becoming an important tool in residuals management decision-making. A review was conducted by Washington researchers to assess the GHG balance of composting operations. This included an evaluation of the CH4 generation potential of compost feedstocks, energy emissions during the composting process, and fugitive GHG emissions from composting. This review has been used as a basis for a new protocol for methane avoidance credits for landfill diversion of food scraps, yard waste and biosolids that is currently in the pilot stage at the Chicago Climate Exchange. A cooperative project between EPA, Proctor & Gamble, MWRDGC, and UF [Fate and Transport of Biosolids-borne Triclocarban (TCC) and Triclosan (TSC)] is underway. Analysis of numerous biosolids (nationwide) have been tabulated and suggest a representative mean TCC concentration of ~20 mg kg-1 and about half that much for TCS. [The recently completed Targeted National Sewage Sludge Survey suggests mean values of TCC and TCS of ~40 and 16 mg kg-1, respectively.] Mineralization of TCC in biosolids-amended soils was minimal (<4%) after 7.5 months of aerobic incubation, with no evidence of metabolite formation. Although persistent (t1/2 ~ 7 to 20 y), TCC appears to exist in a bound residue form (combustible fraction) in biosolids and biosolids-amended soils, and is expected to have minimal lability. Column leaching studies (5.5. months) confirmed minimal (<0.2% of applied) TCC in leachates. Studies are underway to assess biosolids-borne TCC effects on earthworms, including bioaccumulation, and on general microbial community function. Mineralization of TCS in biosolids-amended soils was also small (<0.5% of TCS applied) over 4 months, but Me-TCS (a metabolite of TCS) appears within a few weeks, and much of the total 14C-TCS added converts to the combustible fraction with time. Thus, TCS and/or its major degradation product may also have limited lability. The TCS work has just begun and studies similar to those done with TCC are planned to assess environmental and human health risks.

Arkansas Thompson, O.A., D.C. Wolf, J.D. Mattice, and G.J. Thoma. 2008. Influence nitrogen addition and plant root parameters on phytoremediation of pyrene-contaminated soil. Water, Air, and Soil Pollut. 189:37-47. Markway, H.N., D.C. Wolf, K.J. Davis, and E.E. Gbur. 2008. Using biosolids to enhance phytoremedation of oil-contaminated soil. Discovery 9:50-56. Colorado Barbarick, K.A., and J.A. Ippolito. 2008. Predicting soil-extractable zinc, phosphorus, iron, and copper in a biosolids-amended dryland-wheat agroecosystem. Soil Sci.173:175-185. Bayley, R., Ippolito, J.A, M.E. Stromberger, K.A. Barbarick, and M.W. Paschke. 2008. Water treatment residuals and biosolids co-applications affect semi-arid rangeland phosphorus cycling. Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J. 72:711-719. Bayley, R.M., J.A. Ippolito, M.E. Stromberger, K.A. Barbarick, and M.W. Paschke. 2008. Water treatment residuals and biosolids co-applications affect phosphatases in a semi-arid rangeland soil. Comm. Soil Sci. 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