In 1993, the Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE), which is the agency responsible for establishing the regulatory requirements for the utilization of sewage sludge in Maryland and for enforcing those regulatory standards, formed the State Sewage Sludge Task Force (Task Force).  As set forth in the 1993 Interagency Agreement between MDE, the Maryland Department of Agriculture (MDA), and the University of Maryland Institute for Agriculture and Natural Resources (UMD), the Task Force was to be comprised of representatives from MDE, MDA, UMD, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), the Soil Conservation Service (SCS), sewage sludge generators and sewage sludge applicators.  The Task Force was to recommend to MDE potential modifications to MDE’s sewage sludge management program.

The Task Force held meetings from 1995 through 1998 to share information on specific technical issues related to land application of sewage sludge.  In 2006, MDE reconvened the Task Force (also known as the State Biosolids (Sewage Sludge) Task Force to assist in its review of sewage sludge technical regulations as a result of changes made to federal as well as MDA regulations.

On May 26, 2014, the new Sewage Sludge Management Regulations went into effect.  The new regulations incorporated MDA's updated nutrient management requirements, EPA's regulations relating to treatment and land application standards, and streamlined the SSU Permit application review process.

Since the Task Force was advised in July 2007 of the requirements under the Open Meetings Act, the Task Force began announcing its meeting dates on the MDE website, and to take notes of the decisions made during the meetings, which are also available via the following links.

Meeting Notes

Meeting #5: November 20, 2007 (pdf file)

Meeting #6: January 8, 2008 (pdf file)

Meeting #7: August 27, 2008 (pdf file)

Questions concerning the Task Force may be directed to the Biosolids Division​.