[USCC] Compost information/outreach resources available

[William (Bill) Carter]

I'm reviewing the final project report from Texas Cooperative Extension
(TCE) for our Composted Manure Incentive Project, which is posted at
http://compost.tamu.edu/progress_reports.php. Please also take a look at
the other TCE resources posted at the project web site,
http://compost.tamu.edu/index.php, particularly under the Publications
section. All the fact sheets and reports are in the public domain and
available for your use; we only request that you provide acknowledgment
to TCE, TCEQ and EPA.
 
The primary aim of this project, initiated in the fall of 2000 in
partnership with the Texas State Soil and Water Conservation Board, has
been to address excess phosphorus in the North Bosque River of Texas (as
well as broader nutrient and bacteria concerns here and in the Leon
River) through supporting development of a dairy manure compost industry
in the region. Support has included research, demonstration, and
marketing support by TCEQ and TCE together with an incentive rebate to
public-sector buyers of the compost and a reimbursement of hauling
expenses to get the dairy manure to the composters. The purchase rebate
program has now been phased out, and the hauling reimbursement is
continuing at a much-reduced rate.
 
As the TCEQ project ends this year, well over a half-million cubic
yards of composted dairy manure from these two watersheds have been sold
by the half-dozen independent compost facilities participating in our
project; over 70% of this compost has been exported outside the
watershed region. The largest public sector user by far has been the
Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT). 
 
Preliminary study results have shown reduced P levels in tributaries
where land-application of manure has been reduced due to haul-out for
composting. We continue to track how P levels are changing in the river
system.
 
This project has also generated a lot of study data from TCE, TxDOT,
Texas Transportation Institute, and others concerning beneficial use of
composted manure in erosion control, vegetation establishment and other
purposes. Again, please take a look at the resources and links from our
web sites and let me know if you have questions or comments. 
 
 
 
Bill Carter
Water Quality Monitoring & Assessment    MC 165
Texas Commission on Environmental Quality
P.O. Box 13087
Austin, TX  78711-3087
Phone:  512-239-6771
Fax:  512-239-4410
wcarter at tceq.state.tx.us