[USCC] Fecal Coliform testing issues

[ALFRED RATTIE]

Some participants of the USCC's STA Program are experiencing a failure to meet pathogen reduction (fecal coliform) standards as required by EPA 503 regulations. This, while not a seemingly unusual situation;
- does not always occur with a given producer's compost
- sometimes occurs only after shipping to a distant STA lab, but not during local lab testing (some producers test twice) 
- is occurring with both yard trimming and biosolids compost
Two examples of recent problems are listed below:
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1) I had a series of conversation with an STA lab and several others regarding the fecal regrowth issues. Case in point, a recent analysis showing a fecal count of 1,900 was received. The five windrows that were composited and sampled for this test each passed local lab PFRP testing, i.e. fecal coliform analysis. I have documented proof of this. Now we have a set of lab results that reflects data that makes this a class 2 product rather than a class 1 product that it started out as when it came out of the PFRP process. Again, we have records documenting time and temperature data as well as the local lab fecal colifrom results. What would account for this?
 
2) I was failing fecal coliform testing when I shipped my compost to an STA lab using the prescribed TMECC practices. This ended when I used a courier service to make an immediate delivery. Is there a regrowth issue associated with shipping and handling?
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The USCC's STA Program requires participants to pass both pathogen and metals testing. We are struggling to understand why these compost producers are experiencing this problem. All input is welcome.
 
Thanks,
Al Rattie
USCC STA Program Administrative/Technical Manager