Sludge Watch ==> Concerned Citizen takes Sludge Issue to Commissioner

[Maureen Reilly]

Virginia
The Union Star 2006.12.08

http://www.wpcva.com/articles/2006/12/08/brookneal/opinion/opinion03.txt


Opinion
Concerned Citizen representative takes sludge issue to Commissioner




EDITOR's NOTE: The following letter was sent to Dr. Robert Stroube, Virginia 
Commissioner of Health in Richmond by C. W. Williams,VDH-BURAC Citizens' 
Representative, and is reprinted here upon request as a civic service.

Mr. Commissioner:
For several years, I have brought before the Virginia Department of Health 
(VDH) Commissioner and Department factual circumstances and actual 
occurrences concerning the ill effects of public sludge pollution exposure.

These actions were necessitated by the repeated statements that VDH was 
unaware of any existing harm or negative occurrences regarding the disposal 
of sewage waste sludge pollution via topical rural land applications.

Due, in part, to my submittal of testimonials and video occurrences, there 
have been revisions in the VDH sewage waste sludge pollution disposal.

It is most unfortunate that a good deal more revision is needed and 
additional personal voluntary resources will be given to the state in order 
to obtain an equity for the citizens' representation as an equal 
stakeholder.


I have been asked by Mr. Dale Ellington and Mrs. Georgia Ellington, residing 
at 1560 Hickory Creek Rd., Gladys, VA 24554, 434-376-3260 (Campbell County), 
to contact you on their behalf.

Additional neighbors, residing in the same community, have issued the same 
request regarding their health conditions.

You are well aware of the circumstances of Mrs. Ellington's cancer moving 
from her lungs to her brain and she is currently on therapeutic drugs.

You are also well aware that Dr. Nichols, Director LHD, Lynchburg, VA, has 
taken health reports from the Ellingtons for over two (2) years.

In addition, Dr. Nichols has forwarded this information and stated that she 
has no authority to abate a sludge pollution application site regardless of 
foreknowledge of a resident's health.

Dr. Nichols has stated that she has made recommendations to the department.

It is most disturbing when VDH was previously asked to assist in abating 
this site, based on Dr. Chung's email from MCV, Massey Caner Center, 
regarding the volatile ill effects of Mrs. Ellington having to smell the 
sludge pollution odors, that Director Hicks, OEHS, stated that VDH would not 
interfere and that any site application matters would have to be decided by 
the permitted land applicator, Nutri-Blend.

It is noteworthy that no community health survey was conducted, nor was 
there a disclosure given of the constituents in the sludge pollution 
proposed to be applied in close proximity of the Ellington's residence.

Furthermore, when Mr. Ellington contacted Nutri-Blend, he was told that only 
a one-year delay will be permitted by Nutri-Blend.

The tentative-proposed application of sewage waste sludge pollution for this 
community site is May, 2007.

Mrs. Ellington's illness has increasingly deteriorated, and the burden of 
the proposed application date is continually on her mind.

I have personally witnessed her despair, depression and tears when speaking 
of the upcoming May 2007 application.

While she is suffering beyond the limit, it is intolerable that she should 
be subjected to this additional burden of suspense, emotional trauma and 
aggravation of existing medical condition all because the department will 
not abide by its charge by the General Assembly.

You have the authority granted by the General Assembly to abate this 
application site when required to "protect public health or prevent nuisance 
conditions from developing either within critical areas, or when special 
conditions develop prior to or during biosolids operations." 
12VAC-5-585-260. 12 VAC-5-585-210 "The Commissioner may amend or reissue a 
permit.or for any other cause incident to the protection of the public 
health." The applicator cannot demonstrate, without full disclosure of 
sludge pollution constituents, that the application will "adequately 
safeguard public health" as required in BUR.

Therefore, the Ellingtons reasonably request that you immediately abate this 
application site from the VDH permit based on a special case circumstance 
and duly notify them.

This circumstance also covers the additional residents' illness in close 
proximity of the proposed application site, i.e., cancer, sickle cell 
anemia, asthma and a variety of immune compromising issues.

A community with no less than 20 residents near the proposed application 
site intended for topical land application of sewage waste sludge pollution 
from out-of-state, not subject to full BUR regulations.

Your timely response of intent is greatly appreciated.

Should you continue the status of non-involvement, please advise as other 
measures will be taken for relief.

It is hoped that additional expenses can be spared by your taking 
appropriate action to protect the health of these community Virginians.

Regards,

C. W. Williams

VDH-BURAC Citizens'