Sludge Watch ==> Label Food Grown with Sludge - Virginia

[maureen.reilly at sympatico.ca]

Action asked on treated sludge
A legislator will seek a meeting with the governor on biosolids.
An Isle of Wight group wants special food labeling.

BY SABINE C. HIRSCHAUER
247-4536
May 13, 2006
ISLE OF WIGHT -- State Sen. Fred Quayle, R-Chesapeake, said he would try to 
arrange a meeting between Gov. Timothy M. Kaine and Isle of Wight and Surry 
county residents who say treated sewage sludge shouldn't be spread on 
farmers' fields until it was proven safe.

And an Isle of Wight citizens group will ask U.S. Rep. Randy Forbes, 
R-Chesapeake, to co-sponsor a bill that would require special labeling for 
food grown on land fertilized with treated sewage sludge.

This occurs as the debate over whether the sludge is safe is growing louder.

Farmers have used treated sewage sludge, known as biosolids, for years to 
fertilize their land. But the sludge - a byproduct of treating human waste 
and some industrial waste - can contain metals, bacteria, viruses and 
parasites.

Farmers and waste-industry officials, among others, say the sludge is safe 
because it's federally regulated. And they say there's no proof that sludge 
is unsafe, despite anecdotal evidence that it has caused respiratory 
illnesses.

In Virginia in 2005, about 246,000 tons of sewage sludge was spread on about 
55,000 acres.

In southeast Virginia, it's spread in Surry and Middlesex counties and in 
Virginia Beach and Chesapeake. And several farmers have applied for a permit 
to spread it in Isle of Wight.

The Environmental Protection Agency's last sludge study dates back 20 years, 
and Quayle said that was unacceptable.

"I don't believe there has been enough testing done," Quayle said.

"I don't believe regulations today are as good as they should be. We are 
working on old science. There have been a lot of new things discovered in 
the last 15 and 20 years, and ...they need to be considered."

Kaine is aware of the controversy, said Kevin Hall, a spokesman.

Hall said Quayle should first arrange a meeting between the residents and 
Cabinet-level officials, such as the secretary of natural resources or the 
secretary of health.

"We understand he can issue an executive order until the EPA can say it's 
safe," said Sharon Hart, member of the association.

"We want the localities to have the right to refuse the application of 
sludge in their counties."

In Virginia, only the state Department of Health and the state Department of 
Environmental Quality can issue permits for the spreading of biosolids.

By state law, local governments can't keep sludge out of their cities and 
counties.

This week, the Isle of Wight Citizens' Association formed a committee of 
residents from Surry and Isle of Wight counties that wants to meet with 
Kaine.

The group will also ask Forbes to back a bill introduced by U.S. Rep. Jose 
E. Serrano, D-N.Y., that would require special labeling of food grown or 
raised on land where treated sewage sludge was spread.

Food giants such as Kraft, Del Monte Foods, Campbell Soup Co. and Heinz 
don't use food grown on land fertilized by treated sewage sludge.

"This at least gives people a choice," Hart said about the bill.

"If they don't want to eat meat or food raised on sludge land, they don't 
have to."

http://www.dailypress.com/news/local/southofjames/dp-22769sy0may13,0,7260895.story?coll=dp-news-local-soj