Sludge Watch ==> Eight Calif Counties - new air requirements for sludge spreading /composting

[Maureen Reilly]

Sludgewatch Admin:

Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) are a big problem from land applied 
sludge, sludge composting and sludge lime stabilization sites.  The San 
Joaquin Air Pollution Control District has come out with new requirements 
for sludge processing facilities and sludge spreaders in order to limit the 
harmful emissions of VOCs at these sites in their air district....which 
encompases the sludgers of Kern, Calif.

Unfortunately the proposed Hinkley sludge compost site (Nursery Products) a 
few scant miles east of Kern, does not intend to use state of the art 
technologies...heck, it doesn't even want to comply with the minimum 
obligations of the 503 regulations and announced its intention to just haul 
sludge and greenwaste into 'static piles' in the desert which they don't 
intend to turn the minimum 5 times required by the 503s.  But the Region 9 
regulator for the EPA says this proposed 'composting' that doesn't meet the 
503s requirements is fine...even though the last time Nursery Products tried 
it in Adelanto the site was deemed a public health risk and court ordered to 
stop due to fly, odor, and particulate problems.

The Mojave Air District (with Bill Postmus on the Board) has turned a blind 
eye and a deaf ear to the air quality concerns expressed by Hinkley 
residents about the proposed sludge composting.  Hinkley air is already 
compromised with particulate and with ozone....the sludge compost will only 
make it worse.


So - as usual - the sludge boys are scramming out of the counties that make 
them respect the environment and are running to set up shop in low 
regulation areas - like San Bernardino County and Arizona. Why spend money 
on state-of-the-art biomass operations when you can ship your waste-laced 
feces to the chromium poisoned of Hinkley ?

The contrast is stark - with leadership by Senator Florez, the regulators in 
Kern are stepping up to the plate to protect the public and the environment. 
  But in the hinterland the regulators have taken the low road and are 
leaving the public confronted with substandard operations.

You might want to watch the two little news videos where Senator Florez 
reviews the issues:

http://www.kget.com/mediacenter/?videoId=12735



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Shafter Sen. Florez discusses proposed Valley Air District sludge rule


Posted 11/2/06

BAKERSFIELD - Shafter Sen. Dean Florez held a meeting Thursday morning to 
discuss whether a proposed air rule, which would regulate sewage sludge and 
manure in eight counties, is enough to protect our environment.
The rule has been proposed by the Valley Air District and would limit the 
amount of sludge that can be spread on land, and require composting 
facilities to implement procedures to reduce emissions.

Although the spreading of sludge in unincorporated areas of Kern County was 
banned under Measure E, composting facilities are still allowed to operate.

The new rule could derail or limit a proposal by Oxnard’s City Council to 
continue trucking sludge into Kern for composting.