Sludge Watch ==> Kern County Calif : 'Honeybucket Farms' wants to continue to spread sludge despite ban

[Maureen Reilly]

Sludgwatch Admin:

Just what is Shaen Magan spreading ?  A check with the Federal EPA shows he 
has not demonstrated Class A.
And he wants to do it longer?

................................................
Man seeks extension of sludge-spreading rights
Farm needs Orange County biosolids to turn profit, he claims
BY JAMES BURGER, Californian staff writer
e-mail: jburger at bakersfield.com | Monday, Oct 2 2006
Shaen Magan of Honey Bucket Farms is asking Kern County supervisors to let 
him continue spreading Orange County biosolids on his Kern County farmland.
Magan is asking for a six-month extension of his sludge-spreading rights, 
despite the fact that Measure E banned the importation of sludge immediately 
after it was passed by Kern County voters in June.
Magan states in a letter to the county that his family has invested $2.5 
million in the farmland in northwest Kern County. He stated his "marginal" 
farm land cannot turn a profit without the Orange County Sanitation District 
sludge he spreads on it.
Kern County Environmental Health Services director Matt Constantine rejected 
Magan's request for an extension of time in August, stating Magan had not 
built permanent sludge-related improvements to his land, the criteria needed 
to justify an extension.
Magan's appeal of that decision reaches the board Tuesday.
He argues there have been permanent improvements to the property and he 
deserves the extra time to handle the economic damage Measure E will do to 
his business.
Magan's letter also shows he is less than happy with the sludge ban itself.
"A complete non-science-based ban after only three years (since spreading 
was limited to class A sludge) is irrational and indefensible," Magan wrote.
The letter also hints that Magan will take legal action against the county 
if supervisors do not vote to give him the extra six months.
Kern County is already facing a major legal assault on Kern County's new 
sludge ban mounted by Southern California cities and counties that trucked 
most of their treated human waste to Kern County before the ban went into 
effect.
http://www.bakersfield.com/619/story/76661.html