Sludge Watch ==> Tallahassee Florida - DEP agrees to end land application and wastewater spray

[Maureen Reilly]

Sludgewatch Admin:

Congratulations to the Florida Wildlife Federation for getting lawyers to 
stop the contamination of this part of Florida with sewage effluent and 
sludge wastes.

Note again that the regulators who the public pays to stop environmental 
harm from wastewater and sludges did not do their job.  Environmentalists 
had to pay for lawyers to do that job.

Things are altogether too cozy between sewage plants, sludgers and the 
people we pay to regulate those industries.
.....................................


December 20, 2007
Lack of permit a roadblock to wastewater cleanup

By Bruce Ritchie
DEMOCRAT STAFF WRITER


A year after the ceremonial signing of an agreement requiring Tallahassee to 
clean up its wastewater to protect Wakulla Springs, city officials say 
they're waiting on the state to issue permits.

Scientists say nitrogen in wastewater sprayed on crops at the city's 
Southeast Farm seeps into the groundwater and flows to Wakulla Springs, 
where it feeds the growth of invasive weeds and algae.


The agreement, signed during a ceremony on Dec. 19, 2006, at the Capitol, 
settled legal challenges filed by environmental groups and Wakulla County to 
a proposed state permit. The agreement required the city to reduce by 75 
percent the nitrogen in the treated wastewater sprayed at the farm.

The Florida Department of Environmental Protection had said it expected to 
issue a permit by Nov. 2, according to a July 11 status report filed in the 
permit legal challenge. But a DEP spokeswoman said Wakulla County and the 
environmental groups in October requested more time to comment on a draft 
proposed permit.

The legal challenge was dismissed in October when Administrative Law Judge 
T. Kent Wetherell II relinquished jurisdiction to DEP.

Jim Oskowis, Tallahassee's water utility director, said the city is eager to 
get the state permit. He said the city has issued bonds for the improvements 
and is in the process of selecting a project manager.

"We'd like to keep moving on these projects," Oskowis said. "Without a 
permit at some point we have to stop."

DEP is continuing to work on a proposed permit and expects to issue one 
soon, department spokeswoman Sally Cooey said, but added she could not be 
more specific on the time frame.

Signed by then-Attorney General Charlie Crist, Mayor John Marks, Wakulla 
County Commission Chairman Brian Langston and environmentalists, the 
agreement required $160 million in wastewater plant improvements, city 
officials said.

David Theriaque, attorney for the Florida Wildlife Federation, said he 
expects the city and DEP to honor the settlement agreement.

"Given the number of folks involved in making this suit — all the chefs in 
the kitchen — and giving everyone a fair opportunity to comment and respond, 
I think it (the permitting process) is moving along quite fine," Theriaque 
said.

A draft proposed permit was circulated in August. Wakulla County, the 
Florida Wildlife Federation and Friends of Wakulla Springs State Park 
submitted comment letters in October and November.

Wakulla County raised concerns including a proposed schedule for requiring 
wastewater treatment plant improvements. Friends of Wakulla Springs 
questioned the disposal of nitrogen-rich biosolids from the wastewater plant 
within the region where groundwater flows to Wakulla Springs.

DEP responded to the Friends group that the biosolids will be disposed of in 
a lined landfill in Jackson County, which is outside the Wakulla Springs 
area.

DEP and Wakulla County have continued to exchange letters about the 
schedule, with DEP issuing its latest response Dec. 14. Wakulla County 
Attorney Ronald Mowrey could not be reached for comment Wednesday.

Oskowis said the city is not yet having to delay work and he couldn't say 
when that may happen. He said the city doesn't want to begin hiring 
contractors if a proposed permit from DEP could require changes in the 
city's plans.

"The ball is in their court," Oskowis said.

http://www.tallahassee.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071220/BUSINESS/712200318/1003