Sludge Watch ==> Bedford Virginia - Planning Commission gives ok to sludge ordinance

[Maureen Reilly]

Planning commission gives ok to biosolids ordinance

By John Barnhart
Wednesday, June 6, 2007 10:08 AM EDT



The Bedford County Planning Commission gave it's recommendation to an 
ordinance regulating the storage of biosolids.

The ordinance is in the form of an amendment, titled "Sewage Sludge Storage" 
and, if approved by the board of supervisors, will become part of the zoning 
ordinance. It requires a special use permit for the storage of sewage sludge 
on a farm unless the sludge is solely for land application on that farm and 
it will be stored for no longer than 45 days.

The planning commission split three ways on the vote. Steve Wilkerson, 
representing District 3, Rick Crockett, representing District 1, Lynn 
Barnes, representing District 2, and Frederic Fralick, the board's chairman 
voted if favor of the ordinance.

Steve Stevick, representing District 5, abstained. Stevick said that he was 
concerned that it could run up against changes in state regulations. He said 
that he didn't have enough information on this.

Curtis Stephens, representing District 7, voted against it. Stephens 
objected to language that Crockett added to the following section:


(D) In order for a special use permit to be issued, the applicant shall 
present evidence and the

board of supervisors shall make a finding that the storage of sewage sludge 
in the proposed

facility will not affect public health, safety and welfare of its citizens 
and the environment.

Crockett added "or cause undue burden on neighboring property owners" to the 
end of this sentence. Stephens felt that this language is vague.

"I think it would be better to have this than to have nothing," Wilkerson 
said concerning the ordinance. "Without language of this sort we will have 
no local control."



"We have no constraints at the present time," commented Lynn Barnes. "This 
is a step in the right direction."

Robin Hartman, who represents District 6, was not present.

http://www.bedfordbulletin.com/articles/2007/06/06/news/news10.txt