Sludge Watch ==> North Carolina - Airport given more time to clear illegal sludge from wetlands

[Maureen Reilly]

Airport Given More Time to Clear Sludge From Wetlands

Posted: Today at 3:36 p.m.

Laurinburg — State regulators have given the Laurinburg-Maxton Airport 
Authority more time to remove sludge from nearby wetlands.

The state Division of Water Quality initially demanded that the clean-up be 
finished by May 25, but that deadline has been extended until July 6, 
division spokeswoman Susan Masengale said.

Inspectors suspect the fertilizer-like sludge was intentionally dumped at 
the airport wastewater plant over time.

A company hired to clean the wetlands has gone back to the site to do more 
work.

The airport authority was fined nearly $100,000 in May because of the 
dumping, and Masengale said the state could impose fines of up to $25,000 a 
day for not completing the clean-up on time. Airport officials have said 
they plan to appeal the fine.

http://www.wral.com/news/news_briefs/story/1514106/