Sludge Watch ==> Alabama will enact tougher sludge regs than Part 503 - Ag Comissioner

[Maureen Reilly]

Sludgewatch Admin:

Sludge Watch commends the Alabama Ag Commissioner for his effective action 
to address Alabama's sludge dumping problem.  And just a note on the 
'biosolids: a polite term for sludge'.

"Sludge" is the accurate, legal, polite terminology for sludge.

"Biosolids" is a faked up linguistic invention of the wastewater industry to 
obscure the public understanding of sludge by making up words that mean 
whatever they want them to mean...and then they change the meaning the next 
day.

.......................................................................

A smelly problem


October 30. 2007 3:30AM

Alabama Commissioner of Agriculture and Industries Ron Sparks says he will 
enact guidelines for treated sewage sludge that are stricter than EPA's.

Residents in Colbet and Limestone counties have applied pressure on local 
and state officials to stop the use of biosolids - a polite name for treated 
sewage sludge - on farm fields because of the smell and because of concerns 
about water contamination.

The biosolids, a byproduct of the things we flush down our toilets after 
they've been treated, were being spread on pastures in Limestone County, and 
plowed into farm lands in Colbert County. The company selling the biosolids, 
Synagro, agreed to stop giving the product to farmers in Limestone because 
it was not being plowed into the ground.

Ron Sparks, state Commissioner of Agriculture and Industries, stepped into 
the fray late last week saying he will write new regulations that are more 
stringent than those used by the federal Environmental Protection Agency. 
That's good news.

Synagro is importing the sludge from New York City and treating it at its 
Decatur facility. But the biosolids it turns out are not treated to the same 
degree that municipal treatment plants such as Florence's treats sludge. As 
a result, the smell is more noticeable and the risk of contamination is 
apparently higher.

Aside from the obvious risk of contamination to nearby water, biosolids can 
pose risks not seen until years later. Dr. Ellen Harrison, director of the 
Cornell Waste Management Institute, said her research reveals that biosolids 
contain toxic metals that can build up in soil over time with repeated 
applications. She said people have reported illnesses after long-term 
exposure, and that the EPA has not taken this into consideration. So, it 
appears Sparks has good reason to seek guidelines more stringent than those 
used by the EPA.

Synagro treats sludge to what is known as Class B "exceptional quality," 
which carries some restrictions for where it can be used. By contrast, the 
Florence municipal wastewater treatment plant treats sludge to Class A 
"exceptional quality." The Class A designation means there are low levels of 
metals after treatment. Florence's biosolids are used by almost two dozen 
local farmers.

Residents are right to be concerned about how and where treated sludge is 
used. If not used properly and within accepted guidelines, it can pose risks 
to human health.

We commend Sparks for taking action to write stricter guidelines, which 
could lead to Alabama being ahead of the nation in something that is 
positive.

http://www.timesdaily.com/article/20071030/NEWS/710300306/-1/searchxml