Sludge Watch ==> Barstow Calif - Voices from the High Desert oppose Nursery Products sludge

[Maureen Reilly]

http://www.desertdispatch.com/opinion/facility_1904___article.html/common_letter.html
*Common sense part of compost debate*
I want to add to the letter that was published in the Nov. 1 edition in the 
letters to the editor (”Smoke from fires illustrates problem with compost 
facility”). Rick Langley of Barstow wrote the letter. He hit on some really 
good points. They are conclusions that are made by using common sense.

But if you listen to people that are to make profit, they will say that it 
is not scientific. I think common sense is being dangerously overlooked. The 
only thing that is proven to be scientific on this issue, is that both pro 
and con, agree to disagree. It’s been that way for decades. All these 
mysterious outbreaks of Salmonella and e-coli and even staph infection are 
not all that mysterious to those of us who have done research on the dangers 
of composting human waste. These are some of the “side effects” when 
“accidents” in the water treatment plants happen. And the “accidents” are 
the reason I oppose this facility.

Like the accident where some illegally dumped PCBs in the sewer, and it was 
not treated at the treatment plant, then used on fields in Milwaukee. PCBs 
have been banned in the U.S. for over 30 years. And incidents of illegal 
dumping are countless! That is why this is dangerous to human and animal 
life alike.

The part of Mr. Langley’s letter that I found ironic was when he talked 
about the politicians of Barstow. As far as I know all of Barstow opposes 
the facility. It’s the county who is the problem. And guess who approved the 
permit for this facility? None other than the Board of Supervisors. And who 
sits on the planning committee? None other than the owner of that True Value 
store that occupies the old H&E building. It seems fate is not without a 
sense of Irony.

*La Donna Akin*
Barstow