Sludge Watch ==> Salem Oregon - Sludge - there has to be a better way than ag application

[Maureen Reilly]

Sludgewatch Admin:


Many farms are tiled drained...this tiling program helps achieve optimum 
drainage for crops..but does so at a terrible environmental price.  These 
tiles direct the flow of agricultural drainage (with its payload of 
nitrogen, phosphorus, pesticides, sludge, manure, etc) to nearby surface 
water.  Thus nutrient and contaminant runs into ditches, streams, rivers, 
and lakes.

These agricultural tiles are subsidized by government, generally, so that in 
many areas most arable farmland is tile drained.

So while government is sponsoring tile drains with one hand - another arm of 
government is wondering what to do about choked rivers, dead fish, and 
polluted drinking water sources.



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

Salem Oregon Statesman Journal

Use safer alternative to dispose of sludge

November 9, 2007

I was disappointed to read the Oct. 27 article, "Sites won't be fertilized 
with biosolids." Was the reporter at this hearing and what was his source? 
This was not a courtesy hearing and was mandated by Oregon law.

The land is surrounded by approximately 40 homes with well water, a school, 
two family fruit and vegetable businesses, a large nursery and two adjacent 
creeks. Tiling from these fields flows into both creeks.

An agronomist report documents the risk for runoff and groundwater 
contamination on this particular site. Data from Oregon State University, 
the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Environmental Protection Agency 
also clearly document the risk of biosolids on these soil types and near 
water. The city of Salem omitted USDA soil recommendations pertaining to 
biosolids in their site analysis.

Sen. Gary George and Yamhill County Commissioner Mary Stern had compelling 
testimony regarding degradation to the land and lack of county notification. 
Class B biosolids contain only partially treated sludge and may never be 
given away as compost. Class B sites are restricted from public access.

Major food processors (Heinz, Del Monte, Western Growers) will never accept 
food grown on this soil. Safer alternatives for the disposal of sewage 
sludge are available.

-- Janice Turner, Salem

http://www.statesmanjournal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071109/OPINION/711090310/1050