Sludge Watch ==> New York Synagro "Class A" Sludge Stinkin' Out Rural Alabama

[Maureen Reilly]

Sludgewatch Admin:

In Part 503, all Class A sludges must meet either a fecal coliform limit of 
less than 1,000 fecal coliform/g dry weight of solids or a measure of less 
than 3 salmonella/4 g dry weight of solids (EPA, 1993a).

I doubt very much that this is Class A sludge that is being delivered in 
Alabama meets that requirement.  Maybe it met in one sunny day in the Bronx, 
but residents need to test the stuff that is arriving so see it if is, 
indeed, Class A.

If it isn't Class A the locals insist on more stringent spreading and 
enforcement requirements.
An for those of you who think that there is a market for dried sewage sludge 
or sewage sludge pellets: please note.  All though Synagro gets paid plenty 
to make little pellets out of New York sewer wastes, these farmers are not 
paying for the sludge 'fertilizer'.

They should check it for PCBs too.


......................................
http://www.enewscourier.com/homepage/local_story_275214725.html

Sewage sludge used as fertilizer causing stink among residents
By Sonny Turner
sonny at athensnews-courier.com


— Some northwest Limestone County residents are livid after learning human 
waste from New York City is being hauled by the truckload into their 
neighborhoods and spread over hundreds of acres of farmland as fertilizer.
“It’s the worst smell that I’ve ever smelled,” said District 4 Commissioner 
Bill Daws. “But we’ve checked everything out and it all appears to be 
legit.”
A Decatur company, Synagro Inc., is spreading “biosolids” on farmland for 
free. Residents in the area say the stench is making life miserable, if not 
unbearable.
“When the wind is right, we can’t even breathe,” said Goodsprings resident 
Lori Muse. “People out here are really upset about it. It smells 10 times 
worst than a pig barn.”
Limestone County Revenue Enforcement Officer Rodney Jackson said he was 
asked by county commissioners to investigate the matter.
“I’ve checked them out and they are EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) 
certified,” Jackson said Tuesday. “There is nothing hazardous about it. They 
treat it and make sure there is no hazardous waste. As far as I can 
determine, they are as legit as can be.”
The city of New York has a contract with Synagro to ship the sewage sludge 
here by railcar.
The Decatur firm treats the sludge and offers the biosolids to farmers at no 
charge.
“It is a safe product and it does produce an odor like most good fertilizers 
do,” said Lorrie Loder, a regional public-relations spokesman for Synagro.
“We already have 30 to 40 farmers in your area signed up and another 15 are 
on the waiting list.”
Jackson said Synagro has a facility in Leighton, where they treat the waste 
that he described as sludge, which does not contain any human body parts.
“It really, really stinks,” Jackson said. “But as far as I can tell, that is 
the only drawback to it.”
Limestone-Lauderdale county farmer Gary Peek is one of the farmers who 
agreed to let Synagro spread the biosolids on his pasture.
“I want to be a good neighbor,” he said. “I’m not looking to harm anyone. 
I’m just trying to make a living.”
Peek said the free fertilizer is saving him a lot of money and at the same 
time helping the environment by enriching his pastureland.
“It is EPA regulated and they are going by the rules,” he said. “The drought 
has put such a burden on farmers and the price of fertilizer has gone 
through the roof.”
Peek said he was told he had to remove his cattle from the land where the 
biosolids were distributed for at least 30 days because he said it is not 
supposed to be used for grazing for a certain period after the fertilizer is 
spread.
“It’s just like chicken litter,” he said.
“We (farmers) met in Athens with a representative from the office of Alabama 
Agriculture Commissioner Ron Sparks and they told us this was good stuff,” 
Peek said. “I left that meeting thinking they had endorsed it.”
“A good solid rain should stop the stink,” Jackson said. “It was put down in 
the drought and that makes it much worse.”
However, Muse said rain makes the stench stronger.
Limestone County Extension Service spokesman Doug Chapman said his office 
has received several calls since the fertilizer was put down beginning early 
in September.
“We don’t know much about it,” he said. “We’ve referred all calls to the 
Alabama Department of Environmental Management.”
Officials at ADEM and the EPA confirmed they have received complaints.
“I grew up on a farm and I’ve never smelled anything like that,” Muse said.
“We think it has the potential to cause all sorts of problems like e-coli 
and skin rashes.
“It’s sludge off of human wastes and we’re told they are spreading it on 
farmland out here 5 tons to the acre,” she said.

Photos  ...go to:
http://www.enewscourier.com/homepage/local_story_275214725.html

The Muse family posted this sign on property off Flanagan Road in western 
Limestone County to protest use of human waste on crops.