Sludge Watch ==> Oklahoma -Unregulated Sewage Sludge Compost Transported by Rain

[Maureen Reilly]

Published October 06, 2007 11:58 pm - "I hope the state will soon adopt 
regulations dealing with so-called "Class A" biosolids and that the OSRC and 
other state agencies will continue to support such regulation. "


Citizen questions public works’ biosolid management practices


By Ed Brocksmith
Guest columnist


Sewage compost applied by the Tahlequah Public Works Authority along Bluff 
Avenue sometime this past summer was washed by heavy rain toward Town Branch 
Creek, a tributary of the Illinois River.


I don’t know the date this occurred, but I brought this to the attention of 
the Oklahoma Scenic Rivers Commission and Oklahoma Department of 
Environmental Quality shortly after returning to Tahlequah in mid-September.

The Oklahoma Scenic Rivers Commission, indeed every state agency and every 
citizen, should be very concerned about this incident. Concern is especially 
warranted because TPWA has no intention of developing best management 
practices for use of the material, concern also because the nutrient-rich 
material is not regulated due to a failure of state government to adopt 
rules.

Late last week, after TPWA, ODEQ’s investigator, and OSRC Administrator Ed 
Fite went on record as saying that the material did not leave the 
application area, I returned to the site and found evidence the material was 
transported by rain runoff in two areas:

• Westward, across Bluff Avenue at South Street.

• South and West towards Town Branch Creek on the northwest corner of Bluff 
Avenue and First Street.

In addition, I believe some of the compost material actually flowed to the 
surface of the bridge on First Street and into the stream by way of a drain 
hole in the bridge.

Bluff Avenue is adjacent to and upgrade from Town Branch Creek.

I have a small bag of the material I collected from the roadside on the West 
side of Bluff Avenue and a very small quantity of what I believe is the 
compost material that I found on the south (downstream) edge of the bridge 
on First Street. I also have photographs of the areas I mentioned as well as 
the original compromised sites on the East side of Bluff Avenue.

I have no doubt that nutrients and other contaminants in the sewage compost 
applied by TPWA compromised Town Branch Creek in solid form, as sediment, 
and possibly in solution. However, the solid portion of the material is very 
buoyant and obviously washed downstream from the intersection of Bluff 
Avenue and First Street.

TPWA’s initial response is very disappointing in that the TPWA director said 
workers would return to the location and apply more compost and that there 
would be no policy adopted for application because the compost is 
unregulated.

This is not the response I would expect from a utility authority in my 
hometown, a town located on a state scenic river and beautiful lake, both 
threatened by nutrient pollution. It is reminiscent of the “old days” when 
Oklahoma was fighting to protect the river and Tenkiller Lake from Arkansas 
sewage.

At that time, TPWA refused to consider phosphorus removal despite the fact 
Fayetteville, Ark., planned the most modern wastewater treatment plant that 
would remove phosphorus. It was said at that time that is appeared that 
Tahlequah was the pot calling the kettle black.

The state is suing the poultry industry, and rightfully so, for polluting 
the Illinois River basin.

TPWA is polluting the Illinois River despite what it says and continues to 
show a reckless regard for protecting the river and Tenkiller Lake.
.....................................................

Citizen questions public works’ biosolid management practices

By Ed Brocksmith
Guest columnist
The OSRC adopted a resolution requesting the state adopt regulations 
prohibiting application of biosolids within the Illinois River basin. 
Additionally, Save the Illinois River Inc., Greater Tenkiller Area 
Association, Oklahoma Water Resources Board, and the state Conservation 
Commission are on record supporting the need for the type of regulation to 
protect the Illinois River and Tenkiller Lake. STIR appealed to the Arkansas 
Department of Pollution Control to require that sewage sludge be removed 
from the Illinois River basin. Northwest Arkansas cities, at my last check, 
are not land applying sludge in the basin. I believe the bulk of it is going 
to landfills.


Is this a big deal in the overall problems the Illinois River and Tenkiller 
Lake face?

Certainly not. However, there are at least two very important principles at 
stake here. For one, the Illinois River and Tenkiller Lake do not need any 
additional nutrient pollution be it sewage compost, chicken litter, or 
treated sewage. Also, state agencies such as the OSRC should not be on what 
I call "cozy" terms with potential polluters until the pollution of the 
Illinois River and Tenkiller Lake are controlled. This includes the poultry 
industry, northwest Arkansas wastewater treatment departments, and the TPWA.

I hope, and STIR hopes, that the state will soon adopt regulations dealing 
with so-called "Class A" biosolids and that the OSRC and other state 
agencies will continue to support such regulation even in the face of 
controversy.

It is the right thing to do.

Ed Brocksmith is secretary-treasurer of STIR and an OSRC board member


http://www.muskogeephoenix.com/opinion/local_story_279235835.html?start:int=15