Sludge Watch ==> Alabama gets relief from Syangro Sludge in Limestone County

[Maureen Reilly]

Relief from Human Waste Fertilizer
by: mooncat
Sat Oct 13, 2007 at 20:25:16 PM CDT

Last week I wrote that Alabama deserves better than to become the nation's 
cesspool after residents in Limestone and Lauderdale counties complained of 
a terrible odor emanating from free fertilizer used on local farms.  The 
fertilizer was treated human waste from New York and apparently smelled much 
worse than a pig barn or chicken operation -- and those are pretty darned 
bad.

It looks like Mr. Clean paid a visit in the person of Agriculture 
Commissioner Ron Sparks who met with Synagro representatives and worked out 
some new guidelines for human waste fertilizer in Alabama.  Here's the deal, 
according to Sparks:

"I have been in contact with the company's representative and stressed the 
rising concerns we have with their product," he said. "In our 
communications, they assured me that they will no longer distribute the 
fertilizer on pasture land, will use the product in remote locations, and 
are making efforts to change their operating practices."



Sparks said any material waiting to be spread on land would be incorporated 
into the dirt instead of being placed on top of the soil.

"They have also reassured me that they are going to incorporate a higher 
standard of processing using more lime to neutralize the odor," he said. 
"They are arranging for better storage and redirecting their routes so they 
won't be in congested areas or near schools. These are some of the 
concessions they have made up to this point."




"I feel that we have to either clean up the process or stop the process 
altogether," he said. "It is my intention to work with the company to help 
them correct any mistakes that have been made. We will continue to monitor 
their efforts to ensure that this matter does not continue to grow as a 
public nuisance."

In addition, the company will stop distributing the product in Limestone 
County.  The County Commission there was preparing to file an injunction to 
stop the use of the product.  Since the 1901 Alabama Constitution doesn't 
give county commissions authority to do much of anything, including zoning 
and regulating manure spreading, going to court was the only option the 
Limestone Commissioners had.  Manure regulation: yet another reason to let 
the people vote on a new state constitution.

mooncat :: Relief from Human Waste Fertilizer

Tags: Ron Sparks, environment, Agriculture, Alabama, Limestone County, (All 
Tags)