Agenda - 10-13-2009 - 1 - Laserfiche WebLink

Browse Search

~4 - The unknowns surrounding the composition of biosolids which are being applied to land in Orange County - The potential affects of biosolids on air and water resources (groundwater and surface water) - The ability of soils to assimilate compounds and metals - The apparent lack of public information and awareness of some of the sites where biosolids are being applied - The question of whether NC counties have authority to control or manage the application of biosolids - A 2005 report from the NC Deptartment of Health and Human Services that discussed risks to human health including concerns with: • nitrate contaminated groundwater in areas of biosolids application; • agronomic application rates governing the application of biosolids; • the criteria used in siting biosolids application sites; • monitoring of biosolids application sites, and • odors at biosolids application sites - The 2009 Targeted National Sewage Sludge Survey Report from the US Environmental Protection Agency, which documents some of the compounds present in treated sewage sludge from selected water treatment facilities across the United States. Quoting from the overview of the report, `The information will help the Agency (EPA) in assessing if exposures may be occurring and whether those levels in sewage sludge may be of concern." - The recent inclusion of Collins Creek on the State's draft 303d list of impaired waters, given that Collins Creek is located outside of the Chapel Hill/Carrboro urban area (where all the other impaired streams in Orange County are located), and is in a basin that contains a number of fields that are subject to the application of biosolids' The CFE would like to acknowledge the information on this subject it has received from Tom Konsler (Orange County Environmental Health Services Director), Sue Dayton (Blue Ridge Environmental Defense League), Ed Holland (Orange Water and Sewer Authority), and a number of Orange County and area residents that have attended recent meetings, and thank them for their assistance. Thank you for the opportunity to comment on this question, and we look forward to continued dialogue about this complex topic. Attachments Copies: Laura Blackmon, County Manager Willie Best, Assistant County Manager David Stancil, Environment and Resource Conservation Director Dr. Rosemary Summers, Health Director Tom Konsler, Environmental Health Services Director While this may or may not imply that biosolids is a partial factor in this rating, we think it worthy of further review.