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Page 2 <br />Biosolids Memorandum <br />March 10, 2008 <br />Department includes monitorin tg racking and oversight of biosolids activities within the county. <br />Specific responsibilities include <br />• a requirement for notification from biosolids appiiers, <br />• on-site inspection of the fields and the activities during application of biosolids to assure <br />compliance with the regulations and guidelines, <br />• notification of the applier, the permttee, and DWQ in the event compliance issues are <br />discovered, and <br />• response to complaints or emergency spills. <br />The state permitting process requires the applicant of new sites to notify the county manager of their <br />intent to apply for a permit. Environmental Health is notified after the sites are permitted by the <br />state. It is my understanding the OC Planning Department has some land use restrictions in certain <br />areas of the county that may preclude an application from going forward. <br />Environmental Health's involvement in the biosolids monitoring has brought about many changes in <br />these practices. Inspections in the early years of the program revealed regular non-compliance with <br />the permit requirements. For the most part, those issues have been addressed with education and the <br />applier's knowledge that these activities are subject to inspection and reporting. Sites that are <br />permitted to receive biosolids from OWASA, Burlington, and Mebane are well managed and <br />operated. We continue to get resistance from Hillsborough and from Durham to report any <br />activities, so their compliance remains unlaiown. <br />In December of 2006, the BOCC approved funds for the OCHD to enter into a contract with ITNC <br />School of Public Health to conduct a pilot study of biosolids applications and methods of measuring <br />potential effects on the environment and health. The health department and LTNC have encountered <br />difficulties in identifying an acceptable site to study. While Burlington and Mebane have been <br />approached and have agreed to cooperate in such a study, some apprehension by landowners, as well <br />as the drought conditions, have hampered the initiation of the study. <br />Regarding the future of this program, health department staff along with the Board of Health will <br />begin discussions later this year with DWQ to consider entering into a Memorandum of Agreement <br />with DENR to formalize some of our existing activities and possibly to expand our plan review, <br />monitoring and reporting activities. Any direction that the Board of Commissioners would like to <br />provide regarding this expanded role would be welcome. <br />Please feel free to contact either Tom Konsler or me with further questions. <br />C:\Documents and Settings\gwiider\Local Settings\Temporary Internet Files\OLKZ\Biosolids <br />Summary 031008.doc <br />