State fears biosolids too close to homes

Orange's air, water to undergo study

CHAPEL HILL -- Possible health concerns have kept the state from renewing Burlington's permit to spread biosolids on 175 acres in western Orange County, though the applications continue and are legal under state rules.

The Division of Water Quality has had discussions with state epidemiologists about complaints from residents in the Bradshaw Quarry Road area, said Kim Colson, the division's land applications unit supervisor.

Ken Rudo, a state toxicologist consulted by Colson, says the biosolids -- referred to as "sewage sludge" by those who live nearby -- have been applied too close to homes.

The health concerns reported there -- including respiratory problems, headaches and nausea -- resemble problems described in scientific literature near other sites where biosolids have been spread.

"We most certainly have concerns from a health standpoint for the use of that site," Rudo said.

He and others in the Department of Environment and Natural Resources' Occupational and Environmental Epidemiology Branch wrote a report in 2005 that highlighted some concerns. The report was submitted as a written comment for a public hearing when the Division of Water Quality was undergoing a review of its regulations.

The minimum distances for surface application from a truck are 400 feet from a structure, 50 feet from property lines and 100 feet from wells.

"The setbacks being used by the states and federal government are not sufficient in protecting people," Rudo said. "What the distances need to be, that's a little harder to determine. But the way they are right now, they're right on top of people."

The report suggested surveying people and monitoring wells near application sites across the state. That hasn't happened yet, Rudo said.

The Orange County Board of Commissioners agreed to spend $10,000 to have two epidemiologists from UNC-Chapel Hill's School of Public Health collect data on water and air quality near the western Orange County site. That study also may include a health survey.

Rudo said he would look at that and any other information that becomes available, to advise Colson on the permit renewal.

Although its permit expired Jan. 31, 2004, Burlington continued to apply biosolids to the western Orange County site as allowed by the state's Administrative Procedures Act, Colson said.

The long delay in deciding doesn't mean the permit won't be renewed, Colson said. Just the opposite, actually: Applications are supposed to be denied within 90 days of being submitted if the state intends to deny them, Colson explained.

Colson said he was not aware of the UNC-CH study, which is scheduled to enter the design phase this month.