Skeptics sound off over sludge

Biosolids are used as fertilizer

GRAHAM -- Some farmers say it has kept them in business. Others say that there's no way to know what's in it and that it should not go on fields.

The state Division of Water Quality heard from people Tuesday on both sides of the controversy over sewage sludge, or "biosolids," applied to farm fields. The division held a public hearing on a permit renewal the city of Burlington applied for in 2003 to continue putting solids from its wastewater plants on farm fields.

Environmentalists say the sludge contains pathogens, heavy metals and industrial pollutants, and that people living near fields where it is sprayed have had health problems. They also say Burlington has been operating on an expired permit for four years.

According to documents available online, Tuesday's hearing was the first on the renewal of the permit to apply sewage sludge to farmlands in six counties, including Orange and Chatham. About 70 people attended the meeting at Alamance Community College.

The sewage sludge comes from Burlington's wastewater treatment plants, left over after wastewater is treated and discharged. Farmers can apply to have it sprayed for free on their fields as fertilizer by a company called Synagro.

According to water quality documents, Mebane resident Nancy Holt asked for a public hearing on the permit application in January 2004, saying neighborhood children had developed sores after playing in a creek.

Chatham County also requested a public hearing earlier this year. In its comments, the county said 5.4 million gallons of sludge were applied on Chatham farm fields in 2006.

The county said that larger setbacks are needed between sludge applications and schools, wells and homes, and that more testing is needed.

The Chatham County Board of Commissioners also requested an explanation of why Burlington has been operating on an expired permit and asked the state for a guarantee of better permit oversight.

Although its permit expired, Burlington has been able to continue applying the biosolids to fields under the state's Administrative Procedures Act.

The long delay in deciding on a renewal doesn't mean the state is leaning against it, a water quality supervisor said last year. Applications are supposed to be denied within 90 days of being submitted if the state intends to deny them, she said.

Orange County says there are more than 3,000 acres of approved biosolid sites in the county, used by municipalities including Burlington, Hillsborough, Durham and the Orange Water and Sewer Authority.

The Blue Ridge Environmental Defense League held a brief news conference before Tuesday's public hearing. Several farmers and landowners spoke against the practice.

"The stuff stinks to the high heavens," said Saxapahaw farmer Kevin Meehan. "Farming should have a wholesome smell to it."

Farmer Charles Sydnor of Snow Camp said he stopped using sludge on his fields in part because he didn't know exactly what it contained.

"It probably has a great many things that neither them nor I know about," he said.

Sydnor said the spraying was attractive to farmers because fertilizer prices have tripled in the past four to five years.

More than 20 people spoke during the public hearing, including representatives from Chatham and Orange counties, public works staff from the city of Burlington, farmers, environmentalists and residents who live near fields.