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Tip: Your message to SUST-MAR must be html-free. So, BEFORE you hit SEND, please go to your "Format" pull-down menu and select "Plain text." Thanks! ____________________________________________________________________________ Please make it a priority to get these proposed guidelines and comment on them. The "Exceptional Quality" category is the only one that is truly protective of our environment and then only if it has been composted into a completely mature product. Futhermore, I suggest all sludge products should be used inside the municipality that produces them in order to give further impetus to that municipality being totally responsible in its actions and not dumping on someone else. Finally, an innovative approach to SOURCE CONTROLS should be mandated so that the target is sludge and wastewater that meets the "No Net Degradation" standard - which HRM and NS already meets for its source separated compost. This is the only standard level that does not degrade the environment - anything less is degradation! And should not be acceptable. These proposals will be only Guidelines. They should be vastly improved and made into Regulations. Take away the ability to spread Class A or Class B materials, particularly on agricultural lands. Take away the ability to only process with heat or lime stabilization - it isn't really stabilization at all! Also take away the exemption from these regulations for sludge managed under the Canadian Fertilizer Act for which no Approval is required. This exemption has been used to circumvent local laws and health protection. The Canadian Fertilizer Act is not sufficiently protective in this at all. Places around the world, including elsewhere in Canada, are having terrible problems with sludge managed as proposed here and as proposed by HRM. This needs to be stopped now and this is a real opportunity to do so. The current direction will only lead to years of vocal public opposition and harm to people and the environment. The one bright spot is the Exceptional Quality category. Support that as the only real option. Demand stabilization through composting only. And demand truly protective source controls. HRM is currently negotiating a sludge management contract to use only the inadequate Class A levels, with only heat/lime treatment (its still just crap afterwards) and to allow it to be put onto farmlands. Better alternatives as proposed above should be advocated. Please also send your comments to the HRM Mayor and Councillors (contact info at http://www.region.halifax.ns.ca/districts/council.html or sent to Municipal Clerk's Office at (902) 490-4210 or e-mail at clerks@halifax.ca and ask it be copied to the Mayor and Council) Also send your opinions to the Harbour Solutions Project Ted Tam tamt@halifax.ca and Tony Blouin blouint@halifax.ca. I would appreciate a copy of what you send as well. Yours, David Wimberly -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Friday, April 2, 2004 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Province releases draft rules on biosolid spreading The province has released draft guidelines for applying treated sewage byproducts to land. The Environment Department is now seeking public input. The guidelines would allow only treated sludges that meet specific biological and chemical criteria to be applied to the land. No untreated septage or sewage sludges can be used. Septage sludge is the solid material left after water is removed from the contents pumped from a septic tank. Sewage sludge is the residue generated during the treatment of sewage in a treatment plant. Once they are treated to meet biological and chemical standards, they are called bio-solids. "Land application of bio-solids is the best alternative for disposal of these materials," Environment Minister Kerry Morash said in a release. "Sending it to a landfill is expensive and not consistent with our waste-management strategy. Incineration is the only other option and that's expensive and not environmentally responsible." Mr. Morash said the proposed rules provide a safe, stable, long-term solution to the disposal of bio-solids. The draft guidelines arose from a 2003 departmental review of approval practices. In January, government directed the department to suspend existing approvals for spreading sewage and septic sludges and to stop issuing new ones. The guidelines, once finalized and approved by government, will become part of any approval issued by the department for land application. The draft guidelines are available on the department's website, www.gov.ns.ca/enla, at any Environment Department office, or by calling 1-800-567-7544. The public comment period ends on Friday, April 16. ____________________________________________________________________________ Did a friend forward this to you? Join sust-mar yourself! Just send 'subscribe sust-mar' to mailto:majordomo@chebucto.ca
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