sust-mar: Land Application of Biosolids URGENT deadline on 16th

Date: Sat, 10 Apr 2004 10:17:34 -0300
From: Maureen Reynolds <mfreynolds@eastlink.ca>
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____________________________________________________________________________
Subject: The case against the land application of Biosolids



April 7, 2004

The "Concerned Citizens Group" of R.R.1 Truro would like to 
make you aware of our plight.

Nov. 2003 it was discovered that biosolids from Aerotech 
(HRM) were being received in a lagoon in  Lower Truro to be 
land-applied following lime stabilization. No public 
consultation took place as required by the approval granted by 
the Department of Environment and signed by Jay Brenton, 
regional manager.

Public controversy sparked by the approval prompted 
government (Minister of Environment, Mr. Morash) to impose 
a moratorium on the spreading of sludge until May 1, 2004.

We have had public meetings with local Environment officials 
as well as PhD's from the Agricultural College. Everyone 
reassured us that there was much benefit to be derived from 
applying human and industrial waste to farmland - the 
cheapest way to go and much better than putting it into 
Bedford Basin said an official from N.S. Agricultural College. 
Easily said! - but that really got our "dander up!"

"What's the difference between cow manure and human 
waste?" asks Rick Dupuis, freelance writer for the Truro Daily 
News. "For one thing, cows don't mix tampons or paint 
thinner with their waste. Humans can't make the same claim." 
It's true that everything flushed down the drain ends up in the 
sewer - there is no separation of human and industrial waste 
that occurs in some European countries. Sludge may contain 
many secret surprises - P.C.B.s, chlorinated pesticides, 
dioxins, polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons, heavy metals, 
bacteria, viruses, protozoa, parasitic worms, fungi, and 
miscellaneous items such as petroleum products, industrial 
solvents, and pharmaceuticals. These products were all found 
during testing at Cornell University and were not removed by 
land application or stabilization by lime. Is it any wonder that 
we don't want such items spread on the fields and from thence 
to our dinner plates? We have no desire to create a toxic waste 
site in our beautiful community.

Maureen Reilly, of the Sierra Club of Canada, also gave a 
presentation to area residents as well as showing the National 
Film Board documentary entitled "Crapshoot". It showed how 
mankind has dealt with human waste since Roman times until 
our present era - always using water to remove his waste often 
into a large body of water such as a harbour. "It's not a 
fertilizer it's a waste. Don't put it in the food chain" said Ms. 
Reilly. "The pathogen levels in sewage sludge are high and 
can even increase over time once the sludge is stored or land 
applied. Land application allows sludge pathogens to be 
transported by weather events, and facilitates the spread of 
diseases to animals and humans". Maureen is the Water 
Campaigner for the Sierra Club and over the last 8 years has 
specialized in research and education of sewage, sludges, and 
rural disposal of industrial waste. Her work focuses on the 
protection of rural and agricultural lands and the quality of our 
water.

As Gary Saunders states in his article "our municipality has 
just passed the first reading of the nuisance by-law and is 
supported by the Town of Truro. Also of note is that the 
Clifton Federation of Agriculture in our area has recently 
released a strong policy statement saying blending and 
stabilizing of biosolids should be classified as an industrial or 
commercial activity, not agricultural. They are also asking that 
farm application of waste products from slaughter facilities 
and rendering plants be reviewed.
There are 3 lagoons on the farm in question and recent 
pictures show snowfencing collapsing and one lagoon without 
any fencing at all. These lagoons all up to the brim 
(regulations call for 2 feet of "freeboard") on April 2, 2004. 
This was reported to the local department official who 
reported that he had drained off the "surface water" to 
accommodate the required 2 feet of freeboard. This "surface 
water" was allowed to go into the field where there is a brook 
less that 300 feet away. The official said he didn't feel there 
was any contamination of the surface water because the 
biosolids were frozen. Furthermore, lack of fencing or 
inadequate fencing didn't create a state of non-compliance 
with regulations. It would seem that this is blatant disregard 
for conditions imposed by the Department of Environment 
itself.

The Minister of Environment and Labour (Mr. Morash) is 
asking for written submissions on the draft document - 
deadline April 16, 2004. Many in Lower Truro are unaware of 
such a request and that only 2 weeks were given to comply. 
This notice was given to all Nova Scotians. We are urging 
everyone to write.

Submissions may be sent to:

Policy Division, Dept. Of Environment and Labour
P.O.Box 697, 5th Floor
5151 Terminal Road, Halifax, N.S.
B3J 2T8

By fax to: (902) 424-0575

Email to: policy@gov.ns.ca

Thank you for your help

Barbara Rockwell

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