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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! ____________________________________________________________________________ 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 ____________________________________________________________________________ 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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