By Ashley McLeod, Staff Writer
Dec 19, 2014, 12:18
PRINCE GEORGE — Farms in several localities in Virginia, including Prince George County, will soon be receiving a substance that has been a hot topic recently in the state.
The Virginia State Water Control Board recently approved a permit allowing for a Baltimore-based company, Synagro Technologies, to apply industrial waste, also known as sludge, to land. The waste will be applied to more than 16,000 acres of farmland, including approximately 860 acres of farmland in Prince George.
The industrial waste would be coming from three different plants: Tyson’s Foods in Glen Allen, Smithfield Packing, and the Rock Tenn paper mill in West Point. This type of industrial waste has been used on farmlands in Virginia since the 1980s. Synagro has been converting the sludge into fertilizer for more than 600 industrial facilities nationwide.
Following 11 citizens speaking out to the board, eight of which were in opposition, the Virginia Pollution Abatement permit was approved at the meeting at a vote of 5-2 by the SWCB.
Some of the concerns brought up by citizens who spoke at the meeting included protecting the waterways, the presence of heavy metals and endocrine disrupters in the sludge, and the need for more testing on effects of the sludge on farmland.
Tom Rubino, from King and Queen County, spoke to the board about how the application of the sludge causes him concern.
“The permit would dump this toxic sludge 100 feet from our drinking wells,” Rubino said.
According to Rubino, there could be several different pollutants in the sludge that are harmful to humans. These include radioactive agents, arsenic, copper, and radium to name a few.
The porous wells that can be found all across Virginia receive surface water, which could include runoff from land treated with the sludge, putting the waste into drinking water in the wells.
Rubino believes what many in opposition suggested — that the industrial sludge should be disposed of in a lined landfill, and not put on farmland.
The chairman of the Goochland Board of Supervisors, Manuel Alvarez, was also in attendance at the meeting and brought up two bills that have been introduced for the 2015 session of the General Assembly. One of the proposed bills would prohibit the application of industrial waste in Hanover, King William, and New Kent counties.
While Alvarez was in opposition to the permit, he spoke about how the permit should be delayed until the bills go through the General Assembly and testing standards had been set.
“If this product is safe, then there should be no reason why we don’t do more testing,” said Alvarez.
The director of research and policy for the Virginia Watermans Association, Kelly Place, spoke to the board about the effects the application of sludge may have on the Chesapeake Bay and other waterways in Virginia.
“Most of our estuaries are already on the impaired water list, and we believe the permit would monstrously exacerbate these impaired waterways,” said Place.
Place believes that the residuals from the application of the sludge would make its way into the waterways, increasing the already high levels of mercury, nitrogen, endocrine disrupters, and other harmful products into the water.
The effects on these products can already be seen in waterways, with bans on eating certain species of fish already in place because they are not safe for human consumption due to levels of certain chemicals.
There were three people who spoke in support of the permit.
Lee Rosson, a farmer in Louisa County, said his family had been using industrial sludge on their farmland for 30 years, with no problems.
Mills owns about 3,000 acres of land, growing soybeans, corn, and other crops on land where the sludge is used.
“I think it’s a great thing,” said Mills. “My family would not be using the material if we didn’t think it was a good product.”
The board member had the opportunity to ask both the Department of Environmental Quality and a representative from Synagro questions about the permits and ask questions in regards to several points brought up by citizens.
The board voted to approve the permit, with two members voting against it.
The General Assembly will have their chance to review the subject of sludge when the 2015 session begins. A proposal by Del. Christopher Peace will ban the usage in three counties, while another proposal by Del. R. Lee Ware Jr. will require the DEQ to study the effects of the sludge more closely.
