HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda - 05-01-2008-11b
Memorandum
To: Board of County Commissioners
From: Commission for the Environment
Date: April 21, 2008
Re: City of Burlington Biosolids Permit Renewal Public.Hearing
In response to a citizen petition at the March 6 Board of Commissioners meeting,
the Commission for the Environment (CFE) has discussed the upcoming Division
of Water Quality public hearing for the City of Burlington's biosolids application
permit renewal. This hearing appears to now be scheduled for May 13 in
Graham. In so doing, the CFE reviewed Health Director Dr. Rosemary Summers
March 10 memorandum, and research performed by a CFE member.
The CFE feels that a considerable amount of additional information and data is
needed to speak knowledgeably about the permit application -and about the
ecological and human health issues related to biosolids. However, the
Commission would like to forward the following points and ideas for
consideration:
1. According to our GIS maps of active biosolids application sites, there
appear to be a few sites within the critical areas of Orange County's
protected watersheds. These include the Burlington application sites
within the Cane Creek watershed and active OWASA application sites
within the Upper Eno critical watershed Under the County's watershed
zoning standards, biosolids application is not permitted within the critical
area. We do not know if these particular sites are among those proposed
for renewal, or if they are "grandfathered" in, but would suggest any re-
permitting by the State exclude these properties now and in the future.
2. Based on the publicly available research, the potential environmental and
health risks have not been adequately quantified, particularly with regard
to organic toxic compounds (such as dioxins, furans and PCB's) and
pharmaceutical residues, as these compounds are not subject to
regulation. In addition, there appears to be a paucity of current local data
both characterizing the compounds present in Burlington's sewage sludge
and content of toxic compounds in amended soils -making evaluation of
the safety of biosolids application impossible. The CFE proposes that the
Health Department and UNC School of Public Health study that is
referenced in Dr. Summers' letter be expedited if possible, possibly using
County-owned lands, to help address some of these questions.
3. As mapped, biosolids application is widespread in the County, with almost
3,000 acres of permitted sites receiving biosolids application from six
different municipal wastewater treatment facilities including: Durham,
Cary, OWASA, Burlington, Mebane, and Hillsborough. .
4. The CFE is supportive of further research and discussion about biosolids
application, including consideration of possible additional measures in
water supply watersheds, and the planned Health Department
discussions with NCDWQ about expanding the County's capabilities for
review and monitoring. The CFE would appreciate allowing Commission
representatives to be part of these discussions if they are pursued.
5. The CFE recommends the County Commissioners request data on the
chemical composition of any biosolids being proposed for land-spreading
from each wastewater treatment authority. In addition, perhaps State
legislation could be considered that requires chemical analysis of
wastewater biosolids (pre-application) and soil testing (post-application),
for metals and key organics, to learn more about the chemical nature of
what is being applied to the land in Orange County.
6. As a large amount of land in Orange County would be affected by this
application, a second public hearing held in Orange County would allow
for fuller public discussion.
In summary, thousands of acres in Orange County are affected by a land
application process that does not appear to be widely understood. Greater
research into the subject appears warranted, and the CFE would volunteer to
work with the Board of Health and other groups in such an effort, if pursued.
Thank you for the opportunity to comment on this question, and we look forward
to continued dialogue about this complex topic.
Copies: Laura Blackmon, County Manager
Willie Best, Assistant County Manager
Dr. Rosemary Summers, Health Director
Tom Konsler, Environmental Health Services Director
Craig Benedict, Planning Director
2008 Orange County Biosolid Application Situ
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Legentl
BIOSOLID FIELDS
Burlington active - 404.8 acres
Burlington inactive
0 Cary active -104.1 acres
Caryinac6ve
Durham alive -1,115.3 acres
Durham inactive
Hillsborough alive- 377.1 acres
Hillsborough inactive
Mebane active -170.4 acres
Mebane inactive
~l OWASA alive - 863.45 acres
~f OWASA inactive
WATERSHED
Q Critical
Q Protected
Q Unprotected
•••- Major streams
,Parcel boundary
Reservoirs & lakes
Aclivs fisids
Flelds are on the current D1hC] permit
and are available for blosolids application.
Inactive tields
Fells ere no Iengeron the cameo! DWQ
permit but have had 6losolids applied to
the field in the past.
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0 0.5 1 2 Miles
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Orange County
Environment & Resource Conservation Department
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