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The Washington Post
Copyright 2001, The Washington Post Co. All Rights Reserved
Wednesday, August 29, 2001
Editorial
Ensuring Safety In Sludge Application
The article "Health Fears Over Sludge Spur Quest for Controls," which
appeared in the Virginia weekly sections Aug. 23, did not report on the
critical steps being taken by municipal officials to protect the safety
and health of workers and the general public when applying sludge to
land. It also attributed two deaths to land-applied "sludge" despite
scientific and medical reviews that showed sludge was not responsible
for those deaths.
Nowhere has The Post reported on the formidable regulatory structure
that ensures the safe application of this resource or the innovative
environmental management systems increasingly used by
wastewater-treatment agencies to ensure public accountability.
The regulations governing the centuries-old practice of applying
biosolids to land are the product of a 10-year effort that includes the
involvement of federal and state regulatory agency officials and
independent scientists from across the country. The data consistently
conclude that treated, land-applied sewage sludge poses no health threat
to the public.
KEN KIRK
Executive Director
Association of Metropolitan
Sewerage Agencies
Washington