Clean Water Advocacy - Newsroom - AMSA in the News
PR Newswire
Copyright (c) 2002, PR Newswire
Tuesday, October 29, 2002
National Experts Convene in Texas to Answer Biosolids Questions, Critics
Informational Meeting Addresses Safety, Science, and Local Concerns About Land
Application of Sewage Sludge
ANGLETON, Texas, Oct. 29 /PRNewswire/ -- A nationally prominent panel of
scientists and state and local officials met Tuesday evening in Brazoria County
to provide a scientific perspective and to answer questions from elected
officials, the media and local residents about the science, safety and benefits
of biosolids recycling.
The land application of treated sewage sludge for agriculture and other land
uses is a safe and environmentally beneficial practice, the panel members told
elected officials and local residents.
The panel was convened to respond to recent news coverage in several Texas
counties and growing controversy surrounding allegations of health concerns and
provide a comprehensive scientific perspective about the science, safety and
benefits of recycling the material commonly referred to as biosolids.
The 90-minute meeting at the Best Western Hotel, 1809 North Velasco Street,
Angleton, included presentations from several nationally recognized scientists
and other biosolids experts and a question and answer session.
"This was a conscientious effort to provide mainstream science to the
biosolids debate, address local issues such as odors, and better inform the
public about the issues surrounding land applications," said Bob O'Dette, vice
president of government relations for Synagro Technologies, Inc., of Houston.
Dr. Ian Pepper, a nationally known scientist and Director of the National
Science Foundation Water Quality Center at the University of Arizona,
explained, "Recent controversy over the land application of biosolids has been
characterized by allegations and misinformation rather than sound scientific
studies. Additionally the public has been confused and at times scared by
anecdotal reports that link land application to adverse public health effects.
Therefore, what is needed are more scientific studies and education of the
public on the results of these studies," he said.
Pepper recently participated in an 18-month study for the National Academy of
Sciences (NAS) on the science and safety of biosolids. "Biosolids Applied to
Land: Advancing Standards and Practices," the 266-page report by a 16-member
panel of national scientists of which Pepper was a member, said in its
overarching findings: "There is no documented scientific evidence that the
Part 503 Rule (EPA's regulations) has failed to protect public health. However,
additional scientific work is needed to reduce persistent uncertainty about the
potential for adverse human health effects from exposure to biosolids. There
have been anecdotal allegations of disease, and many scientific advances have
occurred since the Part 503 Rule was promulgated (in 1993)."
While the NAS panel recommended a number of steps to further ensure the
public about the safety of biosolids land application, including additional
resources for the U. S. Environmental Protectional Agency (EPA) to support its
biosolids program, it said that it "recognizes that land application of
biosolids is a widely used, practical option for managing the large volume of
sewage sludge generated at wastewater treatment plants that otherwise would
largely need to be disposed of at landfills or by incineration."
Dr. Pepper reported Tuesday night on some of his latest research findings,
which have been targeted to fill the science information gaps outlined in the
NAS report, especially in the field of bioaerosols. He discussed the potential
link between biosolids and staphylococcus aureus (staph aureus) and told the
Angleton audience: "Although many bioaerosol samples have been taken within
two meters of land application sites, no staph aureus was ever detected in the
bioaerosol samples. Furthermore, although as might be expected, staph aureus
was found in raw sewage, it was never detected in a variety of biosolids
samples collected and analyzed nationally from the southwest to the east
coast."
Dr. Paul Chrostowski, an environmental scientist from Takoma Park, MD, said,
"Numerous studies, including ones I have conducted, have investigated the
health impacts that have been raised about the application of Class B biosolids
and have found that proper applications, in accordance with federal and state
regulations, have not resulted in any adverse human health effects."
Ron Sieger, a representative of the Water Environment Association of Texas,
host of the meeting, said, "Biosolids programs are not well understood by
legislators, the media, and the public."
He suggested that a communications void has largely driven public concerns
and created political pressure for biosolids restrictions or bans. "This gap
has frequently been filled by activist groups well outside of the scientific
and regulatory community who have received considerable media attention and
unwarranted credibility for their views," Sieger said.
He called for renewed efforts by federal and state agencies and industry
organizations such as the Water Environment Federation (WEF), "to communicate
with the media and public to correct misinformation, provide public education,
and counter negative perceptions of biosolids."
In a prepared statement, Ken Kirk, the Executive Director of the Association
of Metropolitan Sewerage Agencies, in Washington, D.C., said: "Municipal
wastewater treatment plant managers believe that land applying treated
biosolids is a safe and environmentally beneficial use of an abundant natural
resource. As the National Academy of Sciences recently concluded, there is no
scientific evidence that land application of biosolids poses any health risks.
Sound decisions concerning land application should be based on sound science,
not mischaracterizations and scare tactics." (AMSA is a trade association
representing nearly 300 publicly owned wastewater treatment facilities).
Texas farmer Carl Miller said land applications provide hundreds of farmers
with a low-cost alternative to chemical fertilizers and save farmers millions
of dollars in expenses each year. "We are the ultimate stewards of our land.
Biosolids applications help us to grow crops, improve soil conditions, and
sustain our agricultural operations," he said. "It is important for the public
to understand that biosolids applications save farmers money and also allow us
to concentrate our limited resources on other areas such as soil erosion and
groundwater quality effort."
Synagro's Bob O'Dette concluded the meeting by thanking the panel
participants and audience. "Like the children's book 'Everyone Poops' by Taro
Gomi, it's a topic not often talked about among adults, but more reading,
better education and more communication are necessary," he said.
"After flushing the toilet most people don't think about where their waste
goes or where it may end up. Yet, biosolids recycling is the most
environmentally beneficial use of this product, according to the EPA. Land
applications of biosolids have been safely practiced throughout the U.S. for
over 30 years," O'Dette said.
Biosolids are a nutrient-rich product derived from treated sewage sludge in
wastewater treatment plants which is applied as a soil amendment to
agricultural land in approximately 150 Texas counties.
The treatment of sewage sludge renders it fit for recycling as a useful, safe
and environmentally beneficial product. The practice is approved, regulated,
and monitored by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the U.S.
Department of Agriculture (USDA), and the Texas Commission on Environmental
Quality (TCEQ).
For additional information on the recycling of biosolids including the
benefits, safety and environmental issues associated with land applications
Ron Sieger (President-elect WEAT) Welcome & Introduction;
Texas Association Perspectives on Biosolids Recycling.
Overview of Biosolids Recycling (Synagro)
Dr. Ian Pepper (National Science Foundation Water Quality Center)
The Findings of the National Academy of Sciences Report on
Biosolids Land Application
Dr. Paul Chrostowski (CPF & Associates)
Biosolids Recycling: Health and Risk Assessment Issues
Carl Miller (Texas Farmer)
Farmer Perspectives on the Benefits of Biosolids Recycling
Donna Phillips (Texas Commission on Environmental Quality)
Overview of Texas Regulations regarding Biosolids Land Applications
Invited Guests: State-County Officials
Governor Rick Perry's Office Brazoria Co. Commissioners
Fort Bend Co. Commissioners (Payne,Clawson,Harris,Stanley)
(Stavinhoa,Meyers,Patterson, Prestage) Brazoria County Representatives
Fort Bend County Representatives (Bonnen,Uher)
(Howard,Olivo) Brazoria County Senators
Fort Bend County Senators (Brown,Jackson)
(Brown,Ellis)
Fort Bend County Attorney
Ben W. Childers
News Media
Houston Chronicle Associated Press The Herald-Coaster
The Angleton Times Brazosport Facts
KHOU-TV(11 News) KHTV (WB39 News)
KPRC-TV(02 News KENS-TV(05 News) KTRK-TV( 13 News)
Angleton Meeting Speaker Contact Information
Dr. Ian Pepper Donna Phillips
Director National Science TCEQ
Foundation Water Section Manager, Region 12 -
Houston
University of Arizona 5425 Polk Avenue - Suite H
Water Quality Center Houston, TX 77023
Environmental Research Laboratory E-Mail:
Dophilli@tceq.state.tx.us
2601 E. Airport Drive Phone: 713-767-3659
Tucson, AZ 85706
Phone: (520) 626-3328
E-Mail: ipepper@ag.arizona.edu
Dr. Paul Chrostowski Carl Miller
CPF Associates, Inc. Farmer
7708 Takoma Avenue RR Box 59
Takoma Park, MD 20912 Brookshire, TX 77423
Phone: (301) 585-8062 Ph: 979-826-2127
Fax: (301) 585-2117
E-mail: cpfassoc@aol.com
Ron Sieger
President-elect
Water Environment Association of Texas
CH2M-HILL
5339 Alpha Road Suite 300
Dallas, TX 75240-4302
Phone: (972) 980-2170
E-mail: rsieger@ch2m.com
Ken Kirk
Executive Director
Association of Metropolitan Sewage Agencies (AMSA)
1816 Jefferson Place
Washington, DC 20036-2505
Ph: (202)-833-AMSA
Robert G. O'Dette PE, DEE
VP Government Relations, Compliance
& Technical Services
Synagro Technologies, Inc.
1800 Bering Drive Suite 1000
Houston, TX 77057
Phone: (713) 369-1731
E-Mail: bodette@synagro.com
Contacts:
Ron Sieger
Office: (972) 980-2170
Mobile: (817) 313-0218
Bob O'Dette
Office: (713) 369-1731
Mobile: (281) 451-9268
Make Your Opinion Count - Click Here
http://tbutton.prnewswire.com/prn/11690X29746384
contact: www.biosolids.com ;
www.wef.org ; and
www.epa.gov . (Editor's note:
Below is a copy of the Angleton meeting agenda and contact information for the
panel members.) Benefits and Concerns
of Land Application of Biosolids Moderated by Ron
Sieger President-elect of the Water Environment
Association of Texas (WEAT) Best Western
Hotel, Tuesday Oct. 29th 5:00 pm
1809 North Velasco Angleton, Texas Informational
Speakers & Agenda