😲Beef With Biosolids: Concern Spreads in Pennsylvania County

[GOYABEAN]

🐂 🤔Paul Zagata raises beef in Huntington Township and believes what’s happening on nearby farmland threatens his livelihood.

Zagata fears hundreds of tons of biosolids spread on the fields of neighboring farms this spring could contain heavy metals and PFAS (forever chemicals), and he’s worried the runoff will reach his farm.

“I don’t want it anywhere near my place,” Zagata said. “I sell beef, and this is a risk that I didn’t want to take.”

Biosolid is treated sewage sludge. Land application of the material as fertilizer — which is regulated and permitted by the state Department of Environmental Protection — has generated concern from residents in several areas across the state.

In Northampton County, a plan to apply biosolids at a preserved farm has come under fire from those concerned about contaminated runoff. Residents in Huntington Township, which is on the western edge of Luzerne County, are now echoing the same unease.

“There have been residents who expressed concerns about it,” said Barry Kyttle, a Huntington Township supervisor. “Personally, I’m a little concerned because no one knows what’s in there.”

As defined by DEP, biosolids are nutrient-rich organic materials derived from wastewater solids that meet certain criteria for land application. According to department data, biosolids produced from wastewater treatment facilities in Pennsylvania typically contain low concentrations of metals usually below federal and state safety limits.

The federal Environmental Protection Agency has acknowledged that biosolids may also contain forever chemicals and other contaminants.

And that has Kyttle and some residents in the township worried.

“One of my concerns is if this stuff (forever chemicals) never goes away and biosolids are repeatedly applied to these fields. It’s going to keep accumulating every year,” he said. “Could it exceed legal limits at some point?”

Kyttle’s question about forever chemical accumulation may never be answered because there is no state or federal standard for PFAS in biosolids. However, EPA is conducting a risk assessment for PFAS in biosolids to determine if regulatory action is warranted. Also, DEP has proposed biosolids be tested for PFAS, but there is currently no federally approved testing method.

Compounding the situation is there is nothing municipalities like Huntington Township can do to stop land application of biosolids, according to Kyttle, because it’s a state matter.

But that hasn’t stopped officials in the township from exploring other ways to tackle the issue.

At a recent supervisors meeting, Kyttle said there was discussion about implementing a license mandate and hauling fee for those entities who bring biosolids into the township.

Funds generated by the fee would be set aside and used to help mitigate any issues that would arise.

“But the objective is to not make it feasible for them to bring this here,” Kyttle said. “We can’t stop it, so we have to figure out a different way.”

Kyttle said the idea was discussed but no action has been proposed. It would have to be taken to the township solicitor to check the legality of the concept, he said, and maybe it could be implemented before next spring when haulers bring in more biosolids to spread on farm fields.

Zagata supports the idea of a fee placed on every load of biosolids hauled into the township. If it’s high enough, he said, it should slow down the activity.

“Right now it’s free, so some farmers are taking advantage of it,” Zagata said. “But you have to wonder, if it’s so good and it’s supposed to be a premium fertilizer, then why is it free?”

https://www.lancasterfarming.com/far...8bcfaae37.html

[Emptymag]

*Right now it*s free, so some farmers are taking advantage of it,* Zagata said. *But you have to wonder, if it*s so good and it*s supposed to be a premium fertilizer, then why is it free?*

BINGO

[JenniferG]

Back in the day they called that stuff night soil

[Qtrborecrazy]

Well where do you think all the solids from septic pump outs and sewer treatment plants go? That's right, back to Mother Nature. From what I've been told only a certain amount is allowed to be spread per acre and the waste is treated before it can be spread. How many farms spread cow manure on their fields for fertilizer???

[bogey1]

Not to worry, pa farms will be no longer in the near future.

[DukeConnor]

Was this stuff called milorganite ?

[Exbiker]

The problem is Pennsylvania's Right to Farm Law and the DEP seem to supersede local laws and allow the use of biosolids. It's supposed to be treated but some scientists say it can still contain heavy metals and disease causing pathogens. Worst part is the strong fish and ammonia smell that lingers on humid days.
farmers are struggling with the cost of supplies so it's a benefit that many find hard to turn down.
When we lived in Germany way back they spread human waste untreated on the farms. Hot days were so aromatic.

[Exbiker]

Was this stuff called milorganite ?

Treated and bagged biosolids from human waste.

[Delkal]

So a cattle farmer is worried about runoff from another farm? Thats a good one! And once they played the "could contain heavy metals and PFAS (forever chemicals)" card you know this is alarmist BS. While everyone is understandably squeamish about starting from human shit once it is composted it is sterile and a great fertilizer, just like compost from cow shit.

He should be more concerned with the agricultural chemicals from the runoff and the herbicides he sprays on his fields.

[streaker69]

Well where do you think all the solids from septic pump outs and sewer treatment plants go? That's right, back to Mother Nature. From what I've been told only a certain amount is allowed to be spread per acre and the waste is treated before it can be spread. How many farms spread cow manure on their fields for fertilizer???

The process generally is the solids, all solids, including the stuff that isn't human waste is dewatered via a centrifuge then it's stored onsite until it's hauled away. There's a sewer plant down near Philly that burns their solids to generate power. Not sure how efficient that system is. Solids are classified based upon how their treated. Some solids can be used on crops for human consumption, other only on crops meant for animals. Much of it ends up in landfills in this area because the farmers around here don't want it, the slurry they're using is a better fertilizer and it's easier for them to manage.

If people are concerned about PFAS in the environment maybe more effort should be put into how they're getting into the Susquehanna. Something everyone needs to remember about the sewage treatment process, is that it does not remove pharmaceuticals from the outflow. Every drug that passes through your body and into waste goes through the plant as well, and into the environment.