SEWAGE SLUDGE PETITION |
Petition to Support Our Municipalities in Regulating Activities Harmful to Residents
THIS PETITION CALLS FOR OUR STATE LEGISLATURE TO STRENGTHEN THE ROLE OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT IN PROTECTING THEIR RESIDENTS FROM ACTIVITIES, INCLUDING SEWAGE SLUDGE, THAT THREATENS THEIR HEALTH, WELFARE, AND SAFETY AND TO IMPROVE STATE REGULATIONS AND OVERSIGHT OF THE USE OF TOXIC SEWAGE SLUDGE FOR FERTILIZER.
In 1982 the Right to Farm Act was passed. This law protected farmers from interference from local authorities when conducting normal farming activities. The law made normal farm activities off-limits for local regulation, except for any activity that endangered local residents' health, safety, and welfare. Farming activities also lost their protection if they resulted in the pollution of streams or waters. This Law was a reasonable compromise to protect farming and local residents.
And then, big agriculture decided to expand the “Right to Farm” law to protect extreme farming (aka factory farming) activities. Act 38, called the ACRES Act, was passed in 2002. The Association of Township Supervisors vehemently opposed this law because it stripped local municipalities of their capacity to regulate farm waste or odor in any way. Also placed on the “cannot regulate” list is the use of sewage sludge as fertilizer.
What is sewage sludge? The Basics
Municipal Wastewater treatment plants must deal with everything that is poured down the drains or flushed down the toilet. The liquid part of this deluge is treated and returned to rivers or oceans. Sewage sludge is the solid waste that is left after wastewater is extracted. It is a slurry of human feces, pathogens, heavy metals, toxins, and industrial chemicals. Getting rid of this solid waste is an expensive problem for municipal wastewater treatment plants.