Harford County (Map, News) - Despite vehement opposition from residents, the state will allow a Texas company to spread sludge on 51 acres of Susquehanna State Park.

The state Department of Natural Resources confirmed Thursday night that is signing off on the sludge spreading at the Harford County park.

The decision angered residents, who have complained that sludge dumping since early June at another parcel near Quaker Bottom Road has caused illnesses, a stench and noise from truck traffic.

Under state regulations, residents will be barred from the parcel of parkland for a year for safety reasons, officials said.

Opponents argued at an information session that taxpayers should not be restricted from using the land.

“That park is everybody's backyard,” resident Jeff Lawson said.

Synagro Technologies Inc. received approval to spread the sludge. The Houston-based company helps government and private agencies manage byproducts created during the water or wastewater treatment process.

Arnold Norden, chief central region planner for the Maryland Department of Natural Resources, said the sludge would not be dumped in the park until more prominent warning signs are posted.

“The signing, the way that we’re notifying people, we can certainly do a better job,” Norden said. “We’re going to make sure the signage is better on the state park land.”

But County Councilman James "Capt. Jim" McMahan, questioned the safety of the sludge dumping.

Referring to MDE regulations, he said: “One of the things I noticed right up front was sewage sludge will be treated to reduce disease-causing organisms. Reduce. I would be much more secure with the word 'eliminate.'”

The MDE periodically does unannounced checks at wastewater plants and farms, said Edward Dexter, administrator of the solid waste program.

Synagro workers said they had not become ill from the sludge and don't even wear gloves.

Alex Yale, an employee who spreads sludge, said, “I've been doing it for three years, and I'm still here.”

msilvestri@baltimoreexaminer.com

Comments from Examiner Readers

8:30 AM MST on Thu., Jul. 12, 2007 re: "MDE plans meeting on dumping in Harford Co."

Walt Payne said:
�It�s in common usage,� Sullivan said. �It�s basically a standard practice. I don�t know what all caused vocal opposition to be coming up.� Hmmm, Asbestoos was in common usage, DDT was in common usage, etc. but we stopped those practices because they were unsafe. What does the EPA and MDE know that the Europeans don't? Why did they seriously limit the usage of sludge? Why did EPA rename toxic waste being dumped into our water and call it fertilizer, or Biosolids?

40 agree | 44 disagree
Vote on this comment: I agree or I disagree

8:32 AM MST on Tue., Jul. 10, 2007 re: "MDE plans meeting on dumping in Harford Co."

Examiner Reader said:
Dear Mike, You should have pulled up the article from the Jerusalem Report July 9,2007. Page 28. Entitled Meanwhile Down on the Farm. The entire article covers Israel's push in water technology. Incidently,. I am on the Natiuonal board of the Jewish National Fund which funds water treatment and life in arid communities. Something positive can happen Thnaks for the coverage.

37 agree | 35 disagree
Vote on this comment: I agree or I disagree

Report as inappropriate