November 2, 2023

 

Delegates of the State of Maryland

Christopher E. Bouchat

April R. Rose

Christopher L. Tomlinson

 

Re: Proposed Permit of Synagro LLC to Spread Sewage Sludge on Wilson Farm Located at

3510 Bull Frog Road, Taneytown, MD 21787 and Resulting Environmental Harm

 

Dear Representatives:

 

The undersigned individuals are members of the community of Taneytown and the surrounding area. Many of us attended the October 23, 2023 public meeting held at the Carroll County Government Building to discuss the above-referenced permit application. We are writing to you to express our serious objections to the proposed permit to spread sewage sludge on the Wilson farm for the many reasons discussed below which are just a sampling of the disastrous consequences of spreading sludge.

 

Environmental Health Risks Relating to Land Application of Sewage Sludge

 

Research shows and the experience in other jurisdictions have indicated, among other things, that the spreading of sewage sludge on land deposits can result in the deposit of toxic pollutants (also referred to as “forever chemicals” and “PFAS”) which contaminate the land along with food sources (e.g. crops, milk from dairy and meat from livestock). The sewage sludge can also contaminate ground water, wells and nearby waterways. https://ehjournal.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12940-023-01008-4 Significantly, Mr. Wilson is using the sewage sludge on grazing land to be used by his beef cattle.

 

It is important to point out that all of the neighboring properties to the Wilson farm have their own wells which would be at significant risk if this permit is allowed to proceed. In addition, the Wilson farm is right on the Monocacy River so it would be susceptible to significant runoff from the spreading of sewage sludge on that property. Making this result more likely is the fact that there is a trench on his property where run-off could more easily reach the Monocacy River. Once the water is contaminated many people would be affected and the consequences would reach much farther than the properties on Bull Frog Road.

 

Another serious health risk from the land application of sewage sludge is the inhalation of the pollutants once the dust from the dried sludge material goes airborne and spreads far and wide. The inhalation of these pollutants can cause serious health issues. (https://ehjournal.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12940-023-01008-4

In addition, a professor at Brown University is studying the links between “forever chemicals” and cancer. (https://brownpublichealthmagazine.org/2023/07/forever-chemicals-and-cancer/ ).

 

Negative Effect on Neighborhood Property Values

 

The spreading of sewage sludge will adversely affect the property values of the neighboring farms and residential homes. Under Maryland law a Seller of a residential home is required to disclose latent defects to any potential buyer. Presumably, through disclosure or public record, potential buyers would become aware of the facts related to nearby spreading of sewage sludge. This would make any sale much more difficult.

 

Serious Problems With Sewage Sludge Spread in Other States (and now banned)

 

The experience of the State of Maine with land application of sewage sludge is very instructive, and Maine has passed a law to ban the practice because it was so harmful. The headline on one article by The Maine Monitor is particularly chilling: “Forever chemicals on farmland are a slow-motion disaster”. The article continues, stating, “Maine is at the forefront of a national reckoning about how devastating and costly land application of sewage sludge can be”. The State of Maryland, and Carroll County in particular, has the unique opportunity to learn from the Maine experience by putting the Wilson farm permit application on hold as you have put all new applications on hold as you gather further information on the environmental hazards related to the spreading of sewage sludge. This would save Maryland residents from the environmental and health risks being experienced in those communities and the monetary cost when, inevitably, an environmental cleanup (if even feasible) will be required. The spreading of sewage sludge will create an environmental nightmare.

 (https://themainemonitor.org/forever-chemicals-on-farmland-are-a-slow-motion-disaster/ ).

 

Issue of Fairness

 

From a position of fairness, the undersigned believe strongly that it is particularly unfair for one property owner to make a decision that is so impactful (in a very negative way) on neighboring properties as well as properties downstream on the Monocacy River, and the community as a whole. We were told at the meeting that Mr. Wilson is getting the sewage sludge “for free” to use as fertilizer so he is “saving a lot of money”. First of all, as the saying goes, “nothing is for free”. This property getting the sewage sludge “for free” is not “free” for the people living on neighboring properties who face the prospect of great harm to their health, their land and their water. Who will pay for the environmental clean-up when our land shows the buildup of these forever chemicals, or when our wells are contaminated, or when the Monocacy River is polluted, or when individuals suffer from adverse health effects? It is also reported that Mr. Wilson has told people that no one is going to tell him what he can do with his land. From our perspective, no one should be allowed to do something on their land that adversely affects a neighboring property owner’s land or health. That is selfish and wrong.

 

In conclusion, the undersigned ask that the applicable governmental departments who deal with the safety of our community and the protection of the environment eliminate the permit relating to Mr. Wilson’s farm as it studies the devastating consequences of land application of sewage sludge.

 

Sincerely,

Dr. George L. Grillon

Jacquelyn E. Grillon

3122 Bull Frog Road

Taneytown, MD 21787

 

Cc: Commissioners of Carroll County

Christopher Miller, Mayor of Taneytown

Christopher Heyn, Director, Land Management, Carroll County Government

Byron Madigan, Water Resources Supervisor, Carroll County Government

Thomas Yoo, Chief, Biosolids Division, MDE

Lisa Williams, Director Technical Services, Synagro Central LLC

Andrea Drenner-Hanley, Dir. Bureau of Environmental Health, Carroll Cty Health Dept.

Baltimore Sun