Are you ready to stop using our farms as dumping sites for waste? Here are some things you can do, right now…
1) Sign this Petition and share it. Your signatures matter, and this petition has helped gain momentum and has been critical in raising awareness of this issue.
Please note this petition is FREE, and we do NOT accept donations. The Change.ORG platform does take donations, which are used to boost the viewership of the petition.
2) Communicate with your farmers directly. Most Farmers are wonderful people, and no one will care more about their land. They may not understand the damage they are causing because the processors and DEP have told them it’s safe to use waste streams.
3) Fill out an Online Complaint form for PA DEP;
https://www.dep.pa.gov/About/ReportanIncident/Pages/EnvironmentalComplaints.aspx
- Tell them you want better regulations and testing for Waste Streams, and you want testing for PFAS where waste streams are land applied.
- Tell them the processors and trade groups should not get to write the rules managing their own activity. Its dangerous to write rules that use the government to protect their activity from the people who have to LIVE there and deal with the messes they create.
- Tell them to enforce the regulations in the FPR Manual and Permits.
Odor Control:
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(FPR Manual, Chapter 8, Page 103)
“Land application is to be conducted in a manner to prevent odors, vectors, ponding of liquids, public nuisances or adverse effects to the soil, food chain, or the environment.”
(FPR Manual, Chapter 8, Page 88)
“select land application areas that are distant from neighboring residences”
“avoid spreading when wind is blowing toward populated areas or when nearby neighbors are likely to be engaged in outdoor activities”
“avoid spreading near heavily traveled roads and clean up any spills promptly”
Spreading on Snow/Frozen Ground
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(FPR Manual, Chapter 8, Page 97)
“Field application of FPRs is not permitted on snow-covered ground. Remember, the potential for a pollution incident is greatest in the winter, and therefore so is your liability.”
General Permit WMRG109:
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“odors are controlled and do not cause a nuisance to neighboring properties.”
General Permit WMRG069:
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“Wastewater treatment sludge is not to be applied which will result in runoff, vector or odor problems.”
4) Write your state legislators, and governor:
https://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/legis/home/findyourlegislator/
Let them know that waste disposal activities should NEVER be protected by the Right to Farm Act. Townships and Municipalities should able allowed to manage zoning and land use concerns that affect their residents. Let them know that you want safe food supplies, which means we can’t grow crops in garbage. Let them know you want forever chemical testing and PFAS monitoring programs to cover this activity.
5) Learn about the Limits of PA Right to Farm Act (PA Act 133 of 1982) and if you have the means, consider hiring an attorney.
https://www.legis.state.pa.us/WU01/LI/LI/US/HTM/1982/0/0133..HTM
-Farms are protected from “Nuisance Complaints” but there are requirements that must be met to get the protection, and new activities may not be fully covered until they have been in operation for at least 1 year, or met certain requirements. If you act quickly, you may be able to stop changes or stop new activities from becoming permanent.
-Farms are NEVER allowed to create pollution. When they cause damage to wells, waterways, or even pollute their own land they can be held accountable and liable for their actions and the damages they cause. Its extremely likely that farms that have been using Biosolids and FPRs in large quantities are contaminated with forever chemicals (PFAS/PFOS) above safe limits. An attorney may be able to compel testing and prove the contamination is present.