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By SHARON KILPATRICK
Rappahannock Newt Staff Writer
The Board of Supervisors has decided to hold another public hearing to discuss lifting the county’s moritorium on land application of sludge.
Under a current ordinance only sludge that originates in the county can be applied to land in the county. Sludge is the by-product of sewage treatment plants. Farms in several counties in the area receive sludge from the Washington, D. C., Blue Plains Treatment Plant.
Since the supervisors are currently working on adopting a county code that would include all-current ordinances, County Attorney Peter Luke and County Administrator John McCarthy asked the members if they would want to continue the current moritorium or modify it.
After a meeting Monday night, at which all who spoke favored allowing sludge to be spread on county land, the supervisors learned that if the county wanted to allow sludge application it would have to hold a hearing with representatives of the State Water Control Board and State Health Department. They decided to hold the hearing in the high school auditorium April 5.
Dale Welch said he would support allowing sludge. He noted that the Piedmont Environmental Council and the EPA support using sludge as a fertilizer. He said it is estimated to save farmers $50 to $300 per acre in fertilizer costs.
Harrison Powers said he farms on four counties and all the others allow sludge. “I have had no problems.” he said.
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