Greenwood residents air biosolids complaints

 

Rick Nelson

Greenwood Hill residents say a biosolids stockpile in the foreground emits unpleasant odors.

A farmer's stockpiling of Class A biosolids has raised concern and complaints from Greenwood Hill residents to the county board of commissioners on Tuesday.

About a dozen persons attended the commissioners meeting, and as the meeting was ending, commissioners asked if they had something to discuss.

"What about biosolids," asked Greenwood Hill resident Dale Forsberg.

Residents said haulers working for Stanley Farms were stockpiling Class A biosolids on farmland, and odor from the material was very objectionable.

The Class A biosolids are the most highly treated wastes from the Three Rivers Waste Water Treatment Plan. Other forms, called Class B biosolids and septage, aren't as highly treated.

Wahkiakum have adopted an ordinance prohibiting the application of Class B and septage biosolids, but Class A is permitted.

Farmer Fred Stanley said he had thought the location of the deposit wouldn't be a problem.

"I'll have them removed," he said.

Stanley said he has been using Class A biosolids on his Puget Island farm for five years and there have been no complaints.

Duane Leaf, supervisor of the Three Rivers plant, said Class A biosolids are cleaned and heated to remove pollutants and kill bacteria.

They are a valuable fertilizer, he said, and with their slow release, they have less impact on groundwater than other fertilizers.

"A home owner has essentially the same thing in a septic system," he said, but the water that leaves them is never treated, and they're unregulated."

The Class A biosolids may have an odor when first dumped from a truck, Leaf and Stanley said, but after they've been dumped, the smell goes away.

Not so, said Steve Marshall, whose residence lies closest to the stockpile.

"It has been horrendous," Marshall said. "My eyes burned; I couldn't breath. I can't stand to be in my yard.

Leaf suggested that Marshall had experienced new odors each time new material was dumped.

Bob Orr, another Greenwood Hill resident, said he had previously lived in farming country, and he could smell the odor of biosolids applied almost a mile away, especially in warm weather.

"Well, it sounds like this is going to be resolved with removal from that particular location," said Commissioner Blair Brady.

There was more discussion of smell and the need for people to realize agricultural practices may have smell.

"It's a totally different smell," Marshall said. "Biosolids have never been placed there before. The smell of dairies doesn't bother me. But this is a whole different smell. It is nasty."

"It sounds like its being resolved and was unfortunate," Brady repeated. "We've all learned a little bit more about it today. We appreciate you all coming in unless anyone has anything else."

Commissioner Mike Backman then adjourned the meeting.

 

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