Fertilizer fight draws 50 in Campbell County

An application to spread biosolids on a total of 3,587 acres scattered over more than 160 sites in Campbell County was opened up to public comment Thursday night.

The Department of Environmental Quality held a community meeting at Rustburg High School, drawing about 50 people over the course of two hours.

Biosolids, a treated form of sewage sludge used as fertilizer, has been a controversial topic in Campbell County since 2006.

Those opposed to biosolids are concerned the substance poses a danger to the environment and human health. Proponents say the fertilizer, which is available to farmers for free, has been used safely for decades.

An expert panel assembled by the state concluded last year there was no evidence that biosolids had any adverse effects when used properly. The panel did say there were some areas that needed further research.

The state currently allows biosolids to be spread on about 170 acres of county land. The distributor who holds that permit, Richmond-based Nutri-Blend Inc., is also the company behind the current application.

The state cannot prevent biosolids from being spread, but can regulate how it’s done. DEQ, which assumed responsibility for that task last year, must approve Nutri-Blend’s current application within the next four months.

It will continue to accept public comment on the request until July 13, after which it will begin drafting a preliminary version of the biosolids permit. That document will then be put through another round of public comments before final approval is granted.

The State Water Control Board will also convene a public hearing on the application if DEQ receives 25 requests for one. Under state law, such requests must raise “substantial, disputed issues” relevant to this particular application.

Laura Moody and Bethany Carey, an aunt and niece from Concord who live near a current biosolids site, expressed a sense of helplessness and frustration during the public meeting.

Approaching a DEQ employee, Moody’s first question was: “How can I stop this?”

The employee noted that, under current law, his office cannot ban the use of biosolids. He advised her to contact her legislator.

“I think the people living around this should have a say about whether they can drop it or not,” Carey said later. “… We should be able to come in here and say, ‘We don’t want this, and that should be taken into consideration.’ ”

Moody and Carey both voiced grave concerns about the impact biosolids would have on their community. Both said they’d like to keep it out of the county but, barring that, they’d like to see tougher regulations and more thorough testing done.

Kevin Crider, the DEQ representative assigned to this application, said he was pleased with Thursday’s turnout and felt many good comments had been made.

“I think this has been healthy for both sides,” he said.