Sunday, July 29, 2012
SEWER SLUDGE UPDATE and PETITION
contact: president@dawsoncountyhomeowners for a PETITION in PDF format

With the recent sewer sludge issue fresh on Dawson County’s front porch now may be a good time to review what we know and what we can do:

WHAT WE KNOW:
Waterscapes Services  LLC (through their agent Ken Curren) have filed a request with the Environmental Protection Division (EPD) for a permit to amend their Sludge Management Plan to allow land application of Class B sewer sludge (partially treated human waste), from Hampton Creek Water Reclamation facility to spread it over four areas of parcel #107 013 in Dawson County located at the corner of Harry Sosebee Road  and Lumpkin Campground Road (aka Hwy 9 EAST). The four areas total 65 acres of this 160acre parcel.


 This parcel (#107-013) is zoned for residential development and  is surrounded by homes, residential communities and their water wells. It is intersected by streams and wetlands which drain down to the Etowah River past Black’s Mill Elementary and the two Riverview Schools, the canoe put-in and the new sports fields at Rock Creek Park. It is also located less than a mile from Dawson County’s major revenue generator –the Premium Outlet Mall and the GA400 business community. Mr. Benoit Causse, the EPD engineer processing the permit, confirmed that if the sludge is stored in a tank or tanker for more than 24hrs. before it is spread it becomes anaerobic (starved of air) and smells like contents from a septic tank and that during wet weather spreading of the sludge has to wait until weather conditions improve.
Mr Curren has already held a public MEETING (July 16th) by request of the EPD who have been working on this permit submission since early January 2012. This meeting was NOT a PUBLIC HEARING. The EPD must advertise a public hearing in newspapers that serve the jurisdiction where the sludge dumping is proposed, followed by a 30 day period for the public to continue to weigh in with comments, letters and emails. Such a public hearing has not been advertised as of today’s date.

 Current legislation controlling sewer sludge disposal resides with the State of GA through the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and permitting body the EPD, thus local control is effectively bypassed with or without the existence of local ordinances (Dawson is without). If the permit seeker can pass all the EPD permit requirements local objections could be bypassed too.

WHAT WE CAN DO

DCHCA has published a petition. Large public support and participation will not be lost on the permitting authorities or the State lawmakers (even after an election!). Remember, as current GA legislation stands a field near your home could be chosen by sludge dumpers next!

·         Please request copies of the petition and share these with each of your friends, relatives, neighbors and community asking them to distribute to theirs. (Each one reach one networking). Then collect the signed copies (even if they are not completely full). Let me know if you would like these sheets picked-up or alternatively mail them to Dawson County Homeowners Civic Association, PO BOX 1294 Dawsonville GA 30534

·         Each person should sign only ONCE and should be at least 18 years old. There is no restriction on where signatories reside, except to say that Dawson County residents, businesses and taxpayers will add most weight in the minds of the petition recipients. (Email addresses are not essential and would only be used to communicate updates from DCHCA!)

 Dawson County local government  and staff are preparing technical and legal arguments in opposition to this permit and support the DCHCA petition. The Dawson County Website will post information and updates on its front page. http://dawsoncounty.org/government/public-notices/sludge-sprayfield-harry-sosebee-road-lumpkin-campground-road/ and has posted the following contacts for you.

For your comments (letters and emails) to the EPD
Contact (Municipal Permitting Unit)                                   
Benoit Causse (404) 675-1620 benoit.causse@dnr.state.ga.us                     



For questions - Dawson County Liaison
Planning and Development Director
David McKee (706) 344-3500 ext. 42337 dmckee@dawsoncounty.org

No one wants this sludge dumping except those who spread the sludge!

Jane Graves
For DCHCA

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