County sets hearing on biosolids ordinance

Wahkiakum County Commissioners will hold a public hearing September 24 on a proposed ordinance to govern application of biosolids in the county.

The ordinance stemmed from a plan to apply biosolids to a Grays River farm, and area residents objected, saying they carried potential health hazards.

In the preamble, the ordinance notes that the various biosolids can contain heavy metals and microorganisms which could be spread in floods and normal drainage.

The ordinance recognizes three grades of biosolids--Class A, Class B and Septage. Class A biosolids have the most treatment, and septage, biosolids composed primarily of human waste from septic tanks, has the least.

The ordinance would provide that:

--No Class B material may be applied to any land within an "area of special flood hazard, and that

--No sewage sludge or septage not meeting the definition of Class A or Class B biosolids may be applied to any land in the county unless it is licensed by the state, it is applied in areas more than 1000 feet from real property belonging to any person without control over authority to which the sewage sludge or septage is being applied, and it is not in an area of special flood hazard.

The proposed ordinance would set a $1,000 civil penalty for each violation.

Commissioners set a 7 p.m. starting time for the September 7 hearing, which will be held in the commissioners' meeting room.