By Chris English
SCHOHARIE COUNTY — Officials in Schoharie County are putting the brakes on the use of biosolids as a fertilizer until more can be learned about their potential harmful effects.
At its Friday, April 18 meeting, the county Board of Supervisors authorized Chairman Bill Federice of Conesville to issue an executive order placing a 30-day moratorium on biosolids use in the county. In addition, the BOS set a public hearing for its next meeting on May 16 regarding a new local law that, if approved, would place a six-month moratorium on biosolids use.
Biosolids are the solid organic matter that remains after wastewater (sewage) treatment. These solids are then treated to meet specific standards before being used as a soil amendment or fertilizer, primarily in agriculture.
Supervisor Alicia Terry of Gilboa, Chair of the county Agriculture Committee, said Friday's BOS actions came after several area farmers showed up at the last two committee meetings to express concerns about biosolids. A representative from a company that distributes biosolids was also present and so it was a rather balanced discussion, Terry added.
"The intent is to slow this down and let's review the science and see what the scientific consensus is on the long-term impact of biosolids," she said in a phone conversation after the April 18 BOS meeting. "Unlike animal waste, biosolids can be super concentrated in terms of residual materials like PFOAs or heavy metals."
Terry added that the supervisors wanted to act quicker with an executive order and then the May 16 public hearing because it's spring and growers are getting busy applying fertilizers to their lands. She said many biosolids end up in landfills but that represents a concern as well because they can produce methane.
The topic got quite a bit of discussion at the April 18 BOS meeting. Chairman Bill Federice of Conesville said the executive order was being drafted and he expected to receive it soon for his signature.
Middleburgh farmer Fred Risse attended the meeting to reiterate his concerns about biosolids. "I was the one that brought this all up," he said.
"Remember that things like Agent Orange and Round-Up were thought to be within acceptable limits years ago," said Supervisor John Leavitt of Carlisle. "It's better to err on the side of safety until we know more about it."
Fellow board member Earlin Rosa of Seward had a similar view.
"It only makes sense to do this temporary executive order just to stop it now before a lot of it is applied," he said. "We should stop it now so we can take a look at it."
County Health Department Director Dr. Nicole Blanchard also weighed in on the issue of biosolids at the April 18 county BOS meeting.
"This is not a new issue," she said. "There have been a number of issues where wells have been impacted by biosolids. It's getting into the water table and drinking water sources. Are we posing a danger to our residents? We are making decisions that could forever impact the agricultural community in Schoharie County."
In other Schoharie County news, Federice updated the Mountain Eagle via email on efforts to find a new county administrator to replace Korsah Akumfi, who left Jan. 3 to take the same position in Tompkins County. The supervisors in January hired Livonia-based Pracademic Partners to assist in the search for a new county administrator at a cost of $19,500.
"We have some additional potential candidates which will be screened soon for interview by the full Board of Supervisors," Federice wrote in the email. "They look good on paper but we will see how it goes in face-to-face interviews."
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