Action | Enforcement and Site Management |
Stage | Proposed |
Comment Period | Ended on 12/15/2006 |
One of the most disturbing things about the spread of sludge is the astonishing lack of respect and concern that VA legislators and the VA Health Department has for the citizenry they are sworn to protect. Horrendous odors sicken property owners adjacent to sludge spread fields for weeks. State regulations also allow sludge storage and distribution facilities in residential zones that operate four to six months in duration. The one on the Wilkerson farm, on Otterville Road, brought heavy industry, noise and truck traffic along with the stench. We personally witnessed sludge trucks leaking liquid and solids on Otterville Road. We also saw numerous other violations including runoff from the storage site into a nearby creek. VDH officials in Richmond and elected state representatives who are bowing at the altar of the large sludge corporations, perhaps should be required to live next to one of the storage facilities for it's duration. I believe that that might bring about a drastic change in attitude. I understand the lure to the farmer, I am also one. However, I believe future events will create a very negative picture of Virginia beef production. The growing anger of the VA population and the fear of being sickened from sludge raised beef is going to torpedo the price of beef. "There is no free lunch."