News Talk 94.1/AM 1600 Where The Upper Cumberland Talks
A Van Buren Facebook group hosted 85 people Friday night to learn more about biosolids from Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation representatives.
Van Buren residents have been complaining for years about the smell of free fertilizer from Chattanooga’s Moccasin Bend sewage treatment plant. Residents also complained of violations related to delivery and spread of fertilizer dumped in mounds on local farms by Synagro.
Division of Water Resources Engineer Robert O’Dette said that Synagro violations fell on the sewage plant.
“We look to the generator, Chattanooga in this case,” O’Dette said. “And they’re responsible for the contractor. And if the farmer messes up we look to the generator. And there has already been enforcement action taken against Chattanooga on this issue.”
Citizens asked several questions about responsibilities of the generating plant, the contractor delivering biosolids, and the farmer. Citizens specifically asked what could be done if farmers did not follow cattle and crop restrictions following biosolids applications.
“I think Chattanooga is looking into this,” O’Dette said. “That if a farmer violates the grazing restriction or the cropping restriction they are put out of the program.
Citizens asked how long mounds of biosolids were allowed to be left piled up without being spread on the land they were intended to fertilize. Leo Sochocki, representing the Facebook group Stop the Stink offered the answer he had been given by TDEC the day before.
“They would like to see it spread within seven days,” Sochocki said. “But the contract with Synagro states that it has to be spread within 45 days.”
Sochocki closed the meeting with a request that everyone continue to educate themselves and join the Stop the Stink Facebook group to solve biosolids issues.
