Synagro fined $35K 2004
Sludge company fined
State levies $35K penalty for sloppy handling
By JIM HOOKSenior writer --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A company that applies biosolids to farm fields in Franklin County was fined $35,000 for spreading and storing the treated sewage sludge unlawfully. Synagro Mid-Atlantic Inc. has paid $35,000 to the state Department of Environmental Protection for several violations in Franklin and five other counties between January 2003 and July 2004. Synagro is the region's largest land applier of sewage sludge, according to DEP.
"You wouldn't expect this type of action from a company that deals extensively with the storage and application of sewage sludge," DEP South-central Regional Director Rachel Diamond said. "These violations could have been and should have been avoided." Spreading biosolids on farmland and reclaimed strip mines became an approved method of disposing of sludge from city sewage plants in 1992, when a federal law banned ocean dumping. In recent years some citizens and health officials have become increasingly concerned about potential health risks associated with the practice.
Violations included spreading sewage sludge on frozen ground, spreading sewage sludge on an adjacent landowner's property without written consent, improper storage of sewage sludge, and failure to prevent runoff from entering nearby streams. Environmental impacts to the streams were slight and temporary, according to DEP.
"Synagro takes its responsibility for environmental compliance seriously," Synagro spokeswoman Sharon Hogan said on Wednesday. "In every instance of noncompliance, Synagro worked closely and promptly with DEP to address and correct the situation." Intense storms in 2003 challenged the integrity and capacity of existing DEP-approved bisolids storage facilities, she said. As a result of problems, Synagro immediately began working with DEP to improve storage design standards. Synagro invested more than $500,000 to upgrade its storage areas, all of which now meet the new design standards.
DEP did not have a specific policy or method for determining what constituted "frozen ground," Hogan said. All the violations occurred on the same day for all sites in the state where Synagro was spreading, based on DEP's inspection of one field. "Synagro believed in good faith, that on that day they were in compliance with frozen ground restrictions," Hogan said. "Since this incident, DEP has clarified how frozen ground determinations are to be made." Several violations were due to the carelessness of an employee, who has been fired, according to Hogan. Synagro has conducted an internal review of compliance procedures and has increased training and oversight of all staff working in Pennsylvania.
Synagro was fined $15,000 for violations in Adams, Berks, Franklin and Lebanon counties during 2003 and $20,000 for violations in Berks, Lancaster and York counties during 2004.
"It was made clear to the company that continuing violations would result in significantly higher penalties and would threaten Synagro's ability to continue operating in Pennsylvania," Diamond said. "Company officials made a commitment for significant improvements to their performance over the next 12 months." Synagro is permitted to apply biosolids to several fields in Franklin County.
Local residents have formed a watchdog group, Coalition of Residents Organized for Political Self-expression (CROPS). Selena Strine is a member of CROPS who lives with her family in Peters Township, a half-mile from a field where biosolids are spread. "I'm glad they're enforcing the regulations," Strine said. "It's a $1,000 fine (for spreading on a frozen field in Montgomery Township), and it's a multimillion-dollar company. I don't know what that's going to do. At least they are enforcing the regulations." --------------------------------------------------------------------------------Jim Hook can be reached at 262-4759, or jhook at pubop.com.
Originally published Thursday, September 23, 2004
State levies $35K penalty for sloppy handling
By JIM HOOKSenior writer --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A company that applies biosolids to farm fields in Franklin County was fined $35,000 for spreading and storing the treated sewage sludge unlawfully. Synagro Mid-Atlantic Inc. has paid $35,000 to the state Department of Environmental Protection for several violations in Franklin and five other counties between January 2003 and July 2004. Synagro is the region's largest land applier of sewage sludge, according to DEP.
"You wouldn't expect this type of action from a company that deals extensively with the storage and application of sewage sludge," DEP South-central Regional Director Rachel Diamond said. "These violations could have been and should have been avoided." Spreading biosolids on farmland and reclaimed strip mines became an approved method of disposing of sludge from city sewage plants in 1992, when a federal law banned ocean dumping. In recent years some citizens and health officials have become increasingly concerned about potential health risks associated with the practice.
Violations included spreading sewage sludge on frozen ground, spreading sewage sludge on an adjacent landowner's property without written consent, improper storage of sewage sludge, and failure to prevent runoff from entering nearby streams. Environmental impacts to the streams were slight and temporary, according to DEP.
"Synagro takes its responsibility for environmental compliance seriously," Synagro spokeswoman Sharon Hogan said on Wednesday. "In every instance of noncompliance, Synagro worked closely and promptly with DEP to address and correct the situation." Intense storms in 2003 challenged the integrity and capacity of existing DEP-approved bisolids storage facilities, she said. As a result of problems, Synagro immediately began working with DEP to improve storage design standards. Synagro invested more than $500,000 to upgrade its storage areas, all of which now meet the new design standards.
DEP did not have a specific policy or method for determining what constituted "frozen ground," Hogan said. All the violations occurred on the same day for all sites in the state where Synagro was spreading, based on DEP's inspection of one field. "Synagro believed in good faith, that on that day they were in compliance with frozen ground restrictions," Hogan said. "Since this incident, DEP has clarified how frozen ground determinations are to be made." Several violations were due to the carelessness of an employee, who has been fired, according to Hogan. Synagro has conducted an internal review of compliance procedures and has increased training and oversight of all staff working in Pennsylvania.
Synagro was fined $15,000 for violations in Adams, Berks, Franklin and Lebanon counties during 2003 and $20,000 for violations in Berks, Lancaster and York counties during 2004.
"It was made clear to the company that continuing violations would result in significantly higher penalties and would threaten Synagro's ability to continue operating in Pennsylvania," Diamond said. "Company officials made a commitment for significant improvements to their performance over the next 12 months." Synagro is permitted to apply biosolids to several fields in Franklin County.
Local residents have formed a watchdog group, Coalition of Residents Organized for Political Self-expression (CROPS). Selena Strine is a member of CROPS who lives with her family in Peters Township, a half-mile from a field where biosolids are spread. "I'm glad they're enforcing the regulations," Strine said. "It's a $1,000 fine (for spreading on a frozen field in Montgomery Township), and it's a multimillion-dollar company. I don't know what that's going to do. At least they are enforcing the regulations." --------------------------------------------------------------------------------Jim Hook can be reached at 262-4759, or jhook at pubop.com.
Originally published Thursday, September 23, 2004
posted by Sludge at 7:13 PM
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