Sewer sludge use as fertilizer:

The parents of a 17 year old PA boy who died of a massive staph infection are suing because they believe sewer sludge from a farm across the road was the source of the infection.

In answer to a question about the safety of sludge, Paul Gilman, EPA Assistant Administrator, replied:

• "I can't answer it's perfectly safe; I can't answer that it's not safe."

The report showed a large truck dumping dry pellets in a pile. The voice-over said the government has new questions and is re-examining the use of sludge on farms.

Mr. Gilman continued:

• "At this point, the agency is taking the position that the material is safe, but because there are significant uncertainties about that, we have to revisit that question. There is no doubt we have to be more sure about this than we are today."

Bill Toffey, Mid-Atlantic Biosolids Association, poured some dry sludge pellets into his hand and said he was not afraid to hold it. (***See note below)

• "We have not known of any situation where disease has been transmitted in biosolids."

The PA family will continue their suit and hope lives will be saved.

EPA is expected to release a new report on sludge use early next year.

***Note:

Mr. Tolley held dry pellets in his hand , but would he have been willing to hold Class B sewer sludge - the wet, viscous, smelly goo that was spread on the PA farmland? Class B sewer sludge is the kind that GRU spreads on several Alachua County farms each day.

Ellie Schwab - Nov. 23, 2003