Bedford, Va.-Agribusiness interests have no problem with Bedford County’s plans to restrict biosolids application based on a model ordinance developed by the Virginia Association of Counties along the lines of recent state changes approved by the legislature. “The ordinance was developed to be consistent with state law and regulations,” according to the Virginia Agri-Business Association’s Katie Kyger Frazier. “It gives Bedford County authority to work in conjunction with state officials to ensure that biosolids applications are consistent with state regulations by hiring a local biosolids monitor to test and monitor the application of biosolids within the county. We believe that the model ordinance is a tool for localities to use when considering biosolids ordinances, and that provisions of the law and regulations ensure that biosolids are applied in a safe and reasonable manner while still allowing farmers and foresters in the locality to have access to this important soil amendment.” A second part of the Bedford ordinance that gives localities the authority to either require special use permits or, as part of their zoning ordinance, reasonably restrict the storage of sewage sludge for health, safety, and environmental reasons, is still under study. “The storage ordinance is still being reviewed by attorneys, so I cannot speak to its merits,” Frazier noted. County Administrator Kathleen Guzi directed the ordinance, which was recommended by the county’s new agricultural economic development advisory board to be ready for a final vote later this month. She said storage restrictions must meet requirements of the recent state legislation. District 1 Supervisor Dale Wheeler raised the only objection, saying if he were a lobbyist for the sludge industry he would have written the same ordinance.
Transparency Across the Fertilizer Value-Chain