EPA, state to do testing of suspect sludge

Cameron, Mo.-The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and state investigators will be doing testing to help determine the validity of claims that fertilizer produced from wastes at a tanning company contained high levels of hexavalent chromium in an area with a high incidence of brain tumors. The fertilizer, provided to farmers in at least four counties for free for years from Prime Tanning Corp. in St. Joseph, is the object of a suit filed against Prime Tanning and National Beef Leathers, its present owner. Kansas City-based National Beef Packing Co. acquired the Prime Tanning property in St. Joseph and renamed it National Beef Leathers in March of this year. Spokesman Keith Welty said that the due diligence performed prior to the acquisition did not indicate any irregularities with the application of sludge as fertilizer. “National Beef takes this matter very seriously. We care deeply about the health and safety of all the employees of National Beef as well as everyone that lives in the surrounding communities,” Welty stated. As such, he added, “National Beef is currently conducting a thorough review of this matter and in an abundance of caution has suspended land application of sludge pending the outcome of its investigation.” Prime Tanning also issued a statement saying that “based on our preliminary investigation we believe there is no basis for the claims made in the litigation. Applying the nutrients produced as a by-product of tanning as fertilizer to agricultural land is an environmentally responsible practice that is done in accordance with all Missouri laws and regulations. We look forward to cooperating fully with state and federal agencies in their review and investigation.” Meanwhile, EPA and the Missouri Dept. of Natural Resources plan to do testing of their own. EPA Region 7 reportedly was developing plans to sample the soil and some wells on farms that received the sludge, and also has asked the plaintiffs’ law firm to provide the samples it alleges contained chromium 6. The lawsuit was filed April 22 in Clinton County Circuit Court by the Kansas City law firm of Wagstaff & Cartmell.