Roy and Linda Christman, of Lower Towamensing Township and members of “Save Carbon County” addressed Weissport Borough Council Monday night to discuss the use of sludge on farms.

They encouraged Weissport to pass a resolution to allow the municipalities in Carbon County to be able to regulate the use of sewage sludge.

Sludge is the solid material left after the sewer treatment plant processes the sewage.

“Under current Pennsylvania Law, local governments have no control over the use of sludge,” Roy Christman told Council.

“In 1982, the Right to Farm Act was passed,” Linda Christman advised the council. “This act protected farm activities from both lawsuits and from any regulation by municipalities, unless the farmers’ actions threaten the health and welfare of nearby residents, or threaten to pollute a stream or a well.”

According to Linda, Corporate Agriculture in 1997 succeeded in getting the Nutrient Management Act passed; and, in 2002, Act 38, the Acres Act. These acts took away local governments’ right to regulate or deal with sewage sludge and extreme farm activities.

“Local governments should be able to intervene,” Linda Christman said. “We are advocating a return to the original Right to Farm Act. We want the regulations concerning manufacturing applications of sewage sludge strengthened and enforced.”

Beaver Meadows, East Penn Township, Jim Thorpe, Kidder Township, Weatherly, Lower Towamensing Township, Mahoning Township, Nesquehoning, Summit Hill, Packer Township, and Lehigh Township have all passed resolutions.

“Local problems deserve local solutions from local governments,” she concluded.

Weissport Council members will look over the copy of the resolution and will possibly make a decision on it by the next meeting.