A Carbon County environmental group is again asking the commissioners to consider their plea to take a stand against using sewage sludge as a farming fertilizer.

Brandon Fogal of Save Carbon County, along with several of the group’s members, spoke to the commissioners on Thursday about a resolution that could send a message to the state that the governing of what is allowed to be spread on farms is placed in the hands of municipal officials and not the state.

Carbon County, while it is known for tourism, is also a farming county.

Fogal said that he heard the county was making some changes to the wording of the proposal resolution and they were fine with it, as long as it “still contains the idea that it should be under local control rather than state control in terms of the application of sewage sludge.”

He added that Save Carbon County wouldn’t be there if this problem hadn’t rooted itself in farms in other states.

Fogal said over 50 farms in Maine had to be shut down after PFAs or forever chemicals were found in the soil after sewage sludge, commonly known as biosolids, was used as fertilizer.

In 2022, Maine banned the use of this sludge for farm use.

“We have no agenda other than trying to preserve farmland for future use in this county,” Fogal said. “It has proved to be an issue elsewhere, largely for things that we currently here are not testing for.”

Commissioner Chris Lukasevich asked why the group advocates for giving this governing power to the municipal level, instead of keeping with the Right to Farm Act. He asked if this level of government would have the expertise to make an informed decision.

Fogal responded that the Right to Farm Act doesn’t go far enough with testing, meaning what is coming in isn’t being tested properly to see what heavy metals, chemicals and other pollutants are in the sludge being spread.

“I think it is entirely possible to do this safely,” Fogal said. “But I don’t think the proper precautions are being taken right now. I think there’d be more impetus to do proper testing and look at the research that’s out there.”

Commissioners’ Chairman Wayne Nothstein questioned several items and asked if there should be a wait and see process for testing before a decision is made.

Fogal replied that the county has already done that since sludge has already been applied to approximately 12 farms.

Commissioner Rocky Ahner, who comes from a farming family, feels taking a stance on this matter is necessary.

“This issue is not tiptoe through the tulips,” he said. “It’s walking through human waste.”

Ahner added that in November, the county voters overwhelmingly supported a $10 million bond to preserve open space and water supplies for the future.

“As a taxpayer, I question should we consider land that is affected by sewage sludge or so-called biosolids?” he asked.

Arner said the commissioners can’t act on the issue, but they can send a message to the state over the concerns of the residents.

“Just because the state says biosolids are OK, doesn’t mean it’s right,” Ahner said.

Linda Christman of Save Carbon County also spoke about the impact not only to the farm itself, but the residents who live in proximity to a farm using sludge for fertilizer.

“Currently, if you are harmed by your neighbor’s use of sewage sludge, you have no recourse,” she said. “ ... What we’re asking for is that local municipalities have some ability to help their residents under the original Right to Farm Act. ... They wouldn’t be banning sewage sludge. They would jut be intervening on behalf of residents who are being harmed by this stuff.”

Lukasevich pointed out that municipalities have a say in the distance between a septic tank and a body of water, much was the case in Jim Thorpe, which denied a request to install a septic system within a half mile away from Mauch Chunk Lake.

Christman said yes they can regulate that, but under the act, municipalities have “absolutely no say about where sewage sludge is applied.”

She added that Save Carbon County plans to attend Bethlehem City Council meeting tonight to request they stop doing business with Synagro, the company that currently provides farmers with the sludge for free.

Nothstein said this is a difficult situation, but said that some farmers are in favor of it because the cost for other fertilizers are so high.

Fogal said that while yes, the sludge is a cost savings to farmers, you have to ask, why is it free?

“I don’t hold it against a farmer for wanting to use that stuff,” he said. “I think that in a lot of ways they’re kind of getting played. They’re being told that it is safe and it’s cost effective, but in reality, the stuff that we’re worried about isn’t being tested for.”

Following the meeting, the commissioners said that they have no timeline on when the sludge resolution will be up for a vote.