A Schuylkill County company that converts processed human waste and other materials into fertilizer is challenging the county’s contention that it violated zoning regulations.

Natural Soil Products Holding Co. LLC, New York, and does business as Tully Environmental, operates the site in Porter and Frailey townships, near Tremont. It began in 1997.

Nearby residents have for years begged for relief from the noxious odors emanating from the site.

In August, county commissioners went on record with the state Department of Environmental Protection to oppose in writing NSP’s request for a 10-year extension of its biosolids operating permit.

The opposition included reference to 87 violations over about 18 years of operations.

The site owner, Peter K. Tully, has asked for a hearing before the Planning and Zoning Board. A date has yet to be publicly announced.

However, DEP has a hearing scheduled for 5:30 p.m. Nov. 5 at the Tremont Municipal Building to gather public testimony concerning NSP’s extension request.

The county has asked people to immediately report any bad smells to the state DEP.

The county last month sent NSP a Zoning Enforcement notice, contending it is building and operating without the required approvals.

NSP’s lengthy appeal, submitted on Sept. 18, lists several pages of the approvals it has received since beginning operations.

It was approved by the state Department of Environmental Protection in March 1998 to begin composting sewage sludge in addition to its original plan to process leaves and other yard waste. In the following years, it began accepting, with DEP’s approval, sewage sludge from local towns and from New York and New Jersey.

NSP also gets sewage sludge from the Schuylkill County Municipal Authority, Tremont, Porter Township, and other places.

“NSP respectfully submits the enforcement notice was issued in error. NSP has operated its business with the approval and knowledge of all agencies and municipalities. The structures and facilities improved upon the land by NSP have been constructed and maintained with the approval of all regulatory bodies and municipalities,” the appeal states.

The company also states that “the denial of its continued use and operation of the facilities and business operations on the property, and denial thereof, would result in substantial hardship to NSP.”

The company states that, if required, “NSP seeks a special exception for the continued operation of the existing facilities.”