Mike Wolanin | The Republic The exterior of The Commons with the Bartholomew County Courthouse pictured in the background in downtown Columbus, Ind., Tuesday, Jan. 24, 2017.
State environmental regulators have said that a few dozen people have submitted comments on a request for a permit to create a sewage sludge-producing facility southeast of Columbus but have no set timetable for when they may render a decision.
The request, by Evan Daily of Biocycle LLC, 3788 E. County Road 300S, seeks approval from the Indiana Department of Environmental Management to accept dewatered biosolids for blending and use on farmland in Bartholomew, Jennings, Decatur, Jackson, Johnson and Shelby counties.
Biosolids are organic materials produced during the treatment of human sewage at wastewater treatment plants, according to the Indiana Department of Environmental Management.
As of Friday, about 40 people had submitted comments to IDEM about the proposal, said IDEM spokeswoman Natalie Rodriguez. The public comment period ends Monday.
“It is difficult to put an estimate on the timeline to review public comments and make a permitting decision,” Rodriguez told The Republic. “Additionally, IDEM may request additional information from the applicant a part of the review process. The applicant will have 30 days to submit the requested information. Once the application is complete, IDEM can issue a decision.”
IDEM will poste a public notice online and send a notice of the decision to “all affected parties listed in the land application permit application,” Rodriguez said. In addition, IDEM will send a response to everyone who submitted comments, including those who made comments via email.
People also can appeal IDEM’s decision through the Office of Environmental Adjudication, Rodriguez said. If IDEM decides to approve the permit, the notice of decision will include language on how to file an appeal.
According to the proposal, the biosolids will be mixed when they arrive and placed in an area sectioned off by interlocking concrete blocks that allow access for sampling before land application. Once the desired amount is reached in the holding area, the blend will be sampled and tested to determine land application rate.
The structure Daily wants to build would have a concrete base with concrete walls on three sides, according to his application. The south side of the building, which will be open for truck access, will have a trench drain across the opening with a runoff holding tank. The application states the holding area for biosolids will be 85 feet wide by 100 feet long, with a holding capacity of 46,750 cubic feet.
However, the sewage sludge may emit a distinctive odor depending on the treatment process and methods used. The odorous compounds generated and detected are most often ammonia, amines and reduced sulfur-containing compounds, according to the EPA.
Meteorological conditions such as wind speed and direction, relative humidity, and temperature can impact nuisance odors, according to the agency website. The EPA states the odors do not mean that the biosolids pose harm to human health and the environment.
The application of sewage sludge on farms in Bartholomew County is not new, though it has been a subject of controversy in the past.
Read the application
The complete application filed by Biocycle LLC is available online through IDEM’s Virtual File Cabinet.
Go to vfc.idem.in.gov, and go to the “Quick Search” field in the upper right-hand corner of the page. After selecting Solid Waste Program ID in the left box, enter permit number 000915 in the right box.
Search results can be narrowed to permit related documents by clicking on the down arrow next to “IDEM Document Type”and selecting “OLQ Permit.”
Following the end of the public comment period on Jan. 28, IDEM will issue a Notice of Decision stating whether the approval has been issued or denied.
If comments are received during the public notice period, the final decision will include a document that summarizes the comments and IDEM’s response to those comments. If an individual has submitted comments or has asked to be added to the mailing list, you will receive the Notice of Decision. IDEM officials say it will provide details on how you may appeal IDEM’s decision if you disagree with their decision.
The final decision will also be available online via the Virtual File Cabinet.
How to make comments
Residents may submit comments regarding Biocycle’s land application request until Jan. 28. Please refer to permit number IN LA 000915 in all correspondence.
