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COLUMBUS, Ind. — State environmental regulators plan to hold a public hearing next month on a request for a permit to create a sewage sludge-producing facility southeast of Columbus.
The Indiana Department of Environmental Management will hold the public hearing April 17 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. in the Sports Center Building at CERAland Park, 3989 S. County Road 525 E.
The hearing comes as IDEM considers a request from Evan Daily of Biocycle LLC to accept dewatered biosolids for blending and use on farmland in Bartholomew and several neighboring counties. Biosolids are organic materials produced during the treatment of human sewage at wastewater treatment plants.
The purpose of the public hearing is to allow public input regarding the notification to construct and operate a storage structure for biosolids and industrial waste products and Biocycle’s application to apply blended biosolids and/or industrial wastes.
All interested parties will be able to submit written or oral statements for IDEM to consider.
IDEM also has extended the public comment period through April 19 and expects that it will make a decision on the application soon after it receives the hearing transcript.
The hearing also comes after dozens of local residents — including officials with Otter Creek Golf Course and Cera Sports Park and Campground — expressed concerns about the proposed facility. The concerns range from the possible adverse environmental effects of the facility to the impact of the smell that the facility could generate on nearby residences and recreational activities.
For the complete story, see Wednesday’s Republic.
