Comments: Why is this blog reporting on Setbacks when
it is about the problems of uranium mining? Some people are making this
as "Personal Property" argument this could benefit u
mining. Again the setback group wants to change the boundaries
just for their purpose of spreading biosolids or manure. Again this
issue is about water problems and health problems stemming from spreading
biosolids or manure! Our county has impaired streams now and most of
the impairment is from human and animal waste. There has been study after
study from DEQ and other VA groups about impaired streams which accomplish
nothing because it is hard to enforce. When will the
"Best Practice" from DEQ start working for our streams?
We need to clean up our streams before we spread more biosolids
or manure on anyone's land. Listed below are studies about the
"spreading biosolids or manure” (after the article)
Please email the following person about questions about the setbacks:
Speak out
Comments and questions can be submitted to Greg Sides, assistant county administrator for planning and development, at Greg.Sides@pittgov.org.
Setbacks group selects leaders
BY JOHN R. CRANE jcrane@registerbee.com (434) 791-7987 | Posted: Monday, January 27, 2014 6:38 pmCHATHAM — In the future, will minimum lot sizes for houses in Pittsylvania County be increased to better accommodate the county’s agriculture industry? Or, will farmers continue to lose the ability to fertilize some of their land that adjoins houses?
Those are just two of the potential future questions that could be tackled by Pittsylvania County’s Joint Setback Subcommittee. The subcommittee met Monday to select officers and discuss proposed setback requirements that have residents concerned.
The meeting of the Pittsylvania County Board of Supervisors’ Joint Setback Subcommittee took place at the Olde Dominion Agricultural Complex in Chatham. The group, made up of two members each from the board, County Planning Commission, Agricultural Development Board and the real estate/community development industries.
The Agricultural Development Board is proposing that residential property owners bordering farmland be required by the county to abide by the same requirements that farmers adjoining residential dwellings must follow.
According to guidelines from the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality, farmers cannot operate — such as spreading biosolids or manure — within 200 feet of an occupied dwelling or within 100 feet of a well.
“Who’s representing the homeowners’ interest?” Gretna resident Phillip Lovelace asked members.
Newly selected Chairman Richard Motley said the meeting’s main purpose was to get the subcommittee started and organized. Questions from residents can be submitted to the group for future discussion, Motley said.
“We’re asking you to submit questions in writing so we can discuss them at the next meeting,” Motley said, adding that they will be answered.
Tim Clark, vice president of operations at Blair Construction Inc. in Gretna, and Robert Anderson, president of Cloverdale Lumber in Sutherlin, are representing real estate/community development on the subcommittee. On Monday, Clark was named the subcommittee’s vice chairman.
The subcommittee wants to hear from the public, Motley said. The group’s next meeting will be held at 1 p.m. Feb. 24 at the complex in Chatham.
Winn said earlier this month that the setback requirements under the VDEQ pose a problem for farmers, leaving them unable to operate on their property if it’s too close to a well and/or a dwelling on neighboring land.
If a well is just 15 feet from bordering farmland, the farmer must spread manure or biosolids at least 85 feet from the end of their property, Winn said. That leaves them unable to operate on that piece of land, hurting their investment, he said.
The minimum required size of a lot in the county is just 0.44 acres — and Pittsylvania County is one of the top 10 agricultural counties in the state.
Callands-Gretna Supervisor Jerry Hagerman said during an interview earlier this month that if the proposal is approved, lots’ sizes may have to be increased to accommodate wells and septic systems. Many people cannot afford to buy two-acre lots or more.
A Pittsylvania County resident, Deborah Dix, said in a written statement that the subcommittee is unnecessary and rivers are polluted with human and cattle waste.
“I do not think the Joint Setback Subcommittee is needed because our rivers are impaired by human and cow waste now and spreading of biosolids, which is [a] health hazard [and] which will make the impaired streams worse [and] affect humans,” Dix said in a statement, citing information from the VDEQ on the Roanoke and Yadkin River basins.
“Setbacks are not working for citizens and farmers in our county now with our septic systems or farmers with fertilizers, cows and chickens waste now,” Dix said.
Winn, a Gretna cattle farmer, said of Dix’s comments, “I don’t have a response to that.”
http://www.godanriver.com/news/pittsylvania_county/setbacks-group-selects-leaders/article_18dd57f8-87ac-11e3-8b83-001a4bcf6878.html#facebook-comments
Acres Permitted for Biosolids Applications, by County, 2004
(wastewater treatment plants in southwestern counties were not disposing of biosolids by land application) Source: Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission, Review of Land Application of Biosolids in Virginia (House Document No. 89, 2005)
My speech but we were not allowed to speak at this time:
The Joint Setback Study Subcommittee Speech
I do not think The Joint Setback Study Subcommittee is needed because our rivers are impaired by human and cow waste now and spreading of Biosolids which is health hazard which will make the impaired streams worse plus will affect humans!
Also study by UNC and OWASA Team: Biosolids Land Application: A Critical Assessment of Treatment Options, Alternatives, and Community Perceptions the NAS was quoted: "The NAS found that studies have linked biosolids with health problems such as toxic exposures, viral infections, bacterial and protozoan infections, and irritation and allergic reactions.38"
In Virginia there has been Study after study (2000-2013) conducted by Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (VADEQ), Department of Conservation and Recreation, (DCR), Virginia Department of Health (VDH), Pittsylvania SWCD and Pittsylvania County government representatives but our streams are still impaired by e-coli and chemicals! (See note 1 listed below)
Setbacks are not working for citizens and farmers in our county now with our septic systems or farmers with fertilizers, cows and chickens waste now so the idea of spreading “application of organic fertilizers and biosolids." on farm land will never work either.
We need to improve the "impaired streams" now from everyday workings of farmers and citizens before we spread "application of organic fertilizers and biosolids."
Thanks,
Deborah Dix
Chatham/Blairs District
Studies by DEQ: 1
AGRICULTURAL AND RESIDENTIAL BEST MANAGEMENT PRACTICE (BMP) GUIDELINES - FISCAL YEAR 2013: http://www.deq.state.va.us/
2012 Impaired Waters: Roanoke and Yadkin River Basins: Fact sheet prepared for Pittsylvania Co: http://www.deq.virginia.gov/
2012 Virginia Soil and Water Conservation Districts Funding Study: http://leg2.state.va.us/dls/h&
A Plan to Reduce Bacteria Sources in the Upper Banister River and Tributary Watersheds : November 24th, 2011 : http://www.deq.virginia.gov/
Note 2:
OWASA Team: Biosolids Land Application: A Critical Assessment of Treatment Options, Alternatives, and Community Perceptionsby UNC with Orange County (NC)Water and Sewer Authority
Problems of spreading Biosolids: The NAS found that studies have linked biosolids with health problems such as toxic exposures, viral infections, bacterial and protozoan infections, and irritation and allergic reactions.38
http://www.ie.unc.edu/for_
The eight-member subcommittee includes two members of the board,
Westover District Supervisor Coy Harville and
Staunton River District Supervisor Elton Blackstock,
Richard Motley of Chatham, county’s planning commission (Chairperson)
Curtis Arthur of Hurt, county’s planning commission
Roger Jefferson of Chatham. members of the Agricultural Development Board.- nonproit
George Winn of Gretna. members of the Agricultural Development Board.-nonprofit
Tim Clark of Gretna, represent real estate and community development (AsstC)
Robert Anderson of Ringgold, represent real estate and community development
