[USCC] Nursery Products biosolids composting facility in Hinkley California

[McNelly, Patrick]

More than 60 attend meeting to speak out against sludge

 

By JASON SMITH, staff writer

 

August 6, 2007 - 5:45PM

 

BARSTOW - Despite strong opposition from local residents against the
proposed Nursery Products biosolids composting facility, a state agency
moved one step closer to issuing the facility a permit on Monday. 

 

After reviewing public comment, the Permitting and Compliance
subcommittee of the California Integrated Waste Management Board
unanimously agreed that Nursery Products' application was legally
acceptable to issue a permit. The issuance of the permit will be voted
on by the full six-member waste board on Aug. 14. 

 

"The board has to review certain things within the law; from the board's
perspective for what the law asks for, for their permit, they are within
compliance," said Jamie Cameron-Harley, a information officer with the
board. 

 

She stressed that the board was familiar with the concerns raised by the
public but that Nursery Products had complied with all necessary laws. 

 

"Above and beyond all things, the board's main concern is public health
and safety. With that in mind we find the application in compliance and
concur with issuing the permit," Cameron-Harley said. 

 

The board is based in Sacramento, but set up a teleconference in Barstow
to accommodate public comments. More than 35 people mostly opposed to
the project rose to make their opinions known to the board. 

 

Barstow and Hinkley residents packed the Cora Harper Fitness Center and
more than 35 rose to speak out against the proposed project. 

 

"We are not against composting; we love recycling and composting - but
this facility is not wanted nor needed in Hinkley," said Norm Diaz of
HelpHinkley.org, which opposes the project. 

 

"We'll take the facility if they enclose it," he said. HelpHinkley.org
has opposed the development of the project for 15 months and is mostly
concerned about the potentially negative environmental impact of the
site. 

 

Barstow city officials also spoke out against the facility. City Manager
Hector Rodriguez called the facility "poorly conceived and unnecessary."
City Council Member Joe Gomez accused Nursery Products of singling out
the Barstow area for being "rural, low-income region with a high
Hispanic population." Gomez questioned the need for the project and
cited seven similar composting facilities in various stages of
development in San Bernardino county and surrounding areas. 

 

The subcommittee also saw a presentation from Nursery Products President
Jeff Meberg supporting his company's permit application. He said that
the facility would provide an needed outlet for local biosolids and that
his company's fertilizer products made from the sludge were in demand by
local farmers. 

 

"The facility will not adversely affect the environment," Meberg said. 

 

He said that the location is 22 miles away from Barstow and that the
plant's sludge-drying beds will not contaminate the groundwater 280 feet
below the facility. 

 

If the waste board approves the permit next week, Nursery Products would
still need to secure permits from the air quality board, the water
quality board, the state fish and game agency and the county fire
department. Nursery Products has already obtained a conditional-use
permit from the county. 

 

Contact the writer: 

 

(760) 256-4126 or jason_smith at link.freedom.com