DEQ to hold meeting on Heard Farms permit modification
The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality will hold an informational meeting on Nov. 8 on a request from Heard Farms to modify its permit. The meeting will start at 6 p.m. in Room 310 of the Douglas County Courthouse, 1036 SE Douglas Ave., Roseburg.
Heard Farms wants to modify its permit to add belt presses to dewater biosolids. Under the proposal, Heard Farms would treat the water pressed from the biosolids (also known as decant or filtrate) to remove ammonia and irrigate it on fields at Wilbur.
Heard Farms’ facility near Wilbur treats septage from residential septic tanks, sludge from sewage treatment plants, grease and milk processing waste and generates biosolids. Biosolids are then applied on DEQ-approved sites in the area. DEQ issued the facility’s current 10-year Water Pollution Control Facilities permit on Dec. 12, 2011.
Biosolids are nutrient-rich organic materials resulting from the treatment of sewage. When treated and processed, biosolids may be recycled and applied as fertilizer to improve and maintain productive soils and to stimulate plant growth.
DEQ will review comments and recommendations from the meeting and then begin drafting the proposed permit modification. Once ready, the draft permit modification will be available for public comments and DEQ will hold a public hearing during the public comment period.
View more information on the proposal: http://www.oregon.gov/deq/get-involved/documents/110817HeardFarms.pdf
Contact:
Katherine Benenati, Public Affairs Specialist, Eugene, 541-686-7997, benenati.katherine@deq.state.or.us
