Sludge is being spread in Barry
Published: February 25, 2010
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Something stinks in the Deep Creek and residents aren’t happy.
Although Barry Township supevisors have adopted an ordinance concerning the use of sludge, Robert Scheib, a farmer who lives on Deep Creek Road, has begun using biosolids on his fields and Barry Township Supervisors feel he is going against the ordinance.
“Scheib spread the sludge just before the big snow storm and it smelled like you put your head in a septic tank,” said Kevin Scheib, who is a member of Citizens Against Sludge and a neighbor to the Bob Scheib Farm. “With the snow on the ground, now you can’t smell a thing, but just wait.”
According to Kevin Scheib, Bob Scheib contacted the supervisors to alert them that he was going to begin using sludge. According to the ordinance the township adopted last year, Scheib is required to give the supervisors 48 hours notice that he was going to start spreading. According to Kevin, Bob started spreading the stuff the very next day.
Kevin claims the Barry Township Supervisors have hired an engineer firm who dealt with East Brunswick Township, who also is battling sludge being used in their township, to come in and take measurements and determine what the township can do. According to Kevin, Bob spread the sludge up against property lines near wells. The engineer firm plans to look at what parts of the ordinance restrictions Bob Scheib may have broken so the supervisors can decide what to do about it.
There will be a public meeting on March 2, at 6:30 p.m. at the Barry Grange hall, located on Deep Creek Road. Kevin encourages everyone to come out and hear more information on how to fight the situation.
“I invite any citizen to attend this meeting because it could happen where you live,” said Scheib.
A guest speaker Maria Payan, will be there to give better insight to this state wide problem. Scheib says there are ways to fight this but we all have to band together, he encourages everyone to come out to the meeting and learn more about what the ACRE law is. Hear how Tom Corbett’s actions are benefiting large Corporation Farms and the sludge industry while wasting tax payer’s money. Ben Price who runs the website for Community Environment Legal Defense Fund, will also be present at the meeting. Price will help write an ordinance and will defend it in court if need be at no cost to the township. The web site is www.celdf.org.
“I am not sure how many loads Scheib has received, but I don’t think he is done because Synagro, the company that provides the sludge, still has equipment at Scheib’s farm.”
(Editor’s Note: See Kevin Scheib’s letter to the editor on Page 4 of The Citizen-Standard.)
