Officials want to spread sewage sludge on another area of Susquehanna State Park and a private farm, despite numerous complaints from residents near the park, already.
The residents are claiming respiratory illnesses, even pneumonia, were caused by the spreading of sewage sludge, or liquified, processed human feces, at the park.
The Maryland Department of the Environment defended sludge at an open meeting Thursday night in Harford County, however.
The MDE regulates the treatment and spreading of sludge, and says there are no violations and that sludge is safe.
The county says it is recycling the waste, which enriches soil and allows it to hold water and nutrients better.
Residents began noticing trucks hauling the sludge through their neighborhood to the public park in June. Soon after, they say many came “mysteriously” became sick.
