Jeff Lawson led Harford residents? successful effort to stop sewage sludge from being spread at Susquehanna State Park. The sludge contained pathogens, forcing people off the land for a year after application, and preventing animals from grazing for a month. The state Department of Natural Resources leased the land to Texas-based Synagro Technologies Inc., which hauls and spreads sludge, and the Maryland Department of the Environment issues permits.
Did Synagro Technologies Inc., Harford County or state agencies act criminally or unethically by having sewage sludge spread on Susquehanna State Park?
No, it was permitted and within the law. I do see problems with the lease agreement being between DNR and Synagro with no farmer involved. From an integrity standpoint, we have been given conflicting messagesfrom day one from all parties: DNR, MDE and Synagro. At this point, I am more concerned with the lack of accountability on the part of DNR and MDE and the impact situations like this have on the farmers.
Do you think sewage sludge compromises people’s health?
I believe it has the potential to do so and that is why there are so many restrictions associated with its use.
After your latest success, what’s next in the fight?
It’s not a fight ? rather a mission to do the right thing, to stand up for what I believe is in the best interest of myself, my family and community, to demand that those people in positions of authority in our state agencies are accountable and act in the best interest of the community. I am committed to working with our delegates and other representatives to make sure that lease agreements such as this one do not occur in the future, and that Class sewage sludge is not used on state park land.
