Rep George: Municipalities Need Controls, Safeguards on Sludge

HARRISBURG – State Rep. Camille “Bud” George, majority chair of the House Environmental Resources and Energy Committee, is appealing for support for legislation that would give municipalities more safeguards against sewage sludge.

“The Sewage Sludge Testing Act would enable local governments to have tests done on sludge properties with the costs paid by the entity that applied the sewage sludge, the sludge transporter, or the landowner,” said George, D-74 of Houtzdale. “Local governments should be able to assure citizens that the substances being applied around their homes are safe.”

George said House Bill 1341 also would enable the state Department of Environmental Protection to test sludge sites when a written complaint is received.

“The DEP would be required to catalog the complaints and the test results,” George said. “We need a system to track complaints about sludge as more questions about its safety are being raised.”