The Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Chooses Big Business over Local Farmers in the Susquehanna State Park

The Susquehanna State Park is a pristine area that is enjoyed daily by people from near and far.  It is a home to many historical sites, campgrounds, great fishing, hiking and biking trails, and the beautiful, historic Steppingstone Museum.

Additionally, DNR has leased parcels of parkland to local farmers for decades. Previous land leases typically covered a period of 3 years. Land leases are determined by a bidding process. Two parcels of land, HF32/Lyle and HF40/Dudeck, needed maintenance to produce better yield. Investing in fertilizer is a long term, costly investment on a short term lease. DNR representatives have stated that they quit receiving bids for these two parcels of land.

DNR signed leases for these two parcels of land with a Houston-based company, SYNAGRO Technologies Inc. Review of the current lease with SYNAGRO Technologies Inc. reveals a lease term of 5 and ½ years.  

Shortly after obtaining the lease, Houston-based SYNAGRO Technologies Inc. began delivering various forms of sewage sludge to these parcels of land in the Susquehanna State Park.  These trucks have run back and forth from the Spring of 2007 to present.

Local residents became alarmed at the sheer number of large trucks on the otherwise quiet back road that leads into the State Park where these two parcels of parkland are located. Local residents became further alarmed by some of the byproducts of this new business deal that DNR had established with this corporation. Residents slowly became aware of the fact that it is nearly impossible to remove all trash from sewage sludge. Communication with the Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) revealed that land treated with class B sewage sludge is not suitable for animals to graze on for 30 days and does not allow human contact for 365 days.  Residents then learned that due to the MDE health guidelines listed above, the lessee is obligated to keep the public off of the land for the duration of this 365 day period after each application.

People are now asking why DNR would sign a deal with this multimillion dollar Houston-based Company when they know that this company is obligated to keep you off of your parkland while they get paid for every load of sewage sludge hauled and spread on this land.

		What happened to the “Good old days?”
		Dumping Class B Sewage Sludge Begins	Things changed …

All sewage sludge is NOT created equal

(No MDE permit required and No Pathogens)

MDE permit states a couple of key health related points (See MDE Sewage Sludge Utilization Permit No. S-06-12-5142-A)

·         Animals cannot graze for 30 days

·         The public cannot walk on the land for 365 days (See keep out sign in photo above)

*All trucks hauling Class B Sewage Sludge must be tracked in case of an accidental spill on the public roads (What about an intentional spill on public parkland?)

What about DNR’s “Leave No Trace” Campaign?

This “Leave No Trace” information came from the following Susquehanna State Park website: http://www.dnr.state.md.us/publiclands/susquehannaguide.html

Leave No Trace  

---

	While you are enjoying the park, please help us protect its natural and historic resources by following these Leave No Trace ethics.
	Field Shown After Sewage Sludge Application	Trash your trash. Never leave behind litter, hooks or fishing line. Leave No Trace, Inc. is a national non-profit organization dedicated to promoting and inspiring outdoor recreation through education, research and partnerships. Leave No Trace builds awareness, appreciation and respect for our wildlands. For more information visit: www.lnt.org		Removing all trash from sewage sludge is nearly impossible
		Plastic Razor Blade Cap	Tampon Wrapper

What about the things you can’t see in these photos?

Should heavy metals and disease causing bacteria be part of DNR’s “Leave No Trace” campaign?

The sewage sludge utilization permit states that the sludge can come from the following Wastewater Treatment Plants:

Are you okay with this business deal?

(Is the fox watching the hen house while

MDE struggles with staffing issues?)

“The lease process in this instance was a normal process,” said Arnold Norden, chief central regional planner for DNR. (Quote taken from an August 17^th 2007 Examiner.com article)

SYNAGRO Technologies Inc. is wearing many “hats” in this business deal

·         SYNAGRO Technologies Inc. gets paid for every load of sewage sludge hauled to the property that they lease from the park. SYNAGRO Technologies Inc. has written the Nutrient Management Plan which dictates the amount of sewage sludge needed to be applied to your parkland.

·         MDE has been cited in the news recently for falling behind. Do they have the staffing to watch what is going on in this rather unusual business deal between state and corporate business? http://www.wbaltv.com/news/13901785/detail.html

Information You Should Know about Houston-based SYNAGRO Technologies Inc.

Questions You Can Ask

1.)   What would possess DNR to sign a deal that so directly opposes their mission statement? (Denying public access, littering, health issues, wildlife habitat impact, etc.)

2.)   What would make DNR sign a lease to have sewage sludge applied to these two parcels when they know that the sludge can be applied over the entire term of the five year lease thus further deteriorating our parkland?

3.)   How can the local farmers ever compete with multimillion dollar Houston-based SYNAGRO Technologies Inc.? Will the local farmers eventually be squeezed out all together? Does DNR care about our local farmers, or is this strictly a business deal from here on out? Will DNR sign many more leases with their new partners? Is this only the beginning?

4.)   Why would MDE, MDA, DNR and SYNAGRO Technologies Inc. withhold the Nutrient Management Plan for HF32/Lyle where Class B Sewage Sludge has already been dumped when MDE quickly supplied a Nutrient Management Plan for HF40/Dudeck for future Class B Sewage Sludge application?

Efforts to receive the Nutrient Management Plan for work already completed have resulted in answers ranging from “it’s confidential” to “that document belongs to SYNAGRO Technologies Inc.”

5.)   Now that sludge dumping has made these parcels of parkland unsafe for the public, DNR denies these parcels were ever utilized by the public.   Can DNR be unaware of these publicized uses:

·         The Hat Run (2008 Marks the 20^th anniversary)

·         Harford County Sheriff’s Office Training Exercises

·         Maryland State Police Training Exercises

·         K-9 Unit Search And Rescue Training

Local farmers, residents and organizations such as the ones listed above have coexisted peacefully for decades.  Can you do anything to help support both the local farmer and your state park land before it’s too late?

Quotes from Public Officials

 “Public land should fall under stricter regulations than private farms.” – Del. Donna Stifler, R-District 35A – Baltimore Sun

“I am in concurrence that public lands deserve greater protection and support additional State legislation.  I will be happy to work with members of the Harford County Delegation to ensure the protection of the most valued resource.” – Mary Ann Lisanti, Council Member, District F – Letter to local resident

“While I recognize the commonality of this practice on public lands owned by the State, I ask that you consider the uniqueness of these parcels.  Unlike others, the parcels in Susquehanna State Park are immediately adjacent to a residential neighborhood in an area surrounded by a museum and heavily used recreation trails.  Therefore, I ask that you amend this policy to exempt the parcels of Susquehanna State Park.” – Mary Ann Lisanti, Council Member, District F – Letter to Secretary of Maryland Department of Natural Resources, John R. Griffin

“That’s a state park; I think that’s a place for us to enjoy – you, I and all taxpayers.” – Del. B. Daniel Riley, D-District 34A – Examiner

“Is this particular lease simply a way to use agriculture as a scapegoat for the real issue, which is the ‘cheap dumping of sludge on public lands?’ ” – James “Capt’n Jim” McMahan, County Councilman – Examiner/Letter to DNR

“If this product is so safe, why no public access for a year, no livestock for a month and no raw crops for three years?  I know that it’s treated to reduce disease-causing organisms, but I would be more comfortable if it eliminated them.” – James “Capt’n Jim” McMahan, County Councilman – Baltimore Sun