We here in rural Sumter County are virtually helpless to prevent the
spreading of sludge (treated human waste) in our county because the
state Environmental Protection Agency insists on issuing permits
allowing this to occur.
Our county officials have no say in the matter and even if they sympathize with the disgruntled property owners who object to these companies spreading the waste, they are powerless to stop it.
These companies have these state issued permits despite the objections of rural Sumter County residents, and they continue to intrude unmercifully i nto resident's lives by: despoiling their property, destroying property value, tearing up roadsurfaces not suited to heavy trucks,
creating stench and disturbing peaceful residential areas with trucks coming and going all hours of the night.
The majority of this sludge is from heavily populated counties disposing of their waste in rural areas.
Worse still, there are no funds available to ensure compliance with regulations and no inspections to ensure that what is being spread is environmentally safe. We only have the word of corporation officials to
go on.
It is similar to the destructive flight that took a plane down in the Everglades when supposedly empty oxygen canisters were placed in a cargo hold. We don't care to have a Love Canal here in Sumter County.
This sludge-spreading takes place all over our county. People complain repeatedly to county officials about odor and flies, but they say the situation is out of their hands and we need to contact higher-ups. That is why I'm writing this letter.
Please do what you can to help. Maybe with public exposure, steps will be taken statewide to restore public confidence in a situation that has become out of control. Our little Sumter County does not have the money to finance a legal challenge.
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