SLUDGE VICTIMS

STATEMENT OF DON CARPENTER, GERMANTOWN, OHIO 937-855-4886

Sewage sludge has been twice applied to a farm adjacent to my property in Germantown, MontgomeryCounty, Ohio. The sludge was applied by BioGro. They bring the trucks in late at night. The property owner may be paid to allow the sludge disposal on his land.

I called my Township to ask what could be done -- they told me we had to get ahold of BioGro. I called the USEPA-they wouldn't do anything.

I called BioGro to complain -- they said it is perfectly safe.

We have a well within about 40 feet of the field where the sludge was spread. They do n ot care about the close proximity of our well. We have stopped drinking the water from the well. We use bottled water to drink, although we still use the well water for bathing.

The runoff from the sludge site is onto my property. I have animals -- pigs and horses which I am concerned about, although there have not yet been any apparent adverse effects to the animals.

HEALTH EFFECTS we have experienced since being exposed to the sludge: It smells so bad it makes your head hurt. Nausea was experienced when they first applied the sludge. Other health effects: headaches, sore throats (suffered by other family members), throat irritation, burning in nasal area, nasal congestion, abdominal distress including cramps, breathing difficulties (it is so bad you cannot open your windows in the summer when they apply the sludge), shortness of breath, asthma and bronchitis - yes .... when it was first applied you cannot go outside. We feel we are more prone to illness since our exposure to the sludge.

(Telephone statement made to Helane Shields in November 2000 by Don Carpenter, 11621 Friend Road, Germantown, Ohio 45327)

OHIO - VICTIMS SUFFER NAUSEA, HEADACHES., SORE THROATS, BURNING NOSES, NASAL CONGESTION, -,ASTHMA AND BREATHING DIFFICULTIES AND RESPIRATORY DISTRESS. EPA IGNORES VICTIMS' CALL FOR HELP.