Checks and balances involved in application of bio solids on agriculture lands

Editor:
In response to Councillor Thom Paterson’s comments made during the April 12, 2021 council meeting and noted in the April 16 Creemore Echo about the use of bio solids on agricultural lands:
As a fourth-generation farmer and as a resident of Clearview Township, I see the value in bio solids from an agronomy stand point. Without farmers allowing bio solids to be used on their farms, wastewater treatment plants would become full and municipalities would need to look for other ways of dealing with the bio solids.
My father and I are the tenant farmers of the subject property and want to let people know the process that farmers need to go through in order to apply bio solids to their fields.
For farmers to be able to apply bio solids, they need to contact a certified Non-Agriculture Source Material (NASM) plan developer certified by the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA). A NASM plan is prepared and submitted to OMAFRA where it is reviewed for setbacks to wells, watercourses, etc. to ensure compliance with provincial regulations. If the NASM plan is approved, test holes are dug to ensure the water table level is appropriate for the application of bio solids. If appropriate, a contractor who is certified by OMAFRA, can then start applying the bio solids.
Field inspections are completed by the Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Parks (MECP), should a complaint be filed. In this particular case the MECP was contacted with concerns from a neighbour and the field was inspected by the MECP and passed, allowing the application to resume.
I can understand that some people may have initial concerns with the practice; however, there are many checks and balances in place to ensure that there are no negative effects as a result of the application of bio solids.
As for Councillor Paterson’s recommendation about signage, bio solids are not the same as residential pesticide use so I do not see the need for this. A majority of the bio solids applied on this field came directly from the Creemore wastewater treatment plant, which helps to reduce expense and emissions. Farmers are always interested in the protection and preservation of farm land and we would not do anything that would have a negative effect or degrade our lands.
I think it is important for Councillor Paterson to take into consideration that the application of bio solids is a normal practice and is provincially regulated, with multiple checkpoints along the process. His suggestion to discuss this practice at a future council meeting, based on the concerns of a few local residents, is not necessary as there is already a review and approval process in place through the province.
Scott Oster,
Avening.