Uniondemocrat.com reports that the Calaveras County Ca, Board of Supervisors is poised to relax restrictions that have barred local waste districts from dumping sludge containing hydrocarbons in excess of 1,000 ppm, in the county’s only solid waste facility.

The Rock Creek Solid Waste Facility does not currently accept "bio-solids," as the sludge is known. The material contains upwards of 1000ppm of benzene, and methane.

A Public Works Department report says that state law and Rock Creek’s own environmental impact report would allow this dumping, and that the move would save local waste districts money by eliminating the need to truck the waste to a private land fill in Stockton.

Public Works Director Tom Garcia:

“It solves a big problem, I don’t expect it to be a controversial issue.”

If he really doesn’t expect controversy, then why is he bringing it up? It could be an attempt to pre-marginalize any dissenters.  

Why would people have a problem with this? Because hydrocarbons, such as benzene, are known carcinogens which are linked with potentially fatal health problems. Anyone living nearby has a right to be concerned.

Tags: "solid waste" "Rock Creek Solid Waste Facility" hydrocarbons, Benzene, hydrocarbons, Information-News, methane, Rock Creek Solid Waste Facility, solid waste