ADRIAN — Concerns about Class A biosolids for some are new, but for others, they’ve been fighting environmental issues stemming from farming techniques.

Pam Taylor is one. She’s with the group Environmentally Concerned Citizens of South Central Michigan, which tests water quality and documents the environmental problems caused by the 13 factory farms, or concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs), in the Lenawee County area.

The ECCSCM has been recognized by the Michigan Environmental Council, which is the umbrella organization of all of Michigan’s environmental groups, which awarded Taylor with its “Petoskey Prize” for grassroots environmental leadership. The Michigan Sierra Club awarded ECCSCM its “White Pine” award for extraordinary dedication to protecting the environment.

It was when the smells came about Adrian Township two years ago that Taylor began following up about the Class A biosolids.

She doesn’t necessarily see them as much of a concern as the CAFOs, but she said none the less, if there are legitimate concerns they need to be addressed.

“In my opinion, the stench from biosolids is not nearly as bad or as long-lasting as the stench from a CAFO-lagoon cleanout, and I haven’t seen any signs of visible runoff in the water, so I haven’t called (the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality’s Pollution Emergency Alerting System hotline) about any of these,” Taylor said in an email. “That’s not to say that this isn’t a bad thing, especially for those neighbors who are just now experiencing this, or that there isn’t any runoff — just that the odor is far worse around the CAFO barns and manure applications and it lasts longer, and I haven’t seen any evidence myself of run-off from biosolids application when I’ve physically checked the streams.”

Taylor said they see two types of bio-waste in the Lenawee County area.

She said, “the first, and far most common type, comes from livestock confined in our 13 area factory farms and is spread on fields as fertilizer. This is untreated, raw sewage. The second type, called biosolids or sewage sludge, which is far more rare but seems to be applied closer to where more people live, work, and travel and therefore is receiving more notice, is the type that comes from processing waste at municipal treatment plants.”

“My first concern about both forms of bio-waste is that the pathogens haven’t been completely removed, which is obviously a bigger problem with the factory farm waste here in Lenawee County than it is with the Class A biosolids,” she said. “Then there are the metals, the hormones and other medicines, and other chemicals that both types of bio-waste can contain.”

She said, “The other problem is that the additional use of this as fertilizer, if it is stockpiled or not properly applied, can lead to the phosphorus load that already exists here.

“We know, for instance, that while the total phosphorus load in the River Raisin has declined over the years, the level of dissolved phosphorus, which is what actually feeds the toxic algae in Lake Erie — has nearly doubled,” she said. “And that form of phosphorus goes wherever water flows. So the concern is for the surface water draining from these fields, and that this doesn’t add to Lake Erie’s problems.”

“Residents should know that all types of bio-waste, whether it comes from treated biosolids or from sewage sludge, from untreated livestock manure, or even from septic systems, can be hazardous. If people see any of this getting into the ditches or creek or rivers, it should be reported by calling both the Lenawee County Health Department and the MDEQ,” Taylor said.