KMXT 100.1 FM Public Radio in Kodiak, Alaska
Kodiak residents have an additional five weeks to comment on a proposal to compost solid waste sludge in Middle Bay. The original deadline was Monday.
The Alaska Division of Environmental Health has extended the deadline for comments until January 18 to allow more public participation.
KMXT’s Maggie Wall has more.
We have links to materials related to the sludge composting plan after the jump.
Borough resident Judi Kidder says she and many others were shocked to learn that not only was the composting project slated to be built in Middle Bay, but that a contract for the disposal project had already been approved by the City of Kodiak. Kidder is organizing the “Kodiak Sludge Watch” to keep people informed of the project and to help mobilize residents who are opposed to composting sludge in the Middle Bay area.
She says she isn’t opposed to composting sludge from the wastewater treatment plant, just not in Middle Bay.
–(((Sludge Comments :09 “The objection is…above sea level.”))
The toxic sludge is what’s left after the liquids have been removed at the wastewater treatment plant. The city has been taking the sludge out to the borough land fill. But construction on the new waste disposal site means Dec. 15 is the last day the sludge can go there.
Kidder says she and others were aware of plans for compost the sludge, but thought the site would be at Gibson Cove. She based that on an engineer’s detailed review of the proposed composting project.
–((Sludge Comments 2 :48 “I’d seen the … and I’m like what?”))
That set her on her mission to learn everything she could about the project and how she could have missed that it was being proposed for Middle Bay.
-((Sludge Comments 3 :59 “And then just … it was site specific.”))
With the comment period extended to mid-January the city is now considering temporarily storing the sludge on the base until a final decision is made on the composting facility.
Contract between City of Kodiak and Quayanna Development Corp.
Report by CH2M Hill on Bio Solids Composting
Public Notice from ADEC website extending comment deadline to Jan. 18
