PRINTER'S NO. 4090
No. 607 Session of 2000
INTRODUCED BY SURRA, GEORGE, TIGUE, CALTAGIRONE, BELARDI,
CAPPABIANCA, DeLUCA, PISTELLA, WILLIAMS, BARD, TRICH,
LAUGHLIN, DeWEESE, BEBKO-JONES, FEESE, SOLOBAY, HALUSKA,
WOJNAROSKI, COLAFELLA, PESCI, SHANER, FAIRCHILD, PETRARCA,
LaGROTTA, FRANKEL, YUDICHAK, STURLA, ROONEY, JAMES, M. COHEN,
HORSEY, GRUCELA, MUNDY, MELIO, RAMOS, YOUNGBLOOD, FREEMAN AND
STEELMAN, OCTOBER 11, 2000
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON RULES, OCTOBER 11, 2000
A RESOLUTION
1 Creating a select subcommittee of the Committee on Environmental
2 Resources and Energy to examine and study matters relating to
3 the land application of sludge, also known as biosolids; and
4 providing for its composition and powers and duties.
5 WHEREAS, The Harper-Collins Dictionary of Environmental
6 Sciences defines sludge as a "viscous, semi-solid mixture of
7 bacterial and virus-laden organic matter, toxic metals,
8 synthetic organic chemicals, and settled solids removed from
9 domestic and industrial waste water at a sewage treatment
10 plant"; and
11 WHEREAS, The American Society of Civil Engineers identified
12 PCBs, pesticides and many chlorinated compounds that are
13 typically found in sludge; and
14 WHEREAS, The Environmental Protection Agency documented the
15 presence of 25 infectious agents in sewage sludge: five bacteria
16 (including Salmonella), nine viruses (including hepatitis A),
1 five intestinal worms (including tapeworms and hookworms), five
2 protozoa and one fungus, Aspergillus, which can be fatal; and
3 WHEREAS, Researchers at Cornell University's Toxic Chemical
4 Lab estimate that over 60,000 toxic substances and chemical
5 compounds can be found in sewage sludge; and
6 WHEREAS, United States standards for sludge land application
7 are the most permissive of any industrialized country; and
8 WHEREAS, An 11-year-old boy died after riding his motorcycle
9 through sludge-covered land; therefore be it
10 RESOLVED, That a select subcommittee of the Committee on
11 Environmental Resources and Energy be created for the purpose of
12 examining and studying any and all matters related to the
13 application of sludge, including, but not limited to, the public
14 health and safety hazards that may exist, the presence of
15 pathogens and toxins contained in sewage sludge and the effect
16 of chemicals often found in sludge; and be it further
17 RESOLVED, That the select subcommittee be composed of six
18 members, all of whom are members of the Committee on
19 Environmental Resources and Energy, three of whom shall be
20 appointed by the Majority Leader and three of whom shall be
21 appointed by the Minority Leader; and be it further
22 RESOLVED, That the select subcommittee may hold hearings,
23 take testimony and make its investigations at such places as it
24 deems necessary in this Commonwealth and that each member of the
25 select committee shall have the power to administer oaths and
26 affirmations to witnesses appearing before the select
27 subcommittee; and be it further
28 RESOLVED, That the select subcommittee will hear testimony
29 from both proponents and opponents of the application of sludge;
30 and be it further
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1 RESOLVED, That the Committee on Environmental Resources and
2 Energy assist the select subcommittee to the fullest extent
3 possible; and be it further
4 RESOLVED, That the ordinary and reasonable expenses incurred
5 by the select subcommittee be paid from accounts under the
6 control of the Chief Clerk; and be it further
7 RESOLVED, That the select subcommittee reports its findings,
8 together with its recommendations for remedial legislation or
9 other appropriate action, at the earliest practicable date to
10 the House of Representatives.
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