Subj: FW: Florez's SB 120 Seeks Enforcement of Sludge Standards -- Wedn esday, 10 a.
m.
Date: 5/4/2005 9:39:21 AM Central Daylight Time
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-----Original Message-----
From: Hanson, Jennifer
Sent: Tuesday, May 03, 2005 4:57 PM
To: Hanson, Jennifer
Subject: Florez's SB 120 Seeks Enforcement of Sludge Standards -- Wednesday, 10 a.m.
For Immediate Release Jennifer Hanson
May 3, 2005 916-445-4641
Florez Seeks Enforcement of Sludge Standards
SB 926 companion measure calls for increased testing, responsibility from generators
SACRAMENTO -- Fresh off the successful passage of his anti-sludge bill by a key Senate
committee, Senator Dean Florez, D-Shafter, will hold a news conference Wednesday
morning in Bakersfield announcing a companion measure to ensure the safety of
biosolids treated in California.
Florez will be joined by Taft Vice Mayor Craig Nobel in introducing a revised version of
Senate Bill 120. The new measure would hold all waste water treatment facilities
responsible for meeting high state standards for the content of sewage sludge.
Standards for 126 contaminants considered “priority pollutants” would be aggressively
tested for and strictly enforced under SB 120. Florez doubts many plants are currently
meeting these standards, including those which would supply the proposed Synagro
plant.
SB 120 would require a sludge generator to certify that any sludge leaving its facility
meets or exceeds the priority pollutant standard, opening them to liability for harm caused
by contaminated sludge they release into the community.
“A standard exists, but sludge generators know nobody is watching,” Florez said.
“Enforcement and real consequences are the only means by which this industry will
change.”
Senate Bill 120 will be in print by next week with amendments making the measure hold
wastewater treatment plants to these high standards. Senate Bill 926, which seeks to end
the decades-old practice of dumping Southern California’s sludge on Kern County fields,
passed Senate Environmental Quality Committee Tuesday morning by a vote of 5-2 and
next heads to the full Senate for a vote.
Wednesday’s news conference will be held at 10 a.m. at the Bakersfield District Office of
Senator Florez, located at 1800 30th Street, Suite 350.
** MEDIA ADVISORY *** MEDIA ADVISORY *** MEDIA ADVISORY **
WHO: Senator Dean Florez, D-Shafter
Taft Vice Mayor Craig Nobel
WHAT: News conference introducing measure to certify sludge compliance with
SWRCB standards for “priority pollutants”
WHEN: Wednesday, May 4, 2005; 10:00 a.m.
WHERE: Bakersfield District Office of Senator Dean Florez
1800 30th Street, Suite 350