As an academician, I had never involved myself in correspondence with elected and appointed State and Federal Officials until I retired. I had the extremely naive view that if something is scientifically clear, then the necessary actions are also clear and a responsible government will take the necessary actions. My cloistered academic focus meant that I ignored the “real world” behavior of the body politic. I was (selfishly) too busy doing science. Retirement has changed my perspective.

It is obvious that the land-application of phosphorus-rich animal waste to soils already containing enough phosphorus to support crop growth only guarantees pollution. Yet the practice continues because State and Federal officials believe “free fertilizer” for farmers is more important than improved water quality and they can find “scientists” to justify their position.

As another example, the headwaters of all tidal waterways in Northumberland County are restricted for the harvesting of shellfish (oysters, clams, mussels and scallops, but not finfish or crustaceans) because of high fecal coliform bacterial levels. I reasoned that the land-application of Class B sewage sludge close to the water would guarantee that gulls foraging in the fields would transport pathogens to nearby waterways. A typical land-application of two 20-ton truck-loads of sludge per acre disposes of billions of pathogens per acre. Restricting the land-application of sewage sludge close to the water would remove an obvious source of contamination. I still believe that bacterial contamination of water from the land-application of sewage sludge is inevitable, but my complaints have been brushed off by the same agency (VA Department of Health, or VDH) responsible for both the land-application of sewage sludge and imposing restrictions on the harvesting of shellfish. I continue to raise this issue with the VA Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) and EPA as they pretend to actually address the impairment of waterways.

I participated in a Technical Advisory Committee to strengthen nutrient management regulations, especially regarding phosphorus pollution. The experience was an eye-opener as to how the government can achieve its economic objectives and at the same time appear to involve the public and protect the environment.

I never cease to be amazed at the garbage, ranging from meaningless verbiage to undocumented fantasies and outright false statements, that official responses provide. Many of my letters were copied to other elected/appointed officials. Few responses were ever received, and none were substantive. When elected/appointed officials change, it’s back to square one, as was so elegantly emphasized in the British sitcom “Yes, Minister.” Newly elected officials often leave incompetent senior appointees in place, out of convenience or because the appointee reflects the official’s (or the official’s supporters’) view. Senior appointees rarely “clean house” and so incompetence, turf battles and self-interest guarantee that the “Peter Principle” prevails.

My favorite idiotic response was from Senator George Allen, who, in response to my claim that Mr. Donald Welsh, EPA Regional Administrator, had falsely told him, when a citizen complained about health problems subsequent to land-application of sewage sludge, that “...when biosolids are properly used or disposed according to all the federal and state regulations, there are no significant risks to public health or the environment.” Senator Allen thanked me for contacting him “...regarding sewage blending” which made me wonder if he had outsourced his response network to save money for more junkets.

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