The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

P«fl*10 NORTHWEST HERALD Section B Monday, Augusts, 19«5 Regional \ Sludge injection procedure a maverick By Brick Howenstlne A Richmond farming operation, incorporating almost 10 million gallons of municipal and in­ dustrial organic material into the soil yearly, is a real maverick in waste recycling, an Illinois En­ vironmental Protection Agency (IEPA) spokesman said. John Raevouri, environmental protection specialist in the water pollution control division of the IEPA, has been monitoring the farm on North Solon Road since 1962. He said to. his knowledge there is "nothing comparable to Hillview Farm" in sludge recycling, though recycling of municipal sludge on a smaller scale is becoming more common. The EPA has a policy statement supporting the recycling of sludge on farmland. Sludge is an organically treated byproduct of some industrial processes or municipal waste. Arnold May, owner of Hillview Farm, regularly injects the liquid material into 733 acres of farmland, mostly in the spring and after the harvest of the autumn. His machinery injects sludge 12 to 18 inches underground from two 3,500-gallon tank trucks. May and farm manager, Charles Kirkpatrick, find the waste material eliminates the need for chemical fertilizers, and also adds the equivalent of about two inches of rainfall to the farmland yearly. Kirkpatrick said the farm's crop yield compared favorably with neighboring acreage, and averages 125 to 130 bushels of corn per acre. "We have some good ground and some medium ground," Kirkpatrick said, adding production is as good or better than that by conven­ tional methods. Brian Sager, agriculture ad­ visor for the Cooperative Exten­ sion Service in McHenry County, said a typical acre producing 140 bushels of corn might receive 80 pounds of phosphorous, 70 pounds of potassium and 175 pounds of nitrogen each year with tradi­ tional farming methods. Many people concerned about chemical fertilizer runoff from farmland see Hillview Farm as an avant-garde operation, not only reducing the application of chemical fertilizers, but also reducing the volume of waste "wasted" through costly incinera­ tion or disposal in landfills. In 1962 the McHenry County Board accepted a waste study management report by county staff that concluded: "There are no apparent problems associated with the disposal of relatively non­ toxic municipal sludge now or in the foreseeable future. "The committee has found that proper land application of sludge is environmentally sound and maximizes the utilization of a valuable resource." A 1964 Waste Study Advisory Committee, with wide representa­ tion throughout the county, recommended methods of solid waste disposal in the county. That committee made no further men­ tion of municipal or industrial sludge disposal. Most of the waste material used at Hillview Farm comes from Ab­ bott Laboratories in North Chicago, and, according to Ab­ bott's director of corporate and environmental control David Schwartz, is from biological fermentation of food-grade materials. Abbott runs tests on a batch of the waste product before shipment to Hillview Farm, and both the IEPA and a private state- licensed laboratory test the sludge and water in monitoring wells at the farm regularly. The McHenry County Health Department participates in the monitoring to ensure the material applied does not contaminate the farmland or groundwater. Gulf Coast Laboratories, Park Forest South, tests water from- wells at the farm monthly for 11 possible contaminants, and more extensively four times a year. The laboratory also runs monthly tests on incoming sludge and on the mixture as it is applied to the fields. The EPA splits samples with the Gulf Coast inspector, and Raevouri says the agency's results "turn out pretty close to what he (the Gulf Coast techni­ cian) finds. According to Don tripple, direc­ tor of Gulf Coast, the tests con­ tinue to show no contamination. "We don't really see any effect of the farming operation," he said. But in any new endeavor there are also new concerns, and Hillview Farm is no exception. Though May used municipal waste at the farm as early as 1965, the farm became a nuisance to neighbors in 1972 when he began surface application of the sometimes ordorous sludge materials with a sprinkler system. Kirkpatrick, who has managed the farm since 1970, remembers what he calls the "big stink" in 1972. "In 1972 there was a big pro­ blem with odors," he said. Though at that time a state per­ mit allowed surface application, the resulting smell prompted a change by 1975, requiring May to cover the material immediately after application. May then pur­ chased several injection tankers, scrapped the sprinkler system, and built large cement pits in which to collect the sludge while the crops are in the ground. With the introduction of the in­ jection method the odor went down, Kirkpatrick said, adding that the operation still smelled, primarily because of the hog lot, where May kept up to 3,500 pigs. He also held up to 4,000 head of cattle. The manure was mixed with sludge and injected until all the hogs and nearly all the cattle were removed in 1983. After the hog operation was discontinued, the lagoon in which much of the manure drained was dredged last summer. Raevouri reports that since the cleaning of the lagoons, there have been "vir­ tually zero odor complaints" to the IEPA. "We watch our wind direction," Kirkpatrick said. "If the wind is out of the west we don't inject, in order to help the neighbors (most of whom live east and southeast of the farm)." Though May can legally spread the sludge on top of much of the farm, then disk it in, injection is his only method of application. Though this keeps the smells minimal, elimination of all odor is impossible. Sometimes the injector will hit a rock and spill sludge on the sur­ face, Kirkpatrick said, adding it is then covered over as soon as possible. Agitation of sludge in the five-million gallon pit can also stir up an odor. "It's 90 percent better than ever," Kirkpatrick said. "The pigs caused 90 percent Of the smell." As for possible soil and ground­ water contamination, a fear often cited by some neighbors, Kirkpatrick is adamant. There is a persistent fear about what is going on, he said, adding that With the uncovering of Love Canal in New York and other hazardous waste dumps, he understands the concern. "Some people down deep in their heart really do have a fear of some con­ tamination of the water supply," he said, adding, though, that Hillview Farm is different in one important way. 'This is monitored. Period." That's one thing I would stand up for Arnold (owner Arnold May) for, all the way. We've never taken any toxic waste in any way, form or fashion." Kirkpatrick said he has en­ couraged those with real concern to test their own samples of Hillview Farm materials with any reputable laboratory. "We've in­ vited people to take samples," he said. "We've not had a one yet." Emmy winners UPIptooto Hie Emmy Awards were presented August 1 in a televised ceremo­ ny at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel with CBS and its soap opera,' 'The Young and the Restless," the big winners. Here, Kim Zimmer, CBS' "Guiding Light," and Darnell Williams, ABC's "All My Chil­ dren," hold their awards for best actress and actor respectively. Summer months lead to hand i During the warm, summer mon­ ths, accidents involving injuries to the hands are common oc­ currences as people devote more time and energy to outdoor in­ terests such as yard work, farm­ ing and sporting activities. Damage to nerves, muscles or bones in the hand can be caused by an accident, such as falling off a tractor or by illness. Fractures, broken bones and sprained muscles are all common hand injuries. Patients suffering from arthritis affecting the joints of the hands may experience a great deal of pain because of their illness. ' Once damage occurs, it is an oc­ cupational therapist's goal to help the patient achieve maximum use of the injured hand through therapy and relieve pain where possible. Various treatments are used to improve or restore fine motor skills and increase the patient's range of motion. Exercises are developed for strengthening muscles, improving coordination and increasing mobility. A therapist will also provide training to enhance the in­ dividual's ability to perform tasks required for independent function­ ing, as well as instruct patients in written communication skills. In some cases, custom splints may be needed to prevent fingers from becoming deformed. Amputees are fitted with special adaptive equipment and instructed on the equipment's proper use. "A hand rehabilitation program is developed on an individual basis with each patient," stressed Allyson Roberts, Easter Seals oc­ cupational therapist. "The type of treatment used varies depending on the injury or illness." Anyone requiring a hand rehabilitation program may con­ tact Allyson Roberts or Nancy Livingston at Easter Seals, by calling (815) 338-1707. w NORTHWEST HERALD ~~ covers all the community news for McHenry County and Northern Kane County. What's more, the people who produce each edition of the Northwest Newspapers are actively involved in their communities and really interested in local events. Personal involvement: Just one of the reasons why readers look to the Northwest Newspapers for interesting news, informative advertising and fresh ideas to make smart shopping decisions. You should be a part of it. Because readers respond to Northwest Newspaper advertising. tURVARO TO nORTHWEST Racine WOODSTOCK Un«on CRYSTAL LAKE - Kenosha ftOOCep't* u Anhoch I mnthrop Hubor HUNTLEY IALGONQUINI wmm CARPENTERSVILLE > DUNDEE Waukegan North Chxaqo x r-v # I »k« (nun laV« Fornl u«celfin i\ lit I m K h Highland Park Aihnjton jNofthbtooKV. ^\\Winnetk« ^ I Mv 's'tu M ; Wilmette Evanston • >\ flamr camoie ""r»i DeKalb • »lf» **• :.'i I I m c»i.tnp ?•! r A c i : Cum * CHICAGO •»i» »»• • n f • >*60lingbi00K • *>•1 •' \ Chk»9o City MM«t •iHjrpmon i