Workshop to Discuss Presence, Effects of Sludge in Menifee

In response to concerns raised by some citizens about the effects of biosolids used in the Menifee area in the past, the City of Menifee will host a public workshop to update City Council members and the public about the historic use and presence of these materials in Menifee.

The meeting is scheduled for Tuesday from 4-6 p.m. at Menifee City Hall, 29714 Haun Road. The public is invited to attend.

According to city officials, the purpose of the meeting is to clarify the facts regarding the historic use and presence of biosolids in Menifee; clarify the city’s environmental review process; confirm the city’scompliance with environmental regulations for new development projects; and address community concerns regarding biosolids.

“In response to some community members’ concerns about biosolids in Menifee, the City Council has asked for this workshop to update them and to share this information with residents,” explained Interim City Manager Rob Johnson. “City staff will give an overview of the use of biosolids in Menifee and discuss the application review process for new development projects.”

Biosolids, also referred to as sludge or sewage sludge, is the solid byproduct of wastewater treatment processes, similar to those used to treat and recycle sewer/wastewater used for landscape irrigation at schools, parks and golf courses across the nation. These wastewater treatment processes are highly controlled by state and federal regulations.

Biosolids are categorized into three different classes, based on the amount of treatment, and have traditionally been used as agricultural fertilizer.

The use of biosolids requires a permit and ordinances are in place to regulate biosolid application. (For details, see the attached document “Riverside County Department of

Environmental Health, Informational Bulletin No. 78-12-EPO”).

“No permits have been issued to apply biosolids in Menifee since 2004, when the County of

Riverside enacted Ordinance 830 to regulate the application of Class A biosolids,” said Johnson. “We are confident that the history of biosolid use combined with the city’s required environmental review process for new development projects ensures environmental compliancefor these new projects as determined by state and federal regulations.”

The city’s application process for new development projects follows strict state and federal regulations and begins with an initial study/environmental assessment as mandated by the

California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). Depending on the outcome of the initial study/environmental assessment, projects may be subjected to two additional phases of the

review process.

In May 2012, the city updated its environmental review process for new development projects

to be in full compliance with state and federal regulations.

“Our environmental review process for new projects was recently updated to be in full compliance with state and federal regulations,” said Johnson. “This workshop will illustrate how the city takes every step legally available to ensure these new projects are environmentally sound.”

Copies of city staff’s presentation and other materials will be available at the meeting and after

the meeting on the city’s website at www.cityofmenifee.us.

For more information, contact Interim City Manager Rob Johnson at rjohnson@cityofmenifee.us

or 951-672-6777.