Title
Status Update- Biosolids Land Application Site purchase (B)
GRU has been pursuing the purchase of the Whistling Pines Ranch as approved by the City Commission on 7/23/07. Prior to purchase, a Special Exception is being sought from Alachua County to allow the continued land application of biosolids at the Whistling Pines Ranch. Staff will provide an update on the Special Exception process, issues that have been identified through the process, and findings related to the issues raised. We continue to believe that land application of biosolids is a sustainable and cost-effective method for reusing biosolids and want to ensure that the City Commission continues to share that opinion.
Explanation
Biosolids is organic material that is a by-product of the wastewater treatment/water reclamation process, composed primarily of cellular mass from the microorganisms that accomplish the biological portion of treatment. Biosolids are treated at both of GRU’s water reclamation facilities by a process called aerobic digestion to reduce pathogens, and then land applied. The entire process including land application is highly regulated by the EPA and FDEP, and is beneficial to the farmer, GRU and the environment. Aerobic digestion and land application at the Whistling Pines Ranch is currently being practiced as it has been for the last 26 years.
On 7/23/07 the City Commission approved the purchase of the Whistling Pines Ranch to allow the continued land application of biosolids. The approved Purchase and Sale Agreement was contingent on GRU obtaining a Special Exception from Alachua County to allow the continued land application of biosolids on the site. GRU submitted the Special Exception package on 7/30/07 and obtained a positive recommendation from the Alachua County Planning Commission on 10/10/07. The request will ultimately be ruled on by the County Commission at a meeting in February 2008 at the earliest. Since the Special Exception process is takin...
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