Acres U.S.A.
December 2003

Farm Dioxins: EPA says Why Bother

The EPA announced on October 18, 2003 that it would not regulate dioxins in sewage sludge used as farm fertilizer, citing new studies indicating that such usage does not pose significant health-or environmental risks. EPA officials said studies conducted during the past five years showed conclusively that dioxin levels have declined sharply in the environment - thanks largely to a crackdown on manufacturers and the chemical industry. The announcement slipped under the wire of a court-imposed deadline for the government to resolve a long-standing controversy over the handling of dioxin-laced sludge. About 5.6 million tons of sewage sludge is dispose of each year, including more than 3 million tons used as fertilizer on farms, forests, parks and golf courses.
“The EPA is required by law to protect the public from toxic pollutants like dioxins”, said Nancy Stoner, director of the Natural Resources Defense Council’s Clean Water Project. “This decision shows the agency under this administration has forgotten its mission.”

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