Preston Knight writes in the Northern Virginia Daily that the state has approved a permit to spread sewage sluge on 640 acres of farmland in the Shenandoah Valley. The approval comes despite a public outcry from residents and groups like Shenandoah Riverkeeper, who argue the move would add pollution to impaired waters at at a time when Virginia is supposed to be cutting pollution:

The company will apply the substance, which is treated municipal sewage sludge used as fertilizer, on 638.3 acres of farmland. The proposal, first publicized as encompassing 1,755 acres around Mt. Jackson and Maurertown in March 2009, has sparked public outcry about potential public health effects and pollution into the Chesapeake Bay watershed.

...Dennis Atwood, chairman of the county water resources advisory committee, said six people, including County Administrator Doug Walker and Shenandoah Riverkeeper Jeff Kelble, joined him to speak to the water board Tuesday to express disapproval of the permit. He said the board and DEQ have not addressed several key points during the entire process, including protection of the environment and public health and ramifications the addition of phosphorous would have on the bay's total maximum daily loads for pollutants.  

 You can read the article at the Northern Virginia Daily website.