The Resource Management Agency will be recommending that the Kern County Board of Supervisors amends the ordinance that regulates the land application of Biosolids.

The County has gained considerable experience and knowledge under the current ordinance about land application activities since its adoption in 1999. Based on that experience, staff has determined the ordinance that is now scheduled to become effective on January 1, 2003 is inadequate and will not provide appropriate disclosure of information nor necessary regulation regarding land application of Class A Exceptional Quality Biosolids.

The Resource Management Agency conducted a public workshop to discuss the draft ordinance on Tuesday, October 15, 2002. After public comments were received, staff made modifications to the draft ordinance, and on October 22, 2002, submitted a letter to the Board of Supervisors which introduced the ordinance, waived its first reading, and set a hearing date of November 26 before the Board of Supervisors.

The Board Letter was reviewed and the ordinance was adopted as introduced by the Board of Supervisors on November 26, 2002. As a part of a referral received from the Board of Supervisors, the Resource Management Agency will work with interested persons and the Kern County Water Resources Committee to provide further consideration to water quality related issues. The first such meeting will be at Hodel's Restaurant, 5917 Knudsen Drive near Olive and State Route 99 in Bakersfield, Monday, January 13, 2003, 6:30 p.m.

Questions about the ordinance development process should be directed to David Price III, Director, Kern County Resource Management Agency, 2700 “M” Street, Suite 350, Bakersfield, CA 93301-2370, telephone (800) 552-5376, option 5 or (661) 862-8802 or e-mailed to dave@co.kern.ca.us.

The current ordinance is administered by the Kern County Environmental Health Services Department. Questions about permitting, inspection, and enforcement of the ordinance should be directed to Steve McCalley, Director, Environmental Health Services Department, 2700 “M” Street, Suite 300, Bakersfield, CA 93301-2370, telephone (800) 552-5376, option 5 or (661) 862-8700 or e-mailed to stevem@co.kern.ca.us.

This program has been the subject of legal challenges, several of which are currently active. Questions of a legal nature should be directed to Deputy County Counsel James Thebeau, Office of the Kern County Counsel, 1115 Truxtun Avenue, Fourth Floor, Bakersfield, CA 93301, telephone (800) 552-5376 or (661) 868-3800 or e-mailed to jthebeau@co.kern.ca.us