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Home My WebLink About710410.tiff_ .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. particles were on the northwestern section of the pit (the influent - end) with the size decreasing in the direction of flow. The slope of the land was downward in the direction of the former flow. 3. OBJECTIVES The absence of any growth has resulted in a situation where the frequent plain winds that go through the Ottawa area during the fall and winter months caused a considerable dust blowing problem in the community. A possible solution to the dust storm problem as well as a means of demonstrating the applicability of using Sanitary District lagoon sludge for the reclamation of highly alkaline soil presented itself as a program of mutual benefit to both organizations. The objective of the program, was to utilize Sanitary District lagoon sludge to produce a vegetation cover after one season of sludge -application. An immediate reduction of the dust problem was anticipated as a result of the placing of a mixed sludge and silica blanket on the site during the application period, but the vegetation is expected to provide the longer term answer. The Sanitary District 's objectives were to measure the neutralizing effect of the sludge on a highly alkaline soil, investigate long distance sludge hauling problems, and to study a larger scale loading, unloading and appli- cations operation than had previously been attempted. - 3 - 710410 4. TEST PLOT For the initial study prior to a full scale committal, a one acre demonstration test plot was established on this site to -determine: a) If the silica surface could absorb large quantities of lagoon sludge; b) The applicability of a deep ditch ridge and furrow method of application; -c) If the sludge would produce offensive odors when applied to the silica sand; d) If the soil can, after treatment, provide a base for the growth of rye and redtop grass. During this initial testing, approximately 800 wet tons of 10 percent solids from the Sanitary District's West-Southwest Plant lagoons were trucked to the one acre plot, over a period of four to five weeks. By means of a deep ditch ridge and furrow application, and distribution through 6" aluminum gated pipe, the silica soil was noted to absorb the high loading rates with no objectionable odors. After the application program, the one acre was rough leveled, disked, and seeded with rye and redtop grass in the fall. Due to a below average rainfall, the grass growth was delayed until heavy late seasonal rains. Extensive growth on this test plot in the - 4 - _. r spring of 1970 did demonstrate the feasibility of using lagoon sludge on silica soil. The early results of this one acre test, together with bench scale testing by the -District 's Research and Development Department, provided enough encouragement to commit both the District and L.O.F. to the larger program. 5. SLUDGE HANDLING PROGRAM The program involves -using the Metropolitan Sanitary District ism West-Southwest lagoon sludge and 22 acres of the S..O. F. lagoon, out of the 37 total acres. The operations were essentially broken down into four separate categories. The first being the removal of sludge by District personnel from the lagoons to the transportation equipment. This section was accomplished by pumping the sludge at an approximate LO percent concentration whereby it is considered to be relatively easy to handle and still contain as much dry solids as possible. Fifty thousand wet tons of 10 percent solids or five thousand dry tons was the desired figure for the projected testing. Second, the District issued a contract whereby the low bidder, using -his method of transportation, was selected. -The A. L. Mechling -Barge Company was the recipient of this contract. The third section in the program involves the barge unloading, again to be done by the District. The fourth division in the program is that of the actual sludge application to the land by means of gated piping and ditching. - 5 - 5. 1 LAGOON SLUDGE REMOVAL The source of sludge was lagoons No. 28, 29, and 30 along the Sanitary and Ship Canal. The method of sludge removal consisted of diluting the concentrated lagoon sludge to approximately 10 percent of dry solids with canal water, by sluicing with either a Hale or Marlowe centrifugal water pump. Then pumping via a 4" electrical submersible Wemco pump (estimated capacity 300 gpm) , through a b" - aluminum irrigation pipeline (65 to 1500 feet, depending on the draw- off location) to the barge docking facilities located next to lagoon No. 30. _ Each of the lagoons have three concrete structures used either for supernatant withdrawal or transfer between adjacent lagoons. Each structure is approximately centered on one of the sides nearest the canal. These structures were used fox withdrawal points -from the lagoons to provide a solid base for equipment, and as the only places where the earth-sloped lagoon sides would not necessitate - the use of long suction lines. The withdrawal points were switched when the sludge could no longer be reasonably sluiced to the concrete structures. During the winter of 1969, lagoon No. 30 was used as the sludge source, and lagoon No. 29 was used as the major source during the spring of 1970, with the final drawoff coming from lagoon No. 28. Because of the rugged use of the pumps, dm terms of -both the lengths of runs (up to 24 hours) and the type and -concentration of material pumped, the downtime surpassed that of normal operations - 6 - by at least threefold. The severe winter weather also caused many hours delay in terms of frozen pipelines, and an increased sludge viscosity. The start-up in spring was delayed until the lagoons Could be thawed completely. Initially, the dilution water pumps were used to sluice the sludge all the way to the Wemco pumps. This method was inefficient and added an excess amount of dilution water if the sludge to be sluiced was more than 10 feet from the pump suction. A dragline was used in later operations to bring sludge closer to the pump, however, other methods on a larger scale could be less expensive. 5 . 2 TRANSPORTATION The barging consisted of a towboat pusher and four barges. The average capacity of the barges was 1200 wet tons each. The length of the trip, from the Lawndale Lagoons to the docking #aci- . lity -at Blackhawk Beach in Ottawa, Illinois is 71. 8 miles. The route was mile 310.4 on the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal south to Joliet. Then southwest on the Des Plaines River to Dresden and west on the Illinois River to mile 238. 8 in Ottawa, Illinois. The time in transit varied between 18 and 54 hours. The two major variables were the length of delays due to lockage and weather. Several systems were attempted to establish a procedure where- by the unloading crew deployment could be coordinated with the approximate barge arrival time. - 7 Initially, the A. 1,. _Mechling dispatcher contacted the resident engineer giving the estimated time of arrival. Being unable to foretell lockage delays, the coordination was improved by having — the barge pilot contact the resident engineer. -This system proved effective in reducing -wasted manpower to a minimum without hampering the unloading program. The unloading crew consisted of one resident engineer (MSD) three fitters (one MSD and two locals) , two laborers (local) , one truck drives (MSD) , and one to three hoisting engineers (MSD) , — depending on the number of pumps in service. The unloading facilities consisted of -a docking barge, secured in place -by three deadmen -with lines running to the river side — extremes and center of the barge. The pusher mould dock one barge at a time for unloading. The barging operation was in service between November 25, 1869 and 2anuary 13, 1870, (see Table I for barging program) and dis- continued because of severe winter weather conditions until April 16, 1970. The final unloading was on May 9, 1970. 5. 3 BARGE UNLOADING The two aspects of distribution -which are considered in this section axe the system of removing sludge from the barges and the program of transporting the sludge to the silica sand pit for subsequent application. - 8 - On the clocking barge were located four gasoline engine centri- fugal pumps, two -6" x 6" Marlowe trash pumps (1500 gpm) , a Rex Chainbelt pump, and a Rice Corp. pump. These pumps discharged the barged sludge into a 5" hose which led up the riverbank to a distribution manifold. The hose was used because of the movement of the barge due to river currents during unloading. As a precaution against spillage into the river, _drip pans were placed under each pump with 1" drain lines running from the suction end of the pump to the respective pans. On all barges (although to varying degrees) , river water was used in the final stages of unloading to flush the remaining solids �- to the sump where they were pumped out. This operation required sending one member of the crew into the hull with a high pressure hose for flushing. As a safety precaution a second man was stationed on the barge in the event the first man was in distress. Difficulty of flushing down solids was encountered by this method. -This difficulty was amplified by the settling out of a greater proportion of solids during barge trips involving long delays. Further, the presence of grit in the sludge-made the sludge more difficult to pump and was detrimental to the pump seals, 'requiring .- frequent replacing. Table I presents a schedule of the unloading rates experienced during the program. The cold winter weather had a noticeable adverse effect on the pumping operations. An attempt was made to calculate the changing - 9 - viscosity due to colder temperatures, but frequent breakdowns in the pressure gages used on the system made this impossible. After the -manifold, the delivery pipe consisted of rented 18" steel pipe which ran down the invert of the L.O. F. outfall, under the lagoon access road, up to grade, along Highway 71 (inside L.O. F. property fence) to the header at the silica lagoon site. A booster pump, for distribution onto the site, was placed at this header. It had a negligible effect on the distribution and was soon abandoned because of the manpower required to operate it. The barge unloading pumps operated at between 30 and 45 psi (depending on the specific distribution location) , with an approxi- mate loss of 20 psi in the 2100 feet of 18" delivery pipe. Numerous drain valves for bleeding the line (approx. 30) were placed in the piping in an attempt to reduce a continuous problem of air blockage. This did not reduce the problem and during the winter applications (the first part of the program) , frozen drain valves occurred frequently. As a precaution against line freezing, a program of flushing the lines with river water wasinstituted during the November to January operations. The procedure consisted of opening all drain valves and gates on the distribution pipe (discussed in next sec- tion) , and flushing with river water until the water replaced the sludge being flushed out of the furthest part of the line. The line was then drained into the river. - 10 - This flushing program also bad the advantage of cleaning grit accumulations in the 6" irrigation pipe (but had only a negligible — effect on grit removal from the 18" pipe) . During the second spring — applications, this flushing was not practiced and grit accumulations became a problem. a. Safety practices (in addition to those normally used) consisted of having two hoisting engineers on the docking barge whenever a pump was in service. Similarly, a second person was always stationed on the barge whenever the barge was being flushed in the final stages of unloading. Safety reflectors were placed on the middle deadman tieline to prevent the "clothes-lining" of any worker, since this line extended across the docking barge. 5.4 DISTRIBUTION Coming from the header on the river bank are four distribution lines of 6" aluminum irrigation pipe, each with several laterals of 6" gated aluminum piping. Flow to various section of this silica sand lagoon is controlled by a series of valves and tees. The entire irrigation piping covers approximately 22 of the original 37 acres. Head losses in the irrigation system were reduced by the operating of twin 6" }delivery lines in service at one time (lower velocity thus less head loss) . - 11 - Similar to the test plot, a procedure of deep ditch application (12 to 18 inches deep) was used. A series of parallel ditches were constructed at every fifth gate (gate-to-gate distance is 40") . After the parallels are filled, the ditches are backfilled (with a John Deere 450 tractor with dozer blade) as a mixing proce- dure to increase the adsorption rate. Following sufficient drying of the surface, a John Deese 350 tractor with a irrigation single -V plow was used to re-ditch for the next application to that section. Insufficient time was available between dosings to utilize a cross ditching program. _Because of the distribution of silica sand particles with the larger particles near the northwest end (formerly the influent end of the la-goon) , the northwest end was able to absorb sludge loadings more frequently than the other sections. Because of this, more sludge was applied to this section of the plot (i.e. , quicker drying thus more frequent ₹>a-ckfilling and re-ditching) . A program was used whereby the first 21 to 3 hours of pumping -' (the low solids concentration being pumped first) was diverted to the more sensitive southeast section. One of the four irrigation .r pipes from the -header served as a line for diverting the low solids concentrated sludge to the area immediately southwest of the header. As the solids concentration in the sludge visably increased, the flow' wasdiverted to the other areas, with frequent variations in application to different sections. -Table I presents a schedule of the loading rates at the site, assuming complete distribution. - 12 - The assumption of even sludge application was basically true, except for higher sludge concentrations along the dike as a result of the winter flushing program. Winter applications presented several problems. If an open gate plugged it would quickly freeze over. As discussed earlier, the cold weather had a noticeable effect on increasing the sludge viscosity, thereby increasing the pumping difficulties. -The extremely cold conditions make it necessary to rotate personnel at ` the lagoon in half-hour shifts. On the positive side there is a reduced moisture problem, and better adsorption during the winter applications. Snow on the site also made visual observations of the applications easier. =When sludge applications followed a period of rain, a method of damming and subsequent flooding of the site was used instead of the ridge and furrow method, to maximize the adsorption in these poor conditions. -The grit plugging problems occurred during the applications (especially _during the second part of the program where flushing to prevent freezing wasno longer nee_ded) . Five times during the program, two of the four irrigation lines feeding the field were plugged to the extent that the lines had to be taken apart and cleaned. In reference to the use of a sludge blanket to reduce air borne dust blowing during the winter, it is estimated that the blowing - 13 - problem was reduced about 50 percent once the sludge program was extensivley under may. 6. L.O.F. - REPORT COST SECTION The total cost to the District is presented in Table A. The cost is -broken down into three major operations. The first operation, at the Sanitary District West-Southwest Lawndale Lagoons, involves the pumping o₹ sludge from the Lagoons into the barges. This '- operation controls the solids concentration of the sludge to be transported. In the barge loading cost section, it should be noted that the major cost factor is personnel. The equipment cost is actually very minor for this section, and a substantial amount of material in terms of pumps and piping is recoverable. The net cost to the District for barge loading came to approximately $20. 30 per dry ton. This unit, dollars per dry ton, is used throughout as the major basis of comparison. The second division, transportation by barge, added another $33.08 per dry ton to the project. Most of this cost was attributed to the barging and towing operations. Approximately $13,-600 is attributable to mobilization and demobilization costs. The third major section, as presented in the table, is the cost incurred in barge unloading and subsequent application of the sludge to land. Approximately halt of this cost is incurred by personnel,with the remainder of the cost attributable to equipment rental and purchasing. A $10, 000 figure is used as the estimated salvage value - 14 - for piping, pumps, and other equipment which was specifically purchased for this job. This division added a cost of $23.28 per dry ton, for a total of $77.26 per dry ton for the project. The total project cost is $225, 200. It should be noted that this figure excludes an estimated $15, 000 salvage value for equipment which was purchased by the District. 'The personnel cost given includes overhead to the District. This overhead is calculated at 25 percent for District personnel for retirement, medical insurance, and Personnel Department overhead and at 10 percent for the people mho were hired locally in Ottawa. Before extrapolating the project 's costs to larger projects certain qualifications and adjustments must be made. It is noted that substantial saving would be a-vailable on a larger project in terms of transportation, barge loading (lagoon cleaning operations) , and barge unloading. These would be typical savings from full time, permanent, and more sophisticated equipment as well as operating procedures. Most of these cost savings, however, are presently intangible and outside the scope of this project. Detailed economic studies of transportation and handling methods on larger scale , longer term projects -will yield an evaluation of these savings. There are certain readily available savings that can be evaluated directly if this project was considered part of a long term project. With the use of a permanent sophisticated system, the solids concen- tration could be controlled to obtain the desired 10 percent concen- tration of dry solids. To dipose of the same quantity of dry solids ._ as applied to the L.O. F. site, a lesser volume would have been handled - 15 - if the solids concentration was 10 percent rather than the actual 8.5b percent. By proportioning the volumetric unit cost, a savings to the project of $40, 000 ($10. 10/dry ton) would have been realized. By restricting personnel to people living near the project location, a savings of $5,00-0 in travel and overnight expense mould be realized. For a project of a longer duration, the rental of _. equipment would be eliminated, producing a savings of an esti-mated $17, 000 by purchasing and long term equipment use. Mobilization and demobilization savings of $13, 000 by the Mechling Barge Company _ and $10, 000 by the Sanitary District would also be realized in that larger scale projects would make these costs insignificant in the dollars per ton evaluation. The above estimates produce a readily available project savings of $85, 000 or $23. 10 per dry ton. 7. SOIL ANALYSIS This section reports the changes in the alkaline matrix, here- after called soil, of the Libbey-Owen-Ford sodium silica waste pit near Ottawa, Illinois. The soil of this pit is the ground glass, sand, and other waste materials of the glass polishing process. Table 3 shows the results of the 0-5" layer and 6-12" layer analysis of this soil before and after applying 17O dry tons of sludge per acre. The CEC (Cation Exchange Capacity) is the total of all kinds of ions held by the soil at any one time. Before application the CEC was 11. 1 and 17. 9 in the 0-6" and 6-12" layers respectively. Sludge - 16 - application raised the CEC of the 0-6" layer to 12. 16 but lowered the CEC of the 6-12" layer to 10. 34. Sludge application had little effect on the bulk density of the soil which is the mass or weight of oven dry soil per unit volume. The bulk density of the 0-6" layer increased from . 941 to . 980 _and in the 6-12" layer from . 80 to 1. 01. Field capacity is the maximum amount of water a soil can hold against the force of gravity expressed as percent (%) . The field _ capacity of the 0-6" layer decreased from 44.49% to 25. 09% while in the 6-12" layer it decreased from 49.01% to 23. 73%. Usually adding organic matter to a soil increases its field capacity. The reason for the decrease is unknown. The organic matter content increased from . 7% to 2. 1% in the 0-6" layer and from 1. 1% to 1. 9% in the 6-12" layer. Organic matter content is one indicator of soil fertiltiy, the more organic matter the more fertility. Soils producing crops usually contain 2% to 6% organic matter. Applying 170 dry tons of sludge per acre tripled the organic matter content of the 0-6" layer and nearly doubled the organic matter content of the 6-12" layer. Soluble salts mea-cured by electrical conductivity increased from 1.00 mmhos/cm to 1.46 mmhos/cm in the 0-6" layer and from 1. 5 mmhos/cm to 1. 69 mmhos/cm in the 6-12" layer. This is a small increase considering the amount of salts in a ton of dry sludge (see Table 4) . However, it is assumed that most of the salts are - 17 - constituents of organic complexes which electrical conductivity does not measure. Also leaching could have moved soluble salts deeper into the soil. The pH reduced from 10. 1 to 6. 3 in the 0-6" layer. This is difficult to comprehend because the pH of the applied sludge was about 7.0. The pH of the 6-12" layer reduced from 10.4 to 9. 0. About half of the nitrogen in sludge is in the ammonia, NH3, form. The ammonia content of the 0-6" layer increased from a trace to 68 lbs. of ammonia per acre. Because ammonia is 82% nitrogen, _ the nitrogen content of the 0-6" layer increased to 56 lbs/acre. The ammonia content of the 6-12" layer increased from a trace to 136 lbs./acre which equals 112 lbs. of nitrogen per acre. _ The nitrate nitrogen, NO3, content increased from 6 lbs./acre in both the 0-6" layer and the 6-12" layer, to 180 lbs./acre in the 0-6" layer and to 200 lbs/acre in the 6-12" layer. Thus the nitrogen _ content of the soil increased from 1.4 lbs/acre in both layers to 41 lbs/acre in the 0-6" layer and to 46 lbs/acre in the 6-12" layer. Because both ammonia and nitrate are soluble in water it is possible _ that the 6-12" layer can contain more nitrogen than the 0-6" layer. The sludge applied 8160 lbs. of nitrogen per acre. The phosphorus, P1, content increased from 34 lbs/acre to _ 80 lbs/acre in the 0-6" layer and from 6 lbs/acre to 94 lbs/acre in the 6-12" layer. Relative to crop production, 34 lbs. of phosphorus per acre is to low for maximum crop production but 6 lbs/acre will - 18 - support almost no plant life. The increase to 80 lbs/acre and 94 lbs/acre is enough phosphorus to support maximum crop production. The citrate soluble phosphorus, P2, is the total inorganic phosphorus in the soil. This increased from 84 lbs/acre to 404 lbs/acre in the 0-6" layer and from 86 lbs/acre to 350 lbs/acre in the 6-12" layer. The sludge applied 10, 540 lbs. of phosphorus per acre. The exchangeable (plant available) potassium increased from 44 lbs/acre to 180 lbs/acre in the 0-6" layer and increased from 78 lbs/acre to 136 lbs/acre in the 6-12" layer. The sludge applied 1360 lbs. of potassium per acre. 1r. The calcium content of the 0-6" layer increased from 220 lbs/acre to 4000 lbs/acre while the calcium content of the 6-12" layer decreased from 4360 lbs/acre to 3500 lbs/acre. The sludge applied 7990 lbs. of calcium per acre. _ The magnesium content increased from 256 lbs/acre to 360 lbs/acre in the 0-6" layer and decreased from 374 lbs/acre to 256 lbs/acre in the 6-12" layer. The analysis may be erroneous. Because this ` soil is a recent deposit, it is all from the same uniform source, and because the sludge applied 2278 lbs/acre it is difficult to accept that the 6-12" layer decreased in magnesium. The metals content (micro nutrients for plants) boron, copper, iron, manganese, and zinc all increased with sludge application in the 0-6" and 6-12" layers, except boron which remained virtually unchanged. - 19 - In soils producing crops, addition of metals of this magnitude could cause toxicity to growing plants. However, a high pH makes the metals less available for plant uptake. Also the metals are constituents of organic complexes that must mineralize before the metals become plant available. The 170 dry tons per acre applied is seven times the amount a farmer would apply for crop production. -- The chlorine content decreased from 420 lbs/acre to 202 lbs/acre in the 0-6" layer but remained almost unchanged in the 6-12" layer. In the 0-6" layer the sodium decreased from 1660 lbs/acre to — 152 lbs/acre while in the 6-12" layer it decreased from 2600 lbs/acre to 166 lbs/acre. This is a dramatic and beneficial decrease. Further- more, the sludge added only 48 lbs. of sodium per acre. The — potassium, calcium, magnesium, and other plant -nutrients in solution in the sludge probably replaced the sodium on the soil particles allowing it to leach deeper than the root zone. Removal of the — sodium from the root zone and its replacement by plant nutrients are probably the greatest benefits of sludge application relative to this project. — - 20 - CONCLUSION Sludge application proved an effective method of reclaiming this alkaline soil. Before sludge application these 22 acres were void of vegetation. The dust blowing from the site was a public nuisance and a visibility hazard along Illinois State Highway 71 (Figure 1) . Where the sludge was applied, planting rye grass, orchard grass, and brome grass resulted in a dense vegetation cover (Figure 2) . Weeds are also common and on the southeast portion of the site thousands of cottonwood trees sprouted. ... The project gave valuable experience relative to sludge removal from lagoons, loading, transporting and application to the soil in all kinds of weather (Figures 3 and 6) . The application also proved to have a tolerable cost with substantial savings, profitable in either larger or longer term projects. The sludge applied an abundance of all the essential plant nutrients and copious amounts of organic matter. Applying sludge dramatically reduced the sodium concentration of the soil, the main deterrent to plant growth. The project showed that sludge application can reclaim sterile land in less than one year. - 21 - UN C1.1 N O u1 N 10 H W N N N O 01 H M .t M 1D [O % Mu) u1 O MH 01r- W O O o a) a\ a. 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M u 0 ... IC C O u 0 N En ro NN - - _ ' a to CO C \ E o \ E AAA E -. O I E Cr E .-.4 --I --I 0.1 76 � x - u1 F 01 >1 4 6 T 44 y CON X U C y y : u 44 - a s d v [[��-I a x u -.I ro m to CO A A A 2 CI W ?i C (C E u' CO ID CO CO 1J 01 CD N a) CO al ro£W CD C -�1 q U --01 --I C tT C 0 G F .-I O u 'O C A Z Z p. ICO N Z C N CO 34 •Ej C a--I to .4 .a ra 0 I I CO ,C A .C ro a C 7 u 0 I W E it a.-I a) a .-I r1 rn o WI xU !u1 4 a O G C .-I 'O E m 0 U 0.01 w O tO a 'OZ. W W W a ae U 14 H 5 N 40 U) TABLE 4 Composition of Lagoon No. 30 Sludge Pumped after Dilution From August 25, 1969 to September 18, 1969 — Total Dry Solids % by Weight 10 . 6 Analysis of Other Constituents — % by Weight Lbs . per dry Ton of Dry Solids of Solids Total N 2.4 48 .0 Total P 3 .1 62 .0 Cd 0 .55 11.0 — Cr (total) 0 . 30 6 . 0 Cu 0. 25 5.0 Fe 2. 89 57 . 8 Pb 0. 08 1. 6 Ni 0 .03 0 .6 Zn 0. 86 — 17 .2 Ca 2. 35 47 .0 Mg 0 .67 13 . 4 Mn 0 . 02 0. 4 K 0 . 40 8.0 Na 0. 14 2 . 8 Note: The above is an average of five analyses . - 26 - rill"r e t Y4r 3 r {c z , C * Sx� i"ei}} r Y ...... '+t "A YPda v �' �x e '4.5"'P. .rr 1.`fir 4 14 �� t y^.{rc 6 ^ Y•Wig, - ' +Y t ,','',,,`„e''' ��. � z >s NIP { x , xm 04‘,.4„.-c--,.. ..� ^„a..,. Rw�Y^ .r a �.1ri ..e " &.r °vRutw.�.. ' s-C .°n*'4•4`'''', -r y+ r '''' 3 # x f w( ti x''Y''CC' ca?'': } eW.� "In ''.,_eyt..*IF+ lm. t�'IM'.y ;F;: " + y ' ` � 'r rte.r •� � .r. ,. 411**0-41'• �`' • 'art ,� e „ ,+- ' y .4,'-',,', « M ^n +Y4 :+.."4^ a"'. �vlSi gym k' N ,w. fi h. r .. q e [ ^..VR•a — Figure 1 Dust blowing off alkaline soil before sludge application (Fall 1969) . -27- 'r r' — N ' i S-f Na • ;: ni d 4 a W fv D r-. t ^ rc' ✓T a �tb'rt , 1 .y •' n"- ' r** t y ..4".,,.. I. R -fix ' ' " 4¢5 .c ik"* ..t- "` . Rey v � n . ' , ' Y+ � Z. ,5 _ ..7.. k' w vt' a. ��yyy((( tp$.6n„ a ,�}.� a b^k ,y.r N :F�i't .'� .4:' , r'`'` pia h �,' x"55,3 !;5? ' t4% .1 �,g u ..;i4 , "�'d • • „pY 'fir y,� lam fis} ..:..,xr. �(,, 7,��.,.�Tr ' . �a3.3 ?6 ""h♦ry si t` ip q f •r,er �.'/,,+ — f ,, • Ail ':rIT ,¢ i Y + r�i� i I:3.. �.+ '.,,,4440, ..•!'�"'t Xe." I ih`}r ,M' . ��yttt"yyy1+ '"" ,yfy ai� r' .k �r., 4{�,j'2'. F, 'I �'t �'.4* nit�tG wi t! �r•J� 1 t.{.;y A. }ry lt, — T , !' r y,,k 'i. . i ..t et i ,r•.{ 14 y�i, y ;r, tM , +T"+ a•i 1', x • t � ,d , +iti1r' s rtd¢. Ht!...yt t•.' , — j iarY7+ • •. .�y, llLF y't �r t ' " � {....A% . � ''.• + , eir:4 , .. 4 it 0 — I ! i �, u t d`x a i .:a• , t c3' , :‘,41„„• �.} , Mf ik •' 1 Flir/,� .•; -.� 's,`' )" j , Figure 2 Vegetative cover nine months after start of sludge application program (Summer 1970) . -28- t _� ,..-:....-7,7*1 '"—n�� [i� '.,r., y . t 3J1 ! •tea ' `�{ t . 1,.n= �n a, • • . 'V" , : "..41, r•r:17 1Sj! It t.{ ..r. f rY. + • • ' w jib i•I` r'1 ✓t y'It - If ; .2,(7•7 /lit_ Fes. ,f�Yr rr ,1F'F t• f L.- • - e a A,., er NI 4, t ''Affilligar 'n,n UM . Figure 3 Barge loading of sludge at lagoons. Ina • / � . : . - \ r ‘.4 . .. .'"-----.1.-'V.41. - I • = .. • , ,.., - 4rOki lel, ._ -------___ 4', If rill° pialiattlaRaigui - ..lr •IMW y.. 1i oa 16i y r Figure 4 Barge unloading at Ottawa, Illinois. -29- 9f 2 Y yR — 'un :. L s +1 4' Figure 5 Aerial view showing deep ditch distribution. 414.. . J. sac's .1rale _ 'f` " ` it k. >1- µ; t .. - .„ . ; r.. cito -., 3 tea s.,- • .. ,-;•%.,t -77 ,.t•. M'14?!-:,,, .. 44 `,,a� it 1•%'4. ..lK 4 -riC Jy• .. ma V♦may' r p p-� r _ �`1 V ri- -,.�I \ e} .r \ yy� y — Figure 6 Sludge application from gated irrigation pipe. -30- ' WRJ•-5-68 S'V ' OF `1LORADO DIVISION OF WATER 'SOI 'ES ';:i k*:;• S.:t ,..4)3 , "i A PERMIT TO USE GROUND HATER (, al • �'.11 '4'...&..;:.:-.-Li 4E :•d ta? A PERMIT TO CONSTRUCT A WELL. "::' -3 i•••., <,'';' APPLICATION FOR: C7 REPLACEMENT FOR NO. CZ E`",(,` s;- .: f ,C7 A PERMIT TO INSTALL A PUMP ""a t-• .? ''-::":',/ C7 OTHER PRINT OR TYPE LOCATION OF WELL ~y II APPLICANT f'c` te't )t :':`"r. L- SYstr:r: COUNTY T•'0.`) 1 • Street Addr�ss" 40''1 .' 1 (-t.;,. St . , fni. to 'Ir;nfl sr 1 s,• i 3? 4, .4, sec. tinivcr iity "t.17.. ' i'n City ate T'nnvnr , rolo•ra,io T. R._ r ' r,i.I, Street or Use of ground water Irr50..lti.on Lot & Block - --- Owner of land on which well City or is located 7esi ern ArrSyr-3t-enc.: Subdivision • ..- Number of acres .;- to be irrigated _ Ground Water Basin i I''''.- J t-sl" i-.'�;.:..i ' Legal description of �~ Water Management irrigated land ".''. , S::i:, 3'' , FI''.. 33 District noire Other water rights on this land nor e LOCATE WELL ON THE BACK OF THIS SHEET Owner of irrigated >,• land .-Est: i-r. p- r:i. S• ; te;,: Driller_.,'---=�`- .,.,1f? r,c ...1c '� .' _ .t, No. Aquifer(s) ground water is to be obtained Driller's from ?1 :li'1'iu `i Address _rte • Storage capacity ' , ^''^ +� 1�' r` Signature of Applicant THE FOLLOWING TWO FIGURES ARE MAXIMUMS AND CANNOT BE EXCEEDED IN FINAL USE. CONDITIONS OF APPROVAL MAXIMUM PUMPING RATE " n GPM WELL MUST HAVE A TOTALIZING METER INSTALLED TO RECORD THE TOTAL QUANTITY OF WATER AVERAGE ANNUAL AMOUNT OF GROUND WATER TO PUMPED EACH YEAR• f,- �.�...� -/ 2- -14/ DE APPROPRIATED r•nn Acre-Feet ESTIMATED WELL DATA Anticipated start of drilling July l97^ Antici-pated start of use July 197^ — � ti r' 7th/ .-. Hole Diameter APPLICATION APPROVED: ' " • •----__-..-..,_,.... ,x.,,.., 1 r" in. from _ ft. to 1 " ft. VALID FOR ONE (1) YEAR AFTER DATE ISSUED in. from ft, to ft. UNLESS EXTENDED FOR GOOD CAUSE SHOWN TO THE ISSUING AGENCY Casing: PERMIT NO. 01532 '1— CONDITIONAL / / Plain ' 4 in. from " ft. to 5'1 ft . __ in. from _�� ft. to _ ft. DATE ISSUED LJ C 18 1: 70 Perf. 1 ' in. from _ ft. ta ' ''^ ft. _ter ,..,1„f ...,-;',4-",--1.__). ^_� in. from f t . to _- f t. STAT NC'I NEE R �o4r Cf,�I RMAN�G ROUND MATER COMMISSION ESTIMATED PUMP DATA �_ Outlet By _ ____._,..sr Type „T., HP .._ ?.^" Size " A! PL1CATION MUST BE COMPLETED SATISFACTORILY BEFORE ACCEPTANCE - (OVER) • THE LOCATION OF THE PROPOSED WELL SHALL BE SHOWN ON THE DIAGRAM BELOW WITH REFERENCE TO SECTION LINES OR GOVERNMENT SURVEY CORNERS OR MONUMENTS. 1 , 26'1 feet from �" t:'� (North or South) section line 1 , 3Sfl. feet from l'"'. 1 :4',4%'/I- (East or West) section line IF WELL IS FOR IRRIGATION, THE AREA TO BE IRRIGATED MUST BE SHADED OR CROSS-HATCHED. This diagram represents nine (9) sections. Use the CENTER SQUARE (one section) to indicate the location of the well . - l + + --- + - + - .f- - rr r 4 f R9�1 --- 1 — ; -I- ---H 2 --I - I -2z----F-- - + - + +_--_+ --- -I- + - '"3' } - + } + _ N ._ F----3t thvP + - -F —'. — i -- } l �Mi 1 .�I- • •- -f- - + — + ..._ + + -- -I" e -- ..' (,J F . - - + _ + -- -h --- + - -I- - 'Oh 1 __L_ ..1.___-____ i tc 1 ' THE SCALE OF THE DIAGRAM IS TWO INCHES EQUALS ONE-MILE I .v: �A �,�z� 43 ( ` , , 1°-/,' - 2 a- �. RAYMOND H. SIMPSON II 10444N16,to President Y W. H. PATTISON Director HOWARD M. SHULTS Mineral Department -Register WESLEY E. WOODWARD BOARD OF LAND COMMISSIONERS Engineer DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES STATE OF COLORADO 201 COLUMBINE BUILDING 1845 SHERMAN ST., DENVER, COLORADO 80203 November -6, 1970 The Board of County Commissioners Weld County Court House Greeley, Colorado 80631 Gentlemen: The State Board of Land Commissioners have property adjoining Western Agri-Systems, Inc. 4,300 acre Weld County Ranch, and have no objection to their proposed rezoning for irrigation and sludge -enrichment. Yours very truly, STATE BOARD OF LAND _COMMISSIONERS 9 ymond R. Simpson President -RHS:ish ot r o JOHN A. LOVE R� cot Governor IQ —022-4-'74- C. J. KUIPER 'A C State Enginoer rBTO DIVISION OF WATER RESOURCES "zz - 7/ Department of Natural Resources 101 Columbine Building 1845 Sherman Street Denver, Colorado 80203 December 24, 1970 Western Agri-Systems 910 16th Street, Suite 1020 University Building _Denver, Colorado Attention: Tom Nieman RE: Well Permit in section 32, Township 3 North, Range 61 W. Dear Mr. Nieman: An investigation of available data on the Hay Gulch area in east - central Weld County prior to the issuance of a well permit indicated that the granting of an irrigation well permit at the subject loca- tion would not impair existant water ri-ghts. Our records indicate that the nearest down-gradient irrigation wells are about eight miles north - on the flood plain of the South Platte River. There are several irrigation wells four to five miles east and northeast of section 32, but available data indicate that pumping from a well in section 32 will affect only those areas toward the north and possibly toward the south, hence no other water rights would be affected. There are no users of ground water in Hay Gulch other than for stock purposes. Very truly yours, Vti/es —• ! Harlan W. Erker Supervising Engineer Ground Water Section HWE:JCR:mas WeldBOARD OF HEALTH N IX elll County Heath .department R. T. PORTER, M.D .. GREELEY P. O. BOX 1227 MRS. ROBERT TIGGES, GREELEY GREELEY, COLORADO 80631 NILES S. MILLER, PLATTEVILLE EDGAR M. CLEAVER, M.D, ANDREW CURTNER. GREELEY DIRECTOR BEN REICHERT, GREELEY January 15, 1971 Mr. Ben Nix, Chairman 3-2 2 -7/ Weld County Planning Commission Service Building Annex `a: Weld County Court House O Greeley, Colorado 80631 Attention: Mr. Burman Zorensen Re: Western Agri-System Inc. Dear Mr. Chairman: On January 6th, Western Agri-System Inc. presented a proposal for Sludge Disposal in Weld County to a meeting of the Metropolitan Denver Sewage Disposal District personnel, Weld County Health Department personnel and personnel from the State Health Department and it'_s Air Pollution and Water Pollution Control Divisions. Following the presentation the technical people working at the State Health Department held a meeting to again discuss the matter. On January 14th we -received a letter from the State Health Department stating that it was their conclusion that the sludge disposal program proposal as presented to them by Western Agri-System Inc. represented no threat to Public Health. Subsequently, on January 11th, the Weld County Board of Health met and discussed the matter. It was the decision of the board of Health to accept the recommendation of the State Health Department and also our own conclusion that there appears to be no threat to Public Health in the proposed sludge disposal project. It is the feeling of the Weld County Health Department, however, that the conditions previously outlined still stand in regard to the necessity for all sludge to be digested sludge and for adequate monitoring of chemical and bact- -eriological changes in the environment. The statement that there -appears to be no threat to Public Health in the plan is not to be construed to mean that Western-Agri-System is in any way exempt from any laws, rules or regulations in regard to Water or Air Pollution or Public Health conditions. If at any time a threat to Public Health does appear to arise from the proposed sludge disposal program the Weld County Health Department will of course -exercise it's right to order a cease and desist of the sludge disposal program. We hope that these remarks will clarify the position of the State Health Department and Weld County Health Department in regard to the Western Agri-System -Proi, Sincerely Yours, .40 6-6 � Edg r M. Cleaver, M.D. Director, Weld County Health Department EMC/mhg' cc: Western Agri-System, Inc. r , • • _ � /, -3-2_ z 7 i l'HO LC-17:ADO HEALTH Of 4210 EAST 11TH AVENUE • DENVER, COLORADO 80220 • PHONE 388-6111 R. L. cLeenC. M.D. 1,1.I .',.. ^LCECTO? January S, 197:- Edgar M. Cleaver, M.D. , Director Wel.dtounty Health Department P. O. Box 1227 Greeley, CO 80631 Dear Dr. Cleaver: Following the presentations -by Western Agri-System, Inc. and Metropolitan Denver Sewage Disposal District #1 involving the disposal of liquid sludge, a meeting of technical people representing department interests concerned with solid wastes, water pollution, and air pollution was held. At this meeting, it was concluded that the proposal for loading, transport , and disposal of liquid digested sludge at a point between Roggen and Wiggins in Weld County presents no threat to public health. The proposed method appears likely to have fewer problems than the present method of sludge disposal employed. Sincerely, pp William N. Gahr, Director Division of -Engineering & Sanitation APPROVED: ,72 0/. 0r7r (7lftPtf_1C_ R. L./(LEL'RE, M.D. , M.P.H. Exoc�u4ti.ve Director WNC:bh cc: P. H. Engineering Section Air Pollution Control Division Water Pollution Control Division /I WESTERN AGRI-SYSTEMS, INC. CREATING NEW AGRICULTURAL WEALTH WITH PROCESSED WASTE WATER SLUDGE SeptembEr 1 , 1970 Western Agri—Systems, Adams County agricultural development firm, has acquired 4,3D0 acres of southeast Weld County prairie, planning to turn the center 700 acres into highly productive forage crop and livestock grazing land. Key to the transformation is the proven environmentalprocess by which waste water sludge- sewage - -becomes a safe, rich, economical fertilizer upon which vegetation flourishes. Livestock thrive on the resulting abundance of forage. Scientifically treated with the processed soil conditioner and fertilizer, present unstable sandy land develops a stable, water-retentive topsoil . Similar soil enrichment programs have been going on for several years in other parts of the country. It has been found that successful projects of this type require low -quality land with high agricultural potential , near enough to a major city to make rail transportation practical . The use of organic material processed from sewage plants to enrich soil is part of a wide trend toward Environmental improvement. Potentially valuable organic material from the Metro plant now is being treated with tons of salts and lime, most of which eventually flows into the South Platte River. The remaining solid residue is being burned in incinerators which add to the air pollution of the whole mountain frontal area. Implementation of the Western Agri-Systems plan will end bath these practices. The principals of the mew company, Tom Nieman, Douglas County rancher and land developer and Bob Calvert, Adams County livestock raiser, are convinced that their project will contribute toward cleaning Lp the air and water in Northern Colorado -while at the same time developing marginal land for agricultural use. The organic material in the form of a slurry containing 5% solids will be moved by railroad tank car from the Metro plant to a rail siding in the sandy highlands of the -Western Agri -Systems ranch. At the ranch the material will be distributed and subsequently irrigated, using renter pivot systems. Alfalfa and flay grasses will be raised to permit expansion of the rattle operation presently on the ranch. Use of processed sewage sludge as a soil conditioner has been developed over a period of years in Furope and America. decent work in Illinois has shown the material to give excellent texture and water-retentive properties to the soil where it is applied. In addition it provides plant nutrients in balance and in quantities that compare favorably with the best fertilizers in common use. Planning for the project has been carried out with the help of leading soil , water, and agriculture experts from Fort Collins and Illinois. Sludge Technology Over the last ten years a definite new direction has -appeared in the technological processing and utilization of sewage sludge. Effective recycling of this inherently valuable material not only fulfills social and ecological needs, but produces dramatic results in agriculture. Here are some of the areas using agricultural techniques to deal with sewage wastes: Melbourne, Australia Maple Lodge, England Jerusalem, Israel San Francisco, California University Park, Pennsylvania Tuscon, Arizona Leipzig, Germany Springfield, Illinois Kankakee, Illinois Stark County (Ohio) Strip Mines Canton, Ohio New York City, New York Las Vegas, Nevada Orlando, Florida, and Miami , Florida The acknowledged leader in the field of soil enrichment with sewage sludge is the Metropolitan Sanitary District of Greater Chicago, which has Eleven -S t OS x • ¢ fa , al. . . ....' tit' ..3t fina:. y f Ir j�' k tT' aYr2 " r "y x �f .C,...4.9C 2 t ill ttt• Y ��zst�s:> iat4yy�X " s�2'' t e g: \V.' ' .%."' t\,t'4_. ' �i.-Y.y}i ... "J 44� .fit •-• r p r X xa i. ♦ a • • / / It. jF 4t -r--E.M.MMINVIrt44I-47"5‘4140444,4 w *:t4.`-' ' ..rT41 to It.5 , �teFI� ta• V. a ft t+ ' �11r®^YI m...a•iaIlirt, •.44A;'skull,<:. . .:* - a . i Fig. 1. Experimental sludge farm at Hanover Park, Illinois. Note prox- imity of houses to sludge bearing fields. Odors and complaints are minimal . ate-,. ,' -eatMt. .'_'«--- _ .. -Hook;' .. - -- t-',s'. ' pit: M�i=i+l'i . " .• •1a• • ..4 4 a : :: T• tyb.t ` • y as .. 31 FF }i y a _ a ay .'i ♦ .'. ^° 111 �- , .,..., ! } it.. Y " x "'"" It-4^' r ≥ '. e 4p.T'+t'4: 3 r'G$.:N.'fk3t.'. .^. 1 .. Fig. 2. Corn growing at Hanover Park experimental farm. Corn on left has had no sludge application; corn on right has received ;" _of sludge (dry equivalent) . q }r r _ s: z•, ta. asp"� t. k iNi 44.\\Z"e‘‘frii 4 ; t t� gr ei` ; IN x § *£',+.'2 .... Fig. 3. Corn samples from Calumet, Illinois sludge farm. Sample on left from area with 70 dry tons per acre sludge application. 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(".. x41,],.t yjyyj $. }. y.Z it k, nT tiV{r ttai t< in t.,. y{^t�¢." '41.x' Y i1`.: M.t:': 1 y}t Z•aY tR t4 j t xYk "t 'L"iLx# Y�»t4LLits�*4,i l'8} • -ia}Cp{1 r Sw^tSi a ♦♦ 13 . L. FL , if•( +� �`ta2 *i rrr. �'t z.F&F t`5 t:l.t{ ek '� t�'*k#i'i {i ,}ti4 X 1 3♦Ii1MMttM ♦t F*r 9 �31. 'g�{it{ .,v,iy#1 412 r . '.x# # +t l ..{ + -'2*z 3Y#L3iI�tit i•i� .} ,tttx 't4 >F i '' At .-:,,,..11-3. ...,..,,.4...,- • ' _ iM L# L • thrif :..i xta i 1 4 - --311-41* 4t i ^ t till z L rI qL, •At 4•.' -a... # Sk i.. ;i4 1 Li'ar}.y- • 1 Yt Y ₹}•r E.1t tivi orti . i 7}LT# 4.T : • ♦ 'l„ gl.t't. ti ktr h; ,i .4,4., i _ i .'vf ♦♦i+ t\t* B. ...t r tli. #L� }H ii4k }?liti tsil . .. 4,: Ass i1`• ,i it t }#1` • tL .tit* '47 { tsy ,. r !t} t k` }t£ szys�4 tk^t.f : >T iL.rfkt '^t1 1'414! .- T ,R . - 4 0'5* }t '.,]!� i Flirt!' YY tt ,,.,' iF• iti dit t tit [4141 4r" ' qk s' II 4'1-• p#("i"°"s 49y t''TB•t.t -F �{: i tI4_._tt4 5r4=z . , 4 MITI 3:1#rtlri 3 i �f r(. kk .;M'Y<Y tx ♦ { yk is 4Y4 .41ST tY'x * lt. LI' ♦ t♦ J♦}y4#'f r( r x t• wt t[-j4"" yy#4,, T t Y ♦ t t Lt. •≥♦ tt _itS i#ir;. %I, lie >Ai �i4,ii } t 43 rit}y t III«•, r,. a Y,' 4 i ti' •`«.c` YtYt! 3t tl t1. Lti.. soli; .#...• ♦.}'i!}.,w v i Fig. 4. Silica pit -adjacent to glass factory in Chicago area - steril-e. 4 i• l'• 1 t' f i t4Y:. t .Y4t-.Y♦Y' } • %{re. t<.3 .. y Ri* 4, 13 - t. .. i. ri 4 tr• '}' Fr �Fk'#.•i; ii Yl ; rR, frw}: Ln. ..,. �-y,,..,,,, ....y.;:.,!.../.44,,,t4, .. .. , ,tS ai>E"4 ,txr ' i*";.L :. f ..Eli * TT ( T itt R T l:.�.i � jt04 Lt t"} i 1 1441 t Y. T cit x }y ''t`. Lx'ar l$ � m t n ;4i t�' [1,14 is tt 1. a*.ca , .4 2•k4 ( 1 ] + 'u s. 1 )3' titin {tc-t%lw,"FSi,2 r.:4-,4-.4.1...44. k rS"4Lr ,y TyC #,Y •p, I1�t t,) " t_ r §1M O. GxF ,t ; 4'F I. •. w LFti C 11.:411,,-.:1144 ^s:4 4t 'i"c1^ 4 / 304. s s$ tt• ,i "r i o' ' bti ,ntliti i { x > TV'"Yi, 4,y a ,.rr "70/11-% i' �,,, � L Yk }n t -,} FF 'Y 4pwi•a ***;..C%• YI.4 '.4„Ilik1.44O' .rf Srp+1+ i`,.L tci*it a' .r. 1 �4 +1yt14 4.t i2 '1 t.j � L] 1,. 1 . .+ ,- is arr./. } ;4. zk �4‘,....‘.4,1 ") ..r°'' li t ik'. . t le•h t i.,a i .. SY • - V444.:ILI-t •rvyy r { •a -I:li At d-��r t tq " {t•r k, t Ili' � e . ��f5-tt �. $� "�r s•ti tk i♦ ≥;4t vy[� 4 t s � t tt-':.'?". t t' �4tr .,f i '' e t 1. 1 in • •, • ` ;, 3+ / '4t. •t ` � 31.• 44- iY r•.1,-t, p tl „t r S. y^t.c .xr.4'j.. �{1 }r t fi } Yi:`4ti 21 t jy r • { : ::r ♦yyy. „x.•z x.}sor'"*t x'' . t(' ,i i14 =. • ' '' i.. Fig. 5. Silica pit after application of 140 dry tons per acre _digested sludge. - ,v .,,.nom. --•..;R' +::'. Fig. 6. Strip mine at Ottowa, Illinois undergoing restoration. Sludge applied in ditches. #H tli F4Y 4F# 1/ " tit t.*y{. . Y+I's sty ttY ii# YYii i % ,: 21tc' * 42 ..2tt .Y;i '421411121 • ; k iii Y skt t L$_ t fit Alt ₹+t T-, '. v{ i*# , Ai i .bt 5₹" 4#%t .#Y%2 #* L*i5T *fa i < 1< • Y Y Y t . t* Y" ,, _ Ldp' ii�1 ti,Illlt,tr,Ail.,""t is <'. ' ; ��yy//f iL'x ! in "I ti ltiz"s L'!#i xx }It- /web ₹**Y t# * "• + } • ." ff''" Yfc.. Y. tit4 s #x4x j3tY ' i#}+ £*t%ttf AF. . ty"� t i% .i 'ig } Fig. 7. Center pivot irrigation system for complete control of water application to sandy land. (Scottsbluff Station - University of Nebraska and USDA) • + .%y Ys Sr 'f a =:,w, 'S. try 31,1"'.` ti,t!ttta,, t aro ;i. a,A ? .:..Y £ 'V .A.)11. '6 • y rYL.' 3Y T •4t 17a.+i,-yT x; fr „s k x�°' at 1...7f Y Xi S b� A /2 � ti. 4‘71}}}....‘;''' p ,rt y, t },.� i t }s #i iY .r •* j, , ; ♦ ' is F :Mit'4 - •••1 tYi' t.Y •4 * ai ' • } .4. . , .. ryi. tolt Y sa a r .. . 14. '\ t - a„ i Vef F i P. .�+ ^�Ytia "Yv L+� ► .t to ai i k Y;» � ' •ir • i.+ya{.4!5. I csr "" -1..--,1,-,, - .,---.1.. :!i«, a tx t l i F3 ua ar• - ^C` g " �.* nth w.• .. fig. 8. Agricultural Bench System for complete control of water appli- cation with zero run-off. (Scottsbluff Station - University of Nebraska and USDA) successful soil enrichment projects presently operating. One involves a 160-mile rail -haul of digested sludge from lagoons at the Stickney, Ill . plant to a test farm at Arcola, Ill . -All the remaining projects are in the greater Eticago area. The Hanover Park test farm is particularly notable for its use of digested sludge to irrigate and fertilize crops within a stone's throw of suburban homes (Fig.l ) . Corn grown at Hanover Park made impressive growth gains when irrigated with sludge (Fig.2) . At the Calumet, Ill . test farm heavy applications of sludge are used to maximize torn growth (1=ig.3) . Adjacent to a Libbey-Dwens-Ford glass factory, (Fig.4) , completely sterile sand pits treated with sludge have been transformed from tare, blowing sand to grassy fields (Fig.5) . At Ottowa, 111 , strip mines are being re- claimed by applying liquid sludge in trenches (Fig.6) . Other soil en- richment projects in the Chicago area include city tree farms and fertile land creation on fills in Lake Michigan. A recent Chicago study established these stringent requirements: a sludge re-use system: 1) must be compatible with environmental standards of the area, that is, no land, air or water pollution; 2) must be one which solves the problem into perpetuity; 3) must be economical ; and 4) must conserve the organic material for beneficial use. Agricultural experts employed by Western Argi-Systems, Incorporated have helped design a system that meets these requirements. The Western Agri- System's 4,300 acre Weld County ranch -is ideally suited for sludge en- richment. Sludge and irrigation water will be applied to only 140 acres at a time using a center -pivot irrigation system (Fig.7) . Such systems, in wide use -in eastern Colorado, are considered ideal for raising forage crops in dry, sandy areas. Development experts have also called for -a series of agricultural benches immediately adjacent to the rail unloading track. These benches, to be constructed to take advantage of existing topography (Fig .8) will be used for storing sludge in mid-winter. They will be intensively farmed throughout the agricultural seasons. A number of organizations and individuals gave been -extremely helpful in the planning and development of this Western Agri-Systems project. Some were retained by 4iestern Agri-Systems, others contributed know- ledge in their capacity as public servant-s. All have teen extremely helpful in offering guidance and criticism. We wish to thank: Professor Lewis 0. Grant Atmospheric Science Department Colorado State University Fort Collins, Colorado Doctor Howard R. Haise D.S. Department of Agriculture Agricultural Research Service Fort Collins, Colorado Professor Thomas D. Hinesly Agronomy Department University of Illinois _Urbana Illinois (Also Director of soil enrichment research project, Elwood, Illinois. ) Herbert S. McCall , P.E. & L.S. Partner, McCall-Ellingson Engineers Denver, Colorado Willard G. Owens Principal , Willard Owens Associates Water Resources Engineers Denver, Colorado Doctor Frank G. Viets Director of the Nitrogen Laboratory U.S. Department of Agriculture Fort Collins, Colorado a_ 2 7 WILLARD OWENS .v WATER RESOURCES ENGINEERING ASSOCIATES ENGINEERING GEOLOGY • GROUND WATER HYDROLOGY SUITE 560 • 1516 XAVIER STREET • DENVER 90204 • (303) 992-1400 July 10 , 1970 Western Agri _Systems 1910 16th St . , Suite 102n D-enver , Colorado Re ' Eydrog-ological Survey Western Agri Systems Properties Eastern Weld Co . Colorado Project ^o . 70-C-014 Gentlemen . In accordance withyour request and authorization , we coniucted a preliminary hydrogsological survey and test hole-observation well construction program on Your proTertiss in eastern Weld County . The results of this survey are pre- sented in this engineering geologic report . Respectfully submitted , Willard C . Owens ered Pr. • „ ional Engineer � ee qts a1 Geologist c? COC O/1 d WIt1ARD GLOMS'a'�I OWN; 3077 al'W if • ` Y r TABLE 07 CONTENTS Pape INTRODUCTION 1 Purpose and Scope 1 Previous Investigations 1 SIJYMARY ()F CONCLUSIONS 3 RECOMMENDATIONS 5 ffE CRIP'T'ION OF SURVEY AREA 7 Yydrologic Conditions 7 Geologic Conditions R ITydrogeologic Condi-tivns A GROUND T ATER SOURCES 13 Shell.ou• Water 13 Deep Water 14 INVESTIGATIONAL PROCEDURE 15 EXPLANATION OF PLATES 1 , 2 and 3 17 Plate 1 Location Map after p . 2 Plate 2 ObservatiOn e3 is s _after p . 18 Plate 3 Cross-Section A-A' after p . 13 INTRODUCTION Purpose and Scone At the request of Western Agri Systems we studied the hydrologic and geologic conditions within and beneath their properties located in eastern Weld County , Colorado. The location and physiographic features of these .nropetties are shown on Plate 1 of this report . The purpose of our survey was to determine shallow ground water conditions , relative soil percolation rates and other geologic data pertinent to surface deposition of stabilized sewage sludge , and to ascertajn the water supply conditions relative to agricultural develop- ment of the area. Our study included the review of available geologic in- formation and the drilling and construction of water level ubservation wells . Previous Znvestil_ations The only available detailed geologic-al study of the area which includes the Western Agri Sy-sums properties was a 1067 study by Willard G . Owens , under the auspices of Nelson , !!al-ey , P-atterson and Quirk, Inc . , of Greeley , Color-ad-o . The report that de-sctibe-s that study is entitled Ground Water Resources of the 'Lost Creek Uraina ;e Basin, prepared for the Colorado Ground Water Commission . Pouch of the basic data rel-ative to that study was used in the preparation of this report . A hydrologic analysis of the area east of the subject -2- properties is describ-ed is a report to the CElvrado Wate-r Cotserv-ation _Commission by Colorado St-atE University on the Kiowa-Bijou drat-naor basin . ii Z'� a h o c Q � � axe,4 t •� o � v) I d 44 ` tv a o Q z0. a O "0":3 -.11-71,--,':;;J.':T ��+ NI'/ ' 1$':91•7'77--,-. 3 `::Y Q� ._r^ i,,,,,,,-:,..,,..,>.-1 -7.-:y _ ..;1:-.4.11t-' .ate. K t �� • C .� ,,,4t.12::::: :-.-••;.!,,,,i,„;..1.. � ��'r' 8 �: ,„' 3u 6 �K g �.,,is� ti.:-:::;';;',•.'V'':'::'::1-'''::::;'': ,:;.•.•:„•:,: ',4-;1:::''''.-. / C i iAJ{' ,�"7` .'c 1;.. ✓; •:',!,,.' ,. ..,.,,..•-, ,,,.-4.,. �"• ,✓ - Y. 0 ! z-:,„,„,.'•,,5,.:,-,.•,,.4".' 9�r 8 r yap :S. t ea 6 3 2 .,.7.20-. ....,.,,, 6�S aq�, + s-•-v +Q�ll' '' ,'dk dx k a°s t ♦ F - ' .,,,,� x �.. -4'r�Ly t" CO'b sf d z' vA ,: t,s� ,Fe.� +. ttKi k r: `., '-,ti--..'l; {�M#z` a$i '.. 3Fr�t Gs- �--411-4`O t f,� , N•�'-`� -. S j, n -,7-7',7-r.';-;.' �:. '• '''''.-:,,,,,,,',,-,-.•_'. 17...-ir /:, eti j•rj. �, ,n pe... X � 'i �''�;; 10/:v.,':::::"., �/ )C 3 r-lf i'7 �� . re� '-, �� ki r ':: - r} - -:.,,,.4,,-;:..;\,'c':-I,, L' �i`�"k , rv. �- `� -- ✓ i ^' rte lac�wle! © *••1. 1 v '••---•.7;•;2,'7: s: J 'f,- ,4,,'-‘:t'''''';''....'',‘;''''''''. �' , o� � yea 11 pej R J'�'"��} I � B � b '� L.,..;',.....„,',--,--,:' _✓�R � �;-„,;:',,1"::: :,, ',.=-::::- SLY jrYn � �r. ' ^; Mr ,^ 1@• , `..r is ft m / as d U ` sly % ry4 ✓ w �, ! l f� a g`kt b o yY` D y t 8•` a? ,. rt / ;:',-,•_•-•.:;':°-,•,•, •-•.•....'.:'•-•::::i.,07: C u Egli qt;,k ! V v f t m o� c\.3 O'lk ` � , D N. N ,, 3 \ Q air a 1 N rI I R N 0 N o 1 I . - r, C' Al � v y a ,. l�,it? iOOS/quo✓� a� �70 , �I�� hli i1�,� , II iiii i,,,„ i�d Fir y \ l I 1-s I �I -. 4 o o a III i ' d v yh T I C Z Y C o a- y Q Q !` yr y h / it i,,��' I i ' 1 ,,,,I,,�,i,t III CI o V V wk l siZ o 0 0 0 9Cil •. w W a Q Q 4 a 4 4 4- 1 C N Ll It, -.Z- \ v sr W I I I Ikl N P I b h �a III > I SE S 'II, C L h 4 �g �a�c —*—ten— V1 .9 ;I' II,I1 0 oer 14 to Nk. '''''f I t i 1, lLii t - V % ill til O1 k J /, -1, I t"' •/ Ili I I 0 Q M H i ul di'''/ 3,. u 3.t t ti j c�i Q C V:O tti I ' r Q a 0 0 , P m 4 ' and 3 ! v E mss L— I 0. - ti k) ,,,.. I filliiirlill 9� % immi z l o ki 1, �°' s Q � y I o ti iO � v_ �� 9 i ti' t: ' i)) [ -3- SUMMARY or CONCLUSIONS The Testern Agri Systems pro-perties described in this report , shown on ?'late 1 , lie on and along a north-s-outh bedrock shale high that s-eparates two major drainage basins . L t-tle or no _shallow ground water oc-curs above bedrock in the central part -of the study area as sh.-own on 1-ogs -of Chserv.rtion r,?ells 2 , 3 and 4 -on Plate 2 . (U ay Layer-s an-d shale bedrock prevent deep penetration of water from the surface . Tight subs-oils in the central part of the study area Prevent Loth rapid lateral movement of water and develapment of major shal.lmw water supplies ,'.:but more than sixty feet of water-saturated sand occur at the rest edge of th-e study area , as shown by Oservati-nn Wells 1 and 5 , or. Plate 2 . Th-e results of our survey indicate that these water- saturated sands are capable of viel.dimg 400 to F-00 g-allons of water per -minute ( 7o0 acre feet per year) on the -property -and a supplemental -supply of 1 , 000 to 2 ,000 gallons per minute (2 ,001 acre feet per year) from an am-parent buried channel west and north of the property . See water table and bedrock contours on Plate 1 and the logs of Observation T'e11 s 1 and 5 on Plate 2 . The results of our survey indicate that the I ramie—rox PiI.ls. aquifer can sup-ply 25 to 50 gallon-s of water per minute per well , providing a minimum of one-half mile well spacing is observed . Test-supply wells will ba ne-cessary to determine actual yield . This deep water is separate fra-m the shallow water and could Ire -4- developed as a supply supplement to the shallow water . Natural recharge to the water table occurs through the sandy soils on the topographic highs , and surface water collects in broad low 'loamy" areas where it supports substantial grass growth . An increase in recharge by agricultural development of the property can be expected to raise the water table and increase the thickness of the water-saturated sand . This added recharge can he cycled tlir.ou #t the proposed shallow wells near Observation Wells 1 and 5 and any future closely spaced wells or a well-point dewatering system along the periphery of the property and re-used for irrigation . Since prevention of lateral and downward movement of soluble nitrates and other salts from the sewayre sludge is Cu- sired , we installed Observation Wells 1 through f. so water levels and water quality can be monitored during agricultural development . We anticipate installing additional observation wells during the water supply development stage of the project . -5- RECOMMENDATIONS Following is an outline of our recommendations relative to the propo-sed -surface disposal-agricultural development project on the '-'estern Agri Systems pronetties in ens-t Feld County . A . Construct a shallow water supply well. 1 . ?dear Observation 2 . Total denth . 1.00 feet 3 . T?ole diameterT 15 inches 4 . Casi.n� . r inch diameter 5 . ravel-sand pack and well screen T; . Test nls'nn water sunply well. ? . vinimum of 72 hours 2 . Measure water levels in observation wells 3 . "ensure well yield at stal,le water level 4 . Analyyse pumping test results and evaluate well and aquifer 5 . Design initial irrigation distribution system C . Extend test drilling program 1 . t-?estward through Section 31. and Section 3F 2 . Delineate apparent ancient channel. 3 . Construct observation wells and supply wells in charnel 4 . Test pump th-e supply yells 5 . Evaluate wells and aquifer -6- 6 . Design irrigation distribution system D . Design and construct Dewatering and/or monitoring system . 1 . Closely spaced wells or well. points 2 . Eastward from Observation T.'ell. 1 3 . southward and Eastward from Observation Well 4 4 . ;'orthward from Observation. Well. 6 5 . Recycle water through system . F . "oni.tor shallow water quality 1 . rater from Observation wells 2 . Water from operating stoc1- and irrigation wells to the South Platte River 3 . ?•later from dewatering system if installed 4 . Control quality within and adjacent to the irrigated area - F . Develop Deep Ground Water 1 . Initial well located for domestic needs 2 . Surface water cased and cemented off 3 . Pilot hole drilled through Fox Hills , logged for well design. 4 . Well tested for yield , punning level and water quality . 5 . esults of initial well used for locating and designing additional wells . -7- DESCRIPTION OF SURVEY AREA The Western Agri Systems properties lie in the Colorado Piedmont Section of the Great Plains Physiographic Province . These properties consist of about 4 sections of land made up of alternating grass and brush covered sand hills and grass covered flat areas . Surface drainage dev- elopment in all but the southeast corner of the properties is essentially non-existent , as shown by the topographic expression presented on Plate 1 . Hydrologic Conditions Considerable sunshine , light rainfall , low relative humidity and moderate temperatures characterize the climate of the study area . 1'. S . Weather Bureau maps show that the normal annual precipitation and the normal May-September pre- cipitation in this study area during the period 1931-60 were about 13 inches and 3 inches , respectively . No surface streams enter or leave the area except in the extreme southeast corner , as shown on Plate 1 . No standing water on the properties was observed during our field work in 1970 , but heavy grass growth and a near-surface "loamy" soil in many low , flat areas suggest that water drains from the sandy soils of the high ground and accumulates in the low areas . The sandy soils at the surface are generally favorable for downward percolation of precipitation , particularly on the higher areas , although the relatively impermeable clay layers at depth will restrict the daep downward movement of water . (See plates _q- 2 and 3 ) . The "loamy" soils in the low areas retard down ward percolation of precipitation and apparently hold enough moisture to support the heavy stand of grass . ? roan a hydrologic standpoint , the properties are located on a broad topographic divide zone 2 to 4 miles wide between two major surface drainage basins . There is no surface drain- age or erosional system from the properties into either of the two basins . Subsurface drainage from the properties is very low, as shown by the water table contours on Plate 1 and the low thickness of saturated sand at Observation '.?ells 2 , 3 , 4 and 6 on Plates 2 and 3 . Ceologic Conditions The surface and near-surface materials are made up of wind-deposited silt and sand which overlie ancient stream- deposited clay , silt , sand , and gravel . These materials lie on an erosional shale bedrock surface which acts both as a harrier to dow•?nward percolation of water through the upper materials and as a divide between subsurface water in drainage basins east and west of the properties . These subsurface drainage basins are delineated in the Lost Creek and Kiowa- Bi_jou reports available in tine State Engineer ' s office . The shale bedrock beneath the properties is part of the Laramie formation. :'e estimate the thickness of the im- permeable shale to be 50 to 1.00 feet , beneath which lies the coal , shale , sand , and sandstone layers of the lower part of -9- the Laramie formation and the Fox Hills formation. The major sands and sandstones of the Laramie and Fox Hills formations make up the Laramie-Fox Hills aquifer which provides water to wells in many parts of the Denver Basin. The subject properties lie on the northeast flank of this Denver Basin, which is a large geologic structural depression. Hydrogeologic Conditions Sandy surface soils allow percolation of snowmelt and rainfall into the subsoils . Topsoil has developed downward to about eighteen inches except where it has been removed by wind erosion. Wit-h the sparse precipitation and low humidity in the subject area , we estimate that the long range average natural recharge to the subsoils is less than one inch per year . Observation Wells 1 and 5 are in the east edge of an ancient buried channel of vater-saturated clay , sand and gravel . Previous investigations point out that this is a northward (downstream) extension of what is now called Kiowa Creek . Re- charge to this buried channel is from the Kiowa Creek drainage basin , but water within the channel is not tributary to the present-day Kiowa Creek . The estimated quantity of water naturally stored in the ancient channel is 200 ,00n acre feet , extending from two miles south of and 5 miles north of the Section 31 shown on Plate 1 . The estimated rate of recharge to the ancient channel is 7 , 00) acre feet per year . -10- The actual rate of underflow through the alluvium- filled channel can not be accurately determined without testing to determine the aquifer ' s transmissibility , but we estimate a flow rate of one mile of northward migration of the water in five years , under natural conditions . Long-range with- drawal of ground water in the vicinity of the Western Agri Systems properties should flatten the hydraulic gradient of the water table and thereby decrease the rate of ground water migration . In our opinion, water supplies can be developed from the medium sand encountered in Observation Well No . 1 . Although well construction and testing will be required to -determine absolute yields , we feel that a well completed in the sixty- plus feet of water-saturated sand at Observation Well No . 1 will yield 100 to 200 gallons of water per minute on a long range basis . A. series of wells , closely spaced along lines east and south of Observation Well No . 1 and acting as a dewatering system can he expected to yield 400 to 600 gallons of water per minute . If recharge from the proposed agricultural development into the subsoils in Sections 32 , 33 and 34 is anticipated , properly located dewatering systems of closely spaced wells would serve as hydraulic harriers by capturing the artifictkl subsurface flow along with the natural flow and allowing recycling and re-use of the water . -11 - In addition to the shallow water in the vicinity of observation Fell No . 1 , water is available from the ancient channel discussed above . At present this water is used only to supply a few stock tanks and is not appropriated . ased on criteria set by both the Colorado State Engineer and the Colorado Cround rater Commission , state perrits for },igh capacity wells in Sections 31 , 32 and 33 should be ob- tainable through the normal procedure of well permit application . Although actual high capacity well location and testing outside of the area shown on Plate 1 are beyond the scope of this phase of our work for Western Agri Systems , available data indicate that water in the sand and gravel west of the study area could he developed to sunplement the estimated 400 to 600 CPm avail - able within the study area . Such development would take advantage of the apparent underfl.ow arid much of the natural storage in the ancient channel . Exploration drilling and well construction and testing would he required to determine the amount of water that can he withdrawn from this apparent source on a tong range basis , hut the estimated recharge rate of 2 , 000 acre feet per year can be used as an approximation for • the entire channel . ?e recommend that long-range planning for this supplemental water be limited to 2 , 000 acre feet per year until exploratory drilling and well construction and testing is done and firm well yields and projections are determined . Deep ground water in the Laramie-Fox wills aquifer is -12- hydro,ceological.ly related to the shallow ground water in and tear the T1estern Agri Systems properties . The impermeable shale of the Laramie formation separates these two sources of water , and they should he considered and developed as two separate sources of water supply . -13- GROUND WATER SOURCES Shallow Water Shallow water is that ground water which occurs above the bedrock formations and within the sand and gravel of the stream and wind-deposited soils . This source is the primary source in the subject study area . Its occurrence is as shown on Plates 1 , 2 and 3 of this report . This shallow water is physically available for development by means of wells yet to he constructed and for one of which a permit to construct a well and use ground water has been applied for through the Colorado Division of Water Resources . The shallow water recommended for development is not within a Designated Ground Water Basin or Management District and is under the jurisdiction of the State Engineer . The bedrock surface is well above (140 ' ±) the normal level of the South Platte River and is about eight (2) miles from the river . Since there is no "appropriated" water in the immediate vicinity and the prnnosed water development is distant from the South Platte River , we do not anticipate problems in obtaining well permits to develop the shallow ground water . i'e believe 400 to 600 gallons water per minute (or about 700 acre feet per year) can he developed from this source within the area shown on Plate 1 . We estimate that 1 , 000 to 2 , 000 gallons of water. per minute (or about 2 , 000 acre feet per year) can be developed from the ancient channel immediately west of the study area shown on Plate 1 . -14- Deep Water Deep water is that ground water which occurs in the porous and permeable layers of the bedrock formations . The only bed- rock formations beneath the subject properties for which develop- ment of water supplies is feasible are the Laramie and Fox Hills . 'The underlying Pierre formation is generally non-water bearing . The deeper formationsoccur at depths greater than 4 , 000 feet -and usually contain brackish water . The major sands and sandstones of the Laramie and Fox Bills formations make up the Laramie-Fox Hills aquifer which provides water to wells for stock, domestic , municipal , and industrial purposes in the Denver Basin . Yields from this aquifer generally range from 25 to 125 gallons per minute. Within the Western Agri Systems properties , the aquifer is under considerable pressure, and flowing o-r nearly flowing water can be anticipated , so long as at least 11 mile well spacing is provided . Well yields through pumping from properly constructed Laramie-Fox Hills wells in this narticular -area are expected to he 25 to 50 gallons per minute per well , with a minimum of mile spacing . Water in this aquifer is considered as "non-tributary" water and its development is under the jurisdiction of the State Engineer. '-1e believe that there will be little or no problem in obtaining well permits for exploratory-supply wells in this aquifer . -15- INVFSTIGATIONAL PROCEDURE The preliminary stage of this hydrogeological survey consisted of a review of available maps and reports to determine the location of the study area relative to areas of known geologic and hydrologic conditions . Field and aerial. reconnaissance of the area was done to select access to the study area and test drilling-observation well sites . Test drilling was done at selected sites to determine the shallow (above bedrock) ground water and soils conditions in the study area . Samples of the surface and near-surface soils and the bedrock shale were taen and retained for future analysis . Soil and water samples were taken and delivered to the client for his analysis and use. Six test holes were drilled and six observation wells were installed at the locations shown on Plate 1 of this report . Descriptions of the soils at the observationw*e?l sites are given on Plate-s2 and 3 . The observation wells were completed with l'z inch PVC pipe for water level monitoring . Water level measurements were taken at each of the obser- vation wells a few days after they were installed to determine the natural "static" water table of the shallow ground water . A n minute U. S .C . S topographic map was used to estimate the ele- vation of ground surface at each of the observation wells , and water table and hedroc)• elevation contours were plotted onto mlate 1 . Cross-section A•-A ' ••''G prepared from the topographic -1E- man , measured water levels , geologists ' logs of the test holes , and an interpretation of the water table and bedrock configur- ations shown on Tlate 1 . -17- =EXPLANATION OF PLATES 1 , 2 and 3 Plate 1 -- Location Map This nap shows the topography of the study area and the location of the six observation wells constructed to determine shallow ground water conditions and to he used in monitoring the level and quality of shallow water in the area . Also shown on Plate 1 are windmills used for stock-watering . Plate 1 also includes water table and hedrocl•_ elevation contours which represent the configuration of the water table and the shale hedroci- surface . These contours disclose that the central part of the study area is a broad hedroci- divide that separates the shallow ground water west of the divide from the shallow ground water east of the divide . This apparent shallow ground water dividezone is represented on Plate 1 both by the curving bedrock contours and by shading . An extreme difference in water levels at Observation T;el.ls 3 and 6 is the basis for the shaded area being designated on Plate 1 . Plate 2 -- ft servation Wells This plate includes descriptions of the soils encountered during drilling of each of the observation wells . Each of the logs shows descriptions of materials an a crater table level relative to depth below ground surface . The clay encountered in each hole is a sticky brown to blue clay which caused relatively tough drilling . The sand ranges from very fine to coarse-grained quartz with feldspar . -18- Pravel was encountered near the bottom of Observation Wells 5 and 6 , which are on opposite east-west ends of the study area , as shown on Plate 1 . Plate 3 -- Cross-Section A-A ' This plate is based on the topography shown on the U. S .G . S . map and conditions encountered during drilling Observation Wells 1 through 6 . The subsurface conditions between the observation wells are based on the interpolation of observation well logs and the water table and bedrock surface configurations shown on Plate 1 . The interpolations on this cross section and the inter- pretation shown on Plate 1 should he modified as new data are obtained during later stages of the proposed development . li 4 I t Al 0 t til NJ NI 14 41 I k 1- N . 4. � CI) y 4. a. k 11 .1 In kt e2 I I ': I: :: . . . - CIVyi!II!I!i!Illlh!,h1h1!I!I;l!iiii:Ill I, R 4. _4.._ o V v.k ro •II " 1 •� k by � a, ti N.F.• :I .'. LI!I! Illi;iiililii!I I;Nlill;!!!I4 a ., q et is m c y y p. h b il i iilllll i llij N a4 NI u n c N v) i!!1 CiiiTatoi,''I`IiIiIi!IIII!I I!i IlilllliiIIII!II!:!A C as t• t a °n t y t e t t N LI d o:k CI� : : I!I!I: :I :I; Toftroi 0 1 IFijk LEYV J t. WELD COUNTY PLANNING COMMISSION 2 MONDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 1970 3 1:30 P.M. 4 FOURTH FLOOR HEARING ZOOM 5 WELD COUNTY COURTHOUSE 6 GREELEY, COLORADO 7 8 WESTERN AGRI-SYSTEMS , INC. 9 ZONE CHANGE HEARING 10 11 MR. WILLIAM CROSIER, Assistant County Attorney, Weld County, Greeley, Colorado, 12 appearing on behalf of the Weld 13 County Planning Commission, 14 SMITH, BOHLENDER, RUCKER & VENABLE, Attorneys at Law, 936 9th Avenue, Greeley, Colorado, by: EDWARD 0. VENABLE, 15 Esq. , 16 appearing on behalf of Western Agri-Systems , Inc. 17 18 This matter came on regularly for hearing before the Weld County Planning Commission, Mr. J. B. Nix, Chairman, 19 Mr. Phil Bowles and Mr. Glenn Anderson, in the Fourth Floor Hearing Room, Weld County Courthouse, Greeley, Colorado , 20 on November 30, 1970, at 1:30 o'clock p.m. 21 22 Joseph J. Rusk 23 Certified Shorthand Reporter Weld County Courthouse 24 Greeley, Colorado 25 2 1 Whereupon, the following proceedings were duly 2 ad: CHAIRMAN NIX: Ladies and Gentlemen, as you 4 obviously can see we do not have a quorum. But as I understand s as I am informed, the Commissioners have ordered us to go 6 ahead and hold the meeting. We will be taking the information 7 for and against. We will proceed, when we do have a quorum, 8 we will take action. 8 MR. VENABLE: Mr. Chairman, if I may, I would to like to enter our appearance on behalf of Western Agri-Systems, 11 Inc. , which is A Colorado corporation. My name is Ed Venable, 12 I am from the firm of Smith, Bohlender, Rucker and Venable, 13 and we appear on behalf of the Western Agri-Systems . 14 I'll endeavor, we have available with us for 15 the presentation of the information concerning this proposal, 16 some of the leading scientific experts, we feel, in every 17 possible field that could arise with regard to this project. 18 Each of them will, without any particular direction from me, 19 give a brief resume of the area as it concerns their particula 10 expertise. We have discussed it and asked them to keep their 11 statements brief. However, they certainly stand ready, willi 22 and able to answer any questions of the Commission, in 23 particular, or Any member of the Audience that has some 24 particular concern or has some reason to want to know somethin 25 about this. 3 1 To give you a little bit of background, previously this proposal has been discussed in formal hearings 3 with the State Water Pollution Control Commission. That was -4 in a formal hearing held on September 8, 1970, in informal 5 and continuing discussions. 6 The proposition has been discussed with the 7 State Health Department, and also it has been presented to 8 the staff of the State Air Pollution Control Commission, which 9 I am sure you are familiar with the Governor's Commission on 10 pollution control. 11 It's also been presented on an informal basis 12 to the Weld County Extension Agent and the Morgan County 13 Extension Agent. 14 I'm aware that Mr. Bowles, from the Commission, 15 along with Mr. Glenn Paul from the Department of Health, and 16 also Mr. Lorenson and Stan Boyes, the County Extension Agent, 17 traveled to the State of Illinois last week and viewed a 18 proposal similar to this . 19 I would like to give you copies of a brief 20 resume of our client's operation, if I may. We have much 21 more complete data available, if you have any specific questions that arise from your review of that, we have a 23 much more complete set of data available. 24 I would also like to present you with copies 25 of a general and very complete discussion of a very similar 4 1 type of a project which has been going on for some time in 2 Illinois and a part of which was reviewed by the four 2 gentlemen from Weld County which went on the trip last week. 4 In addition, one of the major concerns that I s am sure you will want to review has to do with the water in 6 the area, and we felt that we should give you as much complete 7 information on that subject as possible. 8 This is the hydrogeological survey which has 9 been proposed by our consultants, Willard Owens Associates, 10 with regard to water in this particular area. 11 In addition, we have a copy, you can see behind, 12 the blueprint type of copy behind the aerial photo which we 13 have on the board, we have numerous copies of that map which 14 is a map of the particular district of the farm of Western 15 Agri-Systems and it has some detailed information with regard 16 to where the sprinkler systems and so forth would be located. 17 I would like to introduce you first of all to 16 the members of the Commission. The two principals in Western 19 Agri-Systems are seated to your left at the counsel table, 30 and they are Mr. Bob Calvert of Denver and also Mr. Tom 11 Nieman sitting beside him. These gentlemen are the principals 22 of the company. 23 Seated in front of the table is Mr. Robin 24 Bardwell, who is much more familiar with the project, has 25 been with it since its inception, and is more familiar with 5 1 it than I. 2 I would next like to introduce to you one of 3 our leading expert-s, Dr. Frank Wets . Dr. Viets is from 4 Colorado State University, and he also was raised in the 5 immediate area of this ranch and is peculiarly well acquainte 6 with the area and with the people in it. Dr. Viets has his 7 Master of Science, Bachelor of Science and Ph. D. He has bee 8 involved for more than twenty five years in the study of soil 9 and water conditions , and been a consultant on various 10 different environmental problems concerning water , air 11 pollution, feed lots and se forth. 12 We also have Mr. Willard G. Owens -with us . Mr. 13 Owens is the one who prepared the water _report, and if anyone 14 has any questions concerning any of the water in this 15 district he is certainly able to -do that. He holds his 16 Bachelor of Science and Master of Science degrees and he has 17 been involved since 1962 in the State of Colorado in the area 18 of water geological engineering. 19 The third ',ember of the scientific staff who is 20 with us today is Mr. Herbert S. McCall. Mr. McCall is a 21 civil and sanitary engineer who has been in this field and 22 has had experience in it for the -past fifteen years . 23 If you have any questions of any of these 24 gentlemen, after their testimony, I am sure they will be 25 happy to answer whatever they can. 6 1 I would like to present to the Commission, 2 just advise you first of all, we don't have sufficient 3 copies of this . But this project has been previously noted 4 and publicized at our request and through the cooperation 5 of the local press. In this immediate area an article which 6 appeared Tuesday, September 8, 1970, in the Greeley Daily 7 Tribune is a pretty general description of it. A great deal 8 of the information is similar to that which you have in our 9 prepared brochure. We would like to leave one copy of that 10 with the Commission for your information. 11 I have only one copy of this , which I prefer 12 not to leave, I need it in the file. But a similar article 13 very similar to this one appeared in the Fort Morgan Times 14 on Wednesday, September 9th, just one day after this. So 15 it has been publicized in all of the areas, in the major 18 newspapers of the immediately concerned area. 17 We also, before going into the testimony 18 concerning this project, we would like to tender to the 19 Commission for their consideration, a petition which was 20 circulated at our request and under our direction. This 21 petition contains the signatures of the landowners in the 22 immediate area. Their signatures were secure;] after they 23 had an -opportunity to discuss this project with representativ s 24 of Western Agri-Systems. 25 We indicated that the Board of Land Commi-ssione s 7 were aware of this . They own a large parcel of land 2 immediately adjoining, which is state land. And because o₹ 3 the State of Colorado's holdings, we have secured from them -q a letter indicating that they are aware of this project and 5 have no objection to it. MR. CROSIER: Mr. Venable. 7 MR. VENABLE: Yes , Bill. 8 MR. CROSIER: In view of the circumstances of 8 -this particular meeting perhaps we should have the petition 18 marked as Exhibit A, and the letter B and so forth, for the 11 record. 12 MR. VENABLE: Fine. 13 (Whereupon, Applicant's Exhibits A and B were 14 marked for identification by the court reporter ) 15 MR. VENABLE: Mr. Chairman, we would tender 16 our Exhibits A and B which we have previously described to 17 the Commission. 18 We will attempt to establish through testimony 19 which we hope to keep as brief as possible, the basic project 10 which we intend to undergo on the property of Western Agri- 21 Systems , some of the major scientific consequences of it. 22 And we hope to also suggest in advance the answers to some 23 of the questions which might be most pertinent, not only to 24 this commission, but to the neighbors who reside in the 25 immediate area. 8 1 We will cover briefly the question of whether 2 or not our own water systems are sufficient so that we are 3 not creating any kind tda detriment to other water users 4 in the area. We would also discus-s the area of -whether or 5 not there is potential damage to soil or to the atmosphere s or to water in the immediate area and what steps are taken 7 to control that factor. $ And we will discuss what is probably one of the 9 areas that is of most concern, at least to the neighbors in to the community, and in addition to the environment problem it and part of the environmental problem, and that is the odor 12 problem and whether or not this is one that would be an 13 offensive or have an offensive odor or have a detrimental 14 effect on the immediate community. 15 It's our contention, and we intend to prove IS that what we are -doing is , despite its scientific complicati s 17 and despite the elaborate research and preparation that had 18 to go -into this project, that the end result of it is one 19 that can be explained quite simply, and there are no hidden 20 secrets , nothing behind it that should be too difficult for 21 anyone to understand. 22 We have forty three hundred acres of land 23 located approximately ten miles east of Roggen. Mr. Bardwsl 24 will show you on a slide map the exact location of the 25 property. About forty three hundred acres. 3 Almost exclusively at the present time this 2 land, the majority of it, is 'blow sand, almost completely 3 unproductive land. We anticipate taking that land, and 4 through the use of a pivotal system sprinkler -with modificati ns 5 and attachments to it, for carrying the chemical fertilizer 8 to apply this chemical fertilizer to the land, beginning on 7 approximately a one quarter section piece, and extending it 8 from year to year until we ultimately turn the land into a productive reclaimed valuable piece of property. 10 Just looking at it from the standpoint of 11 increased valuation, we were Advised a short time ago by 12 the office of the assessor that presently this land is valued 13 on About a three and a tall to four dollar per acre assessed 14 -valuation. That if it was put _into a standard row crop kind 15 of irrigated property the assessed valuation would probably g 18 to A basis of about twelve. If it went into a completely 17 agricultural, completely irrigated sprinkler system operation 18 then we would have about a . 10, a ten times factor, we would 19 raise the value, assessed valuation of this land to something 20 in the neighborhoodof an assessed valuation of _fifty dollars 21 an acre. 22 This project has been used, as you will. see, 23 to reclaim everything from sillicone pits that wouldn't even 24 grow a blade of grass, to productive fertile land. It's 25 been used in projects where strip _mining has left the soil 1� 1 in an extremely acidic condition. It has been used in areas 2 which we will describe, and Rob Bardwell will explain to you 3 and show to you in Areas immediately adjacent to good housing 4 projects where they were just within a few feet of each -other, 5 and they worked together harmoniously andside by side In s reclaiming what would have been otherwise waste land. 7 Now, our specific proposal and intent with 8 regard to this piece of land is to reclaim it for use 9 productively in livestock folliage and grain. We are not 10 going to put it into row crops or into -potato crops or 11 anything like that. It would be used either in raising 12 primarily And initially, probably, depending on what 13 management decides , it would be used for grazing, for 14 folliage. However, they also, -depending upon the economic 15 conditions -and the condition of the operation, it's possible 16 that in the future it would also be used in livestock 17 grain through the growing of corn for sileage or whatever. 18 I think that the first initial question, which 19 I will describe to you briefly, and then let the experts in 20 the field tell you exactly what it amounts to, is the name 21 or the description of the fertilizing agent itself which we 22 are going to use. It's a digested stabilized sludge. It's 23 the consistency, as the experts will advise you, of 24 approximately five percent bulk to ninety five percent water. 25 It -certainly - - It's five percent organic material carried 11 1 with a ninety five percent water in order to use it and 2 circulate it. 3 All of the ramifications and scientific matters 4 with regard to that sludge I will let them describe to you. 5 Basically it will be removed after processing 6 and after it's -reduced to its digested stabilized condition 7 then it's removed by tank car and inserted and injected 8 through the sprinkler systems and spreazl out over the land. 9 I hope that that will give you a general 10 introduction to the project sufficient to make it a little 11 more understandable -at the time that the experts start 12 giving you the complete details on it. 13 I would like at this point to turn it over to 14 Rob and let him present the Information that he has . Rob. 15 MR. BARDWELL: Thank you. After Mr. Venable's 16 eloquent explanation, this would be just a relatively brief 17 slide show. 18 I think the first thing to establish is _where 19 theproperty is . As many people are aware, it's -the Epple 20 Ranch, the Epple Weigel Ranch in southeast Weld County. And 21 here is a map of the northern part of the state. As you can 22 see, here is Greeley, here is Denver, here is Fort Morgan. 23 You will remember when driving out on the highway, between 24 Denver and Fort Morgan, where it parts at Roggen from the 25 railroad, and then for the next fifteen miles , and then at 12 1 Wiggins joins it, at a point almost at the greatest point of 2 separation between the railroad and highway, find the propert . 3 Again, in deference to the Epple and Weigels , 4 we can say that while the northern three or four sections are 5 certainly extremely marginal land, there the southern part 6 which extends , which goes down several miles has been 7 cultivated with great success over a number of years . 8 Here is an enlargement so you can see it a 9 little more _clearly. There is Roggen, there is Wiggins , and 10 here is the location, the red patch is about twice the size 11 of the property. 12 Now, here is an aerial photograph of the 13 property taken from the south looking north, the lower area 14 which either Mr. Epple or Mr. Weigel here could describe in 15 detail as to what is going where. And then the railroad 16 tracks , rail lines as you can see through the sand hills 17 up there. And the northern part being relatively flat, 18 with no large hills there There is no natural water 19 erosion in this area. The topography is one of a blown sand 20 surface. 21 Here is a view looking directly down on the 22 railroad tracks in the vicinity where we propose to have a 23 railroad spur on which the tank cars would be placed for 24 unloading of the sludge. The sludge, by the way, has a 25 characteristic of water as far as pumping and handling. 13 Here is stpictur-e on the U.S.G.S. topographic 2 map of the same area. And again Section 33 and 34 in 3 Section 3, in Township 2. It is attempted to have a rail 4 siding in this area between 34 and 3, and flat benched areas 5 which will be used for two purposes, first to empty the 6 sludge into it from the rail cars and subsequently have it 7 pumped up to center pivot systems , the initial one being 6 in Section 33 in this _corner. 9 And during the appropriate time of the year, 10 benched areas which have sufficient sludge on them will be 11 cultivated and planted in row crops . 12 Here is -a picture of one of the engineering 13 drawings of the facilities on Section 33 and 4, is that 14 right? And here is the rail siding and the benched areas 15 each of which is approximately eight acres which is 16 considered the optimum economic size for, first, sludge 17 handling, and then crop handling. This is modeled after the 18 use of agricultural benches at the U. S. Department of 19 -Agriculture Experiment Farm at Scottsbluff, Nebraska. You 20 can see similar irrigation benches, which are of course used 21 with conventional water irrigation, in this case it would 22 be used with the sludge. And the side view of the - - 23 details of the rail car sittings and some elements of the 24 design of the grade 25 Here is a hydrogeologic map of the area 14 1 showing again the rail line , here is Roggen. This is the 2 area of the development right here. The point here to 3 indicate that the area exists , the area is not in the lost 4 Creek ground water basin, and is also not in the Kiowa 5 Bijou ground water basin. And in fact the , you can see the 6 contoured lines, the aquafer under it is independent of 7 both at that point. 8 Again, another detail of the hydrogeologic 9 characteristics which Mr. Owen will explain to you showing 10 locations of test wells . 11 And the next slide shows a, this is the result 12 of the drilling. These are all contained in the report 13 you have from Will Owens Associates . 14 This is a picture of the benched areas of the 15 Scottsbluff Experimental Farm showing the - - the intentions 16 at Scottsbluff is to create areas in which water can be 17 completely controlled, its application allowed only when 18 the plants need it and optimizing it conserving irrigation 19 water. 20 And a picture of this particular center pivot 21 system, in this case one operating also at Scottsbluff 22 Experimental Farm. 23 It might be added, in this area they control 24 the application of water by the sprinkler by using a device 25 which measures the total water transport in and out of the 1 ground, and then they, the computer analyzes the results 2 and tells them when they need to apply more water and how 3 much. This is naa being used extensively by farmers in the 4 area as a guide to conserve their own irrigation water. 5 This is a center pivot system which ih 6 appearance from the air will be similar to ours . And it is 7 of interest because it is about five miles to the west on 8 the sandy area showing that the application of water alone 9 produces very reasonable results in improving the sand, 10 although it is anticipated that as soon as the watering is 11 stopped this area will revert to blowing sand. But we feel 12 with the application of the soil conditioning agents in the 13 sludge, that the soil will be permanently improved and 14 more water retentive and able to support a permanent heavy 15 grass crop. 16 A great deal of literature and homework has 17 been done in this study in order to make sure that we would 18 not create any situations which would make the process 19 undesirable. This is just a sample of a few of the pieces 20 of literature to which we have referred. 21 The most extensive use of digested stabilized 22 sludge for agricultural purposes is in the area in and 23 surrounding Cook County in Illinois . Here are locations 24 of eleven projects in Cook County which are currently 25 being carried out, to demonstrate the use of the material 16 and to carry out research as to its characteristics , and this 2 ork has progressed now to the point where one large area in 3 southern Illinois , one hundred and seventy miles to the south 4 is being developed in the manner much as we propose in Weld S County, by rail hauling sludge from an area in southern Cook 6 County. The week before last we learned that there is another 7 five thousand acres approximately eighty miles out of the 8 Burlington Northern part (sic) is soon to come under development. 9 And finally, the Commissioners of Fulton County 10 Illinois had recently contacted the commissioners of the 11 sanitary district of greater Chicago with the view in mind of 12 having this sludge farming development in Fulton County, 13 specifically where there has been strip mining. 14 This is a picture of the sludge, explaining the 15 value of using it in liquid form. The water contains soluble 16 soil nutrients as well as the solids , containing nutrients 17 material which is used by plants over a period of years. 18 Incidentally, I have here a jar of digested 19 stabilized sludge which I invite the Commissioners to smell, 20 and also the members of the audience, to verify for themselves 21 that it has a, not unpIa asant sort of a petroleum like odor 22 which I might add dissipates rather rapidly when put on the 23 ground. 24 And here are some results from a test farm which 25 some of the members of the Weld County staff and Commissioner 17 1 Bowles had a chance to observe last week, all being under very 2 cold and freezing conditions . An area of some ten acres has 3 been divided into a large number of test plots , each of which 4 has a total retention of run off and under running water which 5 are fed into adjacent laboratory buildings and there they are 6 analyzed for salt nutrients , salt, bacteria and what have you. 7 This project has been going on for over three years . 8 And here is the corn yield statistics from 9 several of those test plots . You will notice that the increas 10 in corn yield is very dramatic. 11 Here is another test farm in the Chicago area, 12 in this case it's at Hanover Park where all of these stabilize 13 digested sludge from one plant is fed to the fields , as you 14 can see, and row irrigated. You can see that the nuisance 15 factor is obviously minimal by the close presence of the 16 development housing. 17 A picture of some corn in one of those fields 18 follows . The corn on the right has been irrigated with the 19 stabilized digested sludge, the corn on the left by water 20 alone, to get an idea of the enhancement and growth caused 21 by the sludge irrigation. 22 This is a picture of a silica bed near a glass 23 factory in Ottowa , Illinois , where the grindings fran glass 24 manufacturing have been placed for many years . As Mr. Venabl 25 said , not a blade of grass can be grown here because of its , 18 1 in this case, because of its state. 2 Now, over a period of about twelve months , 3 sludge was brought down to this area by barge and applied to 4 the area of some eighty acres to a total amount of approximate y 5 one hundred and forty tons of dry sludge per acre, which is 6 approximately a layer one inch thick, to get a feeling of how 7 much that is. It was then tilled in and grass planted, and 6 fourteen months later this is the same area. Truly dramatic. 9 And next, in a nearby area in Ottowa, they are 10 introducing the sludge by ditches into an acid strip mine, 11 which again has been sterile for many years. And now a flow 12 of ditches you see introduced the sludge and cross plow, in 13 this case, and introduce more, and then have now just recently 14 have planted this area, and it has been showing very fertile 15 properties . 16 Now, finally the slides, in comparison to corn 17 grown at the Elwood Test Farm, which may exaggerate the case - 18 I am sorry, this is the Arcola Project, which is the one that 19 is one hundred and sixty eight miles south of Chicago by rail. 20 The upper right hand corner shows the facilities for loading 21 the rail cars , and the lower right hand corner shows the layou 22 of the farms. You will notice they are pumping the sludge 23 through pipes to fields some distance from the unloading point 24 Here is a picture of the loading operation 25 taking place in southwest Chicago, an addition to the county 19 1 grant plan. (sic . ) 2 Here is the example of the corn grown at 3 Elwood. The corn on the left, and the plot that had had I 4 think approximately ten inches of sludge applied during the 5 year. The one at the right which no sludge was applied. s And that is all of the slides we have. 7 MR. VENABLE: Bob, while you are still on your 8 feet, you handled the preparation of these two maps for 9 Western Agri-Systems use. Could you explain the three 10 exhibits which are on the board. 11 The first one we can't mark into evidence 12 because it belongs to the county. This could be identified 13 as an aerial photograph which include the three sections 14 with which we are primarily concerned at the moment, lying 15 within Townships 2 and 3 north of Range 61 west, west of the 16 6th P .M. And we present the aerial photograph only for the 17 purpose of discussing the section marks that are on it and 18 for getting the audience and the Commission an aerial look 19 at the present status of the land that we propose to reclaim 20 through the use of this project. 21 MR. BARDWELL: The state of this land is 22 extremely marginal. Also we have here - 23 MR. VENABLE: Excuse me. I think for the 24 benefit of the audience, too, if you don't object, Mr. Chairman, 25 we will have this back up here on the board, and the area that 20 1 we are discussing as being the extremely barren portion of the 2 land is the area located primarily in this area and is the 3 area that we would be reclaiming. 4 MR. BARDWELL: North and south. 5 MR. VENABLE : We'll have that available for 6 inspection by the Commission and the audience. 7 Then if you could describe the main map of 8 Western Agri-Systems . That we will mark a copy of, an 9 identical copy of this one and put it into evidence . 10 MR. BARDWELL: Yes . This shows the area to 11 be developed and the method of development, as it indicates 12 on the right hand margin what steps will be made to carry it 13 out, what condition it is in and what precautions will be 14 taken as well as the schedule of the development. Those are 15 in the upper part of the section 3 will be the location of 16 the rail siding and agricultural benches and sludge unloading 17 area . 18 Here we have the present road which will be 19 improved for all your use, a group of buildings, including 20 a maintenance house , a sheltered bunkhouse and laboratory 21 area. 22 Now, the sludge will be unloaded here into 23 one of these benched areas which is not presently occupied 24 by crops , then pumped by submersible special vortex (sic) 25 pumps through underground pipe to the center of this quarter 21 1 section, initially on Section 33, will be put through the 2 specially modified center pivot system. The center pivot 3 system is modified, first, with the addition of another pipe 4 conduit that goes below the regular water supply pipe through 5 which the sludge will be pumped, rather than being sprinkled 9 because of the difficulty of the sprinklers becoming plugged 7 with the granular material. The material will be released 6 through downward hanging canvas tubes to within a foot or so 9 of the ground where it will gush out and spread out on the 10 land. 11 The lower pipe will be something like, look 12 something like gated irrigation pipe, to those who are 13 familiar with that. 14 Also shown here are the locations of the 15 observation wells which have been drilled by Mr. Owens in the 16 survey which would be used subsequently to monitor the 17 quantity of the ground water in the vicinity. 18 MR. VENABLE: For the record, the land we are 19 discussing and which he has identified and are portrayed on 20 this exhibit, includes Section 3, Township 2 north, Range 61 21 west; and Sections 33 and 34 lying within Township 3 of 22 Range 61 west of the 6th Prime Meridian, and all of those 23 three sections lying within the County of Weld and State of 24 Colorado. 25 (Whereupon, Applicant's Exhibit C was marked 22 1 for identification by the court reporter . ) 2 MR. VENABLE : We would like to tender to the 3 Commission for its file, Applicant's Exhibit C, a copy of 4 Applicant's Exhibit C, which is the one just testified to. 5 Mr. Bardwell, if you could go on to the exhibi 6 located next to it and describe that to the Commission, pleas . 7 MR. BARDWELL: The next exhibit is a topograph c 8 map of the Omar quadrangle, U.S.G.S. which contains the bulk 9 of the Western Agri-Systems ranch. It does extend some to Xh 10 south in a string of eighty to forties , actually about two 11 more miles , is that right? This is the area which is 12 presently under irrigation, cultivation. 13 A color coding is as follows : The green area 14 is that of the ranch itself; the purple and red areas are 15 areas of signatures or people that have indicated their 16 approval, or at least they have indicated they have no 17 objection to the project as we have explained it to you 18 today. The red being state land and the purple being land 19 of adjoining property owners . 20 I might add the land up here could perhaps 21 some day be purple as well. We haven't had a chance to find 22 Mr. Yocam at home. But he is in the audience so we can get 23 some opinion from him today. In fact he would be one of the 24 remaining land owners that adjoins the property. 25 MR. VENABLE: Does the Commission have any 23 1 questions with regard to this exhibit? 2 CHAIRMAN NIX: No questions . 3 MR. VENABLE : All right. Thank you. With 4 the Chairman's permission, we will leave that up there and 5 mark it as an exhibit and leave it with the file at the 6 conclusion of the hearing. 7 Does the Commission have any questions of 8 Rob with regard to information to which he has testified? s If there are none - - 10 CHAIRMAN NIX: Apparently not. 11 MR. VENABLE : Thank you. 12 MR. YOCAM: May I say a few words? 13 CHAIRMAN NIX: Yes . State your name, please. 14 MR. YOCAM: I am Floyd Yocam, rancher out 15 there adjoining this land. 16 MR. VENABLE: You live out there? 17 MR. YOCAM: Yes . I don't quite agree with 18 this man here on the state land. I have deeded land all 19 around this land and it's in my mme. And I have never been 20 approached to sign a petition of any kind. 21 Now, here is a map of the land in this 22 vicinity. Here is the land they have in mind, a section her 23 and a section here. This is deeded land here ; 35 is deeded. 24 This is deeded, this is deeded, that is deeded, this is 25 deeded, that is deeded. I have eighty five hundred acres of 24 deeded land, where I have some deeded land down here . 2 The only state land is on this side right here , 3 a little piece of land right here north of the railroad. And 4 out in here, twenty three hundred acres , that is my deeded 5 land is all down this way. And our water level in this , in 6 this country over here, we have two lakes here on this state 7 land. I have one here and on the other upland there is a 8 lake there. 9 Now, we have watered cattle there the year 10 round and all summer until the last few years until they put 11 these wells on Lost Creek. Now, these lakes have dried up, 12 my lake there has got grass growing in it. There is no 13 water in it at all. There is grass growing in that lake. 14 Now, I knew Ed for years and years and we have been friends 15 and neighbors for a long time, and I think he will verify 16 that statement, is this right, Ed? 17 MR. EPPLE: Yes , that 's right. 18 MR. BOWLES: Which section are you talking 19 about? 20 MR. YOCAM: That' s right. Ed would never lie. 21 He will never lie to you. And he'll verify my statement. 22 MR. VENABLE : Mr. Chairman, it's almost 23 impossible for the reporter . Would the gentleman from the 24 audience who just spoke - - 25 MR. YOCAM: Well, I haven't had the education 25 you fellows have had, but it is my land. 2 MR. VENABLE: I was just trying to assist 3 the reporter so he can identify who is talking. 4 MR. YOCAM: All right. 5 MR. VENABLE: What is your name, sir? 6 MR. EPPLE: Epple . 7 MR. VENABLE: Epple, Mr. Ed Epple. 8 MR. EPPLE: Yes . 9 MR. VENABLE : You reside in this immediate 10 area, this is your ranch that we are discussing? 11 MR. EPPLE: Yes . 12 MR. VENA BLE: Thank you. 13 MR. YOCAM: Now , I am about the only neighbor 14 he has got up there in that country. That land is thinly 15 settled. And when this man states that this land is 16 unproductive, and some of the best steers in the United 17 States come out of this land. And the Frank Mann land that 18 adjoins it sold for three million the other day. You 19 probably know about that. 20 CHAIRMAN NIX: Mr. Venable, were you through 21 with your presentation? 22 MR. VENABLE: No, we are not. 23 MR. YOCAM: Oh, I am getting kind of ahead of 24 myself . I thought you were through. I wanted to clarify 25 that statement here. 26 1 CHAIRMAN NIX: If you would please let the 2 gentleman finish his presentation. 3 MR. YOCAM: All right. 4 MR. VENABLE : I t'tink perhaps that at a later 5 point in the hearing, Mr. Chairman, we can resolve some of 6 the complications . I think we ae talking about two different 7 maps . It's a little difficult for me to correlate it, but 8 with the Chairman's permission we will reserve that until we 9 conclude with our presentation, and then try to resolve it 10 in the Commission's mind as well as our awn. 11 If there are no other questions of. Mr. Bardwell, 12 then I would like to call Dr. Frank Viets as a witness , if I 13 may. 14 I think it would be probably just as convenient, 15 if the reporter doesn't object, if Dr. Viets remain at the 16 counsel table. 17 EXAMINATION 16 BY MR. VENABLE: 19 Q Would you state your full name and address, Dr. Viets . 20 A My name is Frank Viets . I live at 102 Yale Way, Fort 21 Collins, Colorado. 22 Q And what is your occupation, Dr. Viets? 23 A I am a soil scientist employed by the U. S. Government. 24 But I am not here as a representative of the government 25 today. 27 1 Q Dr. Viets , you have heard the testimony which has been 2 presented through Mr. Bardwell with regard to the operation 3 proposed under the name and style of Western Agri-Systems , 4 Inc. ? 5 A Yes , I have. 6 Q Are you familiar with that project and with the research 7 that has gone toward the development of it? 8 A Yes . I am familiar with the site, the groundwater 9 hydrology which has been done . I am familiar with the to composition of the digested sludge which is to be used. 11 Q Dr. Viets , concentrating your attention, particularly on 12 the digested sludge which has been testified to, what is 13 the result of the use of this kind of sludge in a project 14 such as the one that is proposed here insofar as odor is 15 concerned in the immediate surrounding vicinity, what 16 result will this project have on the odor in the area? 17 A I don't think iL presents any odor hazard at all. What 18 you have in that bottle is essentially a suspension of 19 good soil organic matter. We call it humis . And it's 20 the same material that is in good black soils, good muck 21 soils. It represents organic matter that has been torn 22 completely to pieces by bacteria. And there is essentiall 23 no difference in that material, between that material and 24 what you find in a good rich Iowa soil. So in my opinion 25 it represents no odor hazard. 28 1 Q In approximately what quantity, on an inch level, looking 2 at the amount that would be deposited over a year's period 3 of time , approximately what would be the total bulk 4 deposited on any given area of land, in height? 5 A Someplace between a half an inch and one inch of dry 6 material. This would correspond to about , oh, ten to 7 fifteen times that volume of water. When the water all 8 evaporates you end up with only about a half inch of 9 this black material. 10 Q Dr. Viets , you have stated, and we will have further 11 testimony concerning the water conditions in this area, 12 but you have stated that you are familiar with them. 13 Based upon that familiarization, and your knowledge of 14 this chemical - - or this fertilizer, what are the 15 potential, if any, dangers to the water table or the 16 water in the immediate area? 17 A Well, based upon the chemical analysis there are two 18 main ones we can think of . In the first place the 19 material is relatively rich in nitrogen, which is the 20 nutrient needed by all plant crops , particularly when 21 they are grown on ballentine (sic) sand, which is a 22 characteristic of this site. 23 Now, this material is high in nitrogen, and 24 in that sense is a good fertilizer material . There is 25 some hazard of too much nitrogen being present, and 29 1 downward movement of nitrate into ground water aquafers 2 and to streams . Hence, the rate of application must be 3 controlled carefully, and the amount of water used to 4 grow the crops must not be in sufficient excess to wash 5 this nitrate into the aquafer below. 6 Now, I should comment on the site , and I think 7 the Western Agri--Systems , Inc. ought to be congratulated 8 on this . The site in many respects is unique. I don't 9 know of any site anyplace in Colorado that quite compares 10 with it from the standpoint from having sand intrastratifi d 11 with clay. And it's the presence of those clay barriers 12 in there , and this hang up of what water does get in there 13 forming what is known as perched water tables , which can 14 accomplish the denitrafication of nitrate, if any should 15 escape below the growing plants . 16 Q Have you, Dr. Viets , in your consultation with Western 17 Agri-Systems , advised them on the steps that are necessary, 18 scientific steps that are necessary, or management steps 19 necessary to protect the underground water system from 20 any adverse results? 21 A Yes , we have gone into the management aspects thoroughly. 22 And I could briefly say that they are the same ones that 23 any good farmer should use. I can give you the details , 24 if you wish, but - - 25 Q If the system, what is the chance of any damage to the 30 1 streams or underground streams or water in the area if 2 Western Agri-Systems will follow the advice that you have 3 given them in this regard? 4 A I don't think there is any danger either from the stand- 5 point of nitrate pollution or of salt. 6 Q Now, discussing salt pollution Doctor . Is it true that 7 there is also a similar danger, in the event of mis- 8 management, similar danger to the soils in the area , of 9 salt damage to the soil itself? 10 A No. The salt hazard on this kind of land is very low 11 because it is very sandy land. And the operation of 12 plan is one of such that although the sludge is fairly 13 high in salt itself, about ten times as high as the 14 Platte River in salt, for example, this can be managed 15 in such a way that the salt is removed from the root zone, 16 but is stored in the profile, soil profile between the 17 root zone and the water table below. 18 Q Dr. Viets , you commented on the river. Are you familiar 19 with the source from which Western Agri-Systems proposes 20 to derive the digested sludge? 21 A Yes. 22 Q Are you familiar with the system which is presentlybeing 23 used with regard to that source of that sludge? 24 A Yes . 25 Q Has that at the present time had any adverse effect on 31 ' 1 Weld County, the system that is now being used? 2 A Yes . Well - - 3 Q Through the river? 4 A Through the river? 5 Q Yes . 6 A Any pollutant has to be disposed of someplace . You can 7 either dump it into the river; you can burn it and put 8 it into the air, and you can put it out on the land and 9 put it in storage for permanent growth of crops . In my 10 opinion dumping it into the river or burning it and 11 throwing it up into the air ae much less desirable than 12 some kind of safe storage on land where it canoe used 13 as a resource. 14 Q Dr. Viets , just one further question. You testified that 15 you are familiar with the chemical itself , and that you 16 are familiar with the soil conditions of this site. 17 Based upon the proposal that Western Agri-Systems has 18 made, what do you anticipate to be the result to that 19 soil on that particular section? 20 A Under proper management there is no environmental hazard 21 posed. And a much better soil will eventually result 22 in that it will be more nearly level, be far richer in 23 organic matter, which has both the ability to store 24 nutrients and retain water; much greater stability 25 against wind erosion. I cannot see any hazards to the 32 1 soil itself. As a matter of fact I can only see 2 improvement. 3 MR. VENABLE : Thank you very much, sir. 4 I have no further questions of Dr. Viets , 5 unless the Commission does . 6 CHAIRMAN NIX: I think you have given sufficient 7 explanation. 8 MR. VENABLE : Thank you very much, sir. 9 MR. LORENSON: I do have one question. 10 ma. VENABLE : All right, fine. 11 MR. LORENSON: How much sludge can be applied 12 to the given amount of land each year to keep it 13 productive? 14 DR. VIETS: Sir, I wish I knew the answer to 15 that question. And I think this is where management 16 comes into the picture in knowing how much we can safely 17 supply to meet the nutrient requirements of the crop 18 without underground water pollution. And I gave you an 19 estimate of one half inch to one inch of dry material. 20 But these have to be just estimates at this point. 21 MR. LORENSON: How much is one inch of dry 22 material equivalent to in the sludge? 23 DR. VIETS: In liquid volume? 24 MR. LORENSON: Yes , sir. 25 DR. VIETS : Do you have the figure on that? 33 1 In weight it's approximately one hundred and forty 2 dry tons per acre. You have one inch of - - 3 MR. LORENSON: My question was how much liquid 4 is equivalent to one inch of dry material? 5 MR. BARDWELL: Well, assuming in this , we are 6 assuming in this case that density of the material is app ox- 7 imately that of water. So it 's about twenty inches of 8 water. 9 Dig. VIETS : I have a figure here of one acre 10 inch of this material will be eleven thousand five hundre 11 pounds . It would be about close to six tons dry weight. 12 MR. BARDWELL: Inches of the liquid material. 13 DR. VIETS: So if you can put on one hundred 14 tons , then you can put on sixteen acre inches of this 15 material. 16 MR. VENABLE: Dr . Viets , there is one further 17 thing I would like to have you describe for the Commissio 18 if you could. And that is haw, I realize that it's 19 partially a management decision and that, as you say, 20 you can't say how much you put on or exactly what period 21 of time it takes , but what, based on your study of this 22 project, do you project to be the rotation throughout 23 the Western-Agri-Systems farm, what do you project the 24 rotation to be in terms of number of years that they 25 would work on one area , number of years on another area? 34 DR. VIETS : This is somewhat speculative on 2 my mind at this time, because this land can be used to grow corn, for example, and I think it may well be the 4 experience that corn could be produced on the same land 5 for twenty to thirty years under this high nitrogen 6 high soil organic soil system. I see no finite limit to 7 how long you could keep putting sludge on land, as long 8 as the management is right. If the salts are maintained 9 At a sufficiently law level in the root zone, there is 10 -no limit as long as this material is used for animal 11 feed, that I can see. So it becomes a question of how 12 much land do I need to use, how much land do I have 13 available in relation to the volume I have to work with. 14 MR. VENABLE : Thank you, sir. Any other 15 questions , Mr. Lorenson? 16 MR. LORENSON: No. 17 MR. VENABLE: I would like next to identify 18 to the Commission and ask to testify on our behalf , 19 Mr. Willard Owens . 20 Mr. Owens , if you would just remain seated 21 and address yourself to the Commission and reporter, 22 please. 23 CHAIRMAN NIX: Mr. Venable. 24 MR. VENABLE: Yes . 25 CHA IRMAN NIX: I think 3t would be more 35 1 convenient for our tape recorder -if he took a seat next 2 to it. 3 EXAMINATION 4 BY Ma. VENABLE 5 Q -Would you state your full name and address, please. 6 A Willard G. Owens. -I live at 7490 Kline iDrive, Arvada, 7 Colorado. 8 Q And what is -your occupation, Mr. Owens? 9 A I am a professional engineer and geologist and a ground 10 water consultant. 11 Q Mr. Owens, you heard the -testimony and have been present 12 since the be-ginning of this hearing with regard to the 13 Western Agri—Systems proposal? 14 -A Yes , sir. 15 Q _Have you professionally been engaged in any capacity with 16 regard to studying this proposal? 17 A Yes, sir. 18 11 And in -what rapacity and for what purposes were you 19 engaged? 24 A I was retained by Mr. Nieman to make a hydrogeologic 21 study of the area to determine the basic geological 22 conditions and the basic ground water conditions relative 23 to the occurenc-e of ground water and the effects, the 24 proposed operation might have An the ground water 25 conditions, and also as a supplementary supply of water 36 1 for the proposed project. 2 Q Mr. Owens , would you describe for the Commission and for 3 the audience what the results of your examination and 4 your testing were in that area? 5 A The results of our - - 6 Q Excuse me. Do you want to use a map or can you - - 7 A No, this is fine . Thank you. 8 Q Thank you. Proceed. 9 A The results of our survey are presented in our hydro- 10 geological survey report, a -copy of which has been 11 presented to each member of the Commission. The title 12 is Hydrygeological Survey, Western Agri-Systems Properti , 13 for Western Agri-Systems , Denver, Colorado. It's this 14 orange colored report here. The report I believe is in 15 itself self explanatory as to -the basic ground water 16 and geologic conditions. 17 The property is located, as Mr. Bardwell said, 18 on A very sandy soil area, where the topography is very 19 rough and covered by somewhat loose sand with sparce 20 grass cover. 21 The survey included an investigation of all 22 available reports in or near the area. The basic supply 23 of information was a report that I prepared in 1967 for 24 the Colorado Ground Wet-er Commission, a map of which 25 was shown by Mr. Bardwell a few moments ago. 37 1 The investigations and the data we compiled 2 were supplemented then by the drilling of six test holes 3 on the property to verify the information that the 4 publications indicated. 5 The test hole drilling did show that there is 6 a shallow ground water table in the area . It also 7 showed that the ground water in the western part of the 8 area can be developed for supplemental use. The ground 9 water to be developed is outside of the north Kiowa 10 Bijou ground water management district, but is within 11 an ancient channel called Hay Gulch on the U. S. G. S. 12 maps . 13 The general conclusion of our report is that 14 the ground water conditions in the area are such that 15 there are lands within the forty three hundred acres is under which there is essentially no shallow water table, 17 that is the central portion of the studied area, but 18 there is shallow ground water under the western part 19 of the land which can be developed for water supply. 20 Q Did I understand you correctly then, sir, that this is 21 not within any ground water management district? 22 A That's right. 23 Q Are you familiar with what the expected requirements , 24 water requirements of this project are? 25 A Well, the development of any water supplies in the State 38 1 aE Colorado, other than just stock or domestic wells , 2 is that the development of these water supplies must not 3 impair water rights of others . 4 Q And do you have an opinion as to whether or not the 5 operation which is proposed here would interfere with 6 any other water rights? 7 A The development of the water supplies as we have 8 proposed and described in the report here would not 9 impair the water rights of others in the area . The 10 only circumstance which might arise of course is the 11 temporary lowering of some of the water levels in the 12 immediately adjacent stock wells . There is one on Mr . 13 Yocam's property just outside of the area , one would 14 expect that the water table there will decline to some 15 degree as our development starts. This , however, 16 shouldn't be much of a problem because the well is 17 located on the property just north of this proposed 18 area and have had a history of water problems in that 19 the decline is there anyway. If anything, the developme t 20 will bring water from the ancient channel into the area 21 and could provide stock water to this same well that I 22 have just described, if there are any problems involved. 23 So, in other words , if there is any damage to this 24 water level in this stock well, there will be water 25 supplies available to supplement that or augment that 39 1 water supply. 2 Q Are there any other comments which you would like to make 3 relative to your studies you feel that the Commission 4 should be advised of? 5 A Nothing other than the results that are included in our 6 report. And if there are any questions I would be glad 7 to try to answer those . 8 MR. BOWLES: I have a question. A lot of 9 people here don't have a report in their hands . I would 10 like Mr. Owens to just say what the water levels are, 11 what is the shallow water level? 12 MR. OWENS: In answer to that, we do have one 13 slide here that shows test hole drilling. 14 This is the map of the area on which we have 15 two sets of contours , they aren't very clear on this map , i6 they are on the map on the report. The shaded area 17 located right here is an area in which there is essential) 18 no water above the shale bedrock. The sand and clay layer 19 into which we drilled the six test holes lies on top of 20 shale bedrock which is a relatively high or hump in this 21 particular portion of the property. These contours , the 22 solid line contours represents the elevation on top of 23 the shale bedrock. The shaded zones is that area in which 24 there is no water lying on top of the shale. This means 25 any water moving downward would flow, would go down to 40 the shale itself and would form a thin layer on top of 2 the shale if it got down that far. 3 Now, we are talking about a depth of about 4 thirty or forty feet, something like that, through these 5 innerlayers of sand and clay layers . 6 Underneath this area also is primarily clay 7 and not very much sand. So the downward percolation of 8 any water applied in this area would be quite minimal. 9 The other set of contour lines are dash lines 10 through here, these represent the water tables , the table 11 which is a free water surface in the sand and clay of the 12 material which lies on top of the sheet of bedrock. You 13 can see this contour line here as it extends to the north- 14 east actually goes right straight north then, because the 15 water table comes to the shale high, and then that is the 16 end of the water table as you would have on the shore of 17 a lake. 18 Above the water line you have dry land. Above 19 the water table in the shaded zone you have essentially 20 dry bedrock. 21 Now, the holes we drilled are one, two, three, 22 four, five and six over here . If you show the other 23 slide, you could show the rock of those six test holes . 24 The number from the top, from ground surface 25 down, represents feet of depth from the ground surface 41 1 for the six test holes that I just showed. 2 You can see that number one extends all the 3 way down to almost one hundred feet before you encounter 4 shale. However, number three we are -down to right at 5 forty feet, or less than forty feet before we encounter 6 this shale bedrock. Likewise number four. 7 Number six is on the other side of the shaded 8 zone or over on the other side of the hump. You can see 8 it is again over one hundred feet down to shale. 10 Hole number five is located straight south 11 . of number one, and at the bottom of hole number five it 12 extends to a depth of almost one hundred feet. You can 13 see there is some sand and gravel right at the bottom. 14 This represents the sand and gravel in the old ancient 15 channel from which we expect to develop ground water 16 supplies. 17 The water table in hole number five is all the 18 way up here to about ten or twelve feet. 18 Hole number one will be the site of our first 20 well for which we have -made application to the ground 21 water commission as a water supply. First it will be a 22 test well, then it will be converted into a water supply 23 well. 24 The water table, the depth to water from the 25 ground surface is right at twenty feet. Then there is a 42 1 full sectionof sand with some inner layered clay all the 2 way down to a depth of about eighty feet, you run into a 3 mixture of sand and clay that Dr. Viets talked about, as 4 well as the inner layer of clay in the upper part of the 5 zone. This is the area from which we will develop our s water supply from the ancient channel cut into bedrock. 7 Below the shale -fifty feet or more is a sand e stone member or formation, geologic formation called the 9 Fox Hill, Laramie Fox -Hill formation. It is used as a 10 basic water supply in some areas, and it underlies this 11 area down to s depth of an estimated two or three hundred 12 feet. 13 We are also contemplating a development of 14 water supplies from this formation to take care of some of 15 the _minor needs of the plants and so on. is However, the bulk of the water will be 17 developed from the sand section as shown in one and five. 18 MR. BALES: That's a long winded way of saying 19 it's sixty foot of water. But — - you are going to get 20 Fox Hill water at two hundred and fifty feet, three 21 hundred feet? 22 MR. OWENS: Yes , sir. 23 MR. BOWLES: That's interesting. Nobody else 24 finds it at less than five to seven hundred feet in the 25 area. I just wondered what kind of magic you would work 43 1 there . 2 MR. OWENS: Well, the Fox Hill actually pitches 3 out, and doesn't even occur just outside of this area. 4 MR. BOWLES: As you go east. 5 MR. OWENS: As you go north. As you go toward 6 the South Platte River and as you go toward Fort Morgan 7 you are on the eluvium or the sand is directly an top of 8 pure shale, which underlies the Fa Hill sandstone. So 9 the Fox Hill is immediately under the soil in much of the 10 area north of this and east of this area . So it's zero 11 distance down to the bottom of the Fox Hill. 12 MR. VENABLE: Are there any other questions , 13 gentlemen? 14 Thank you very much. 15 I would like next to call Mr. Herbert McCall, 16 please. 17 EXAMINATION 18 BY MR. VENABLE: 19 Q Please state your full name, sir. A Herbert S. McCall. I reside at 67O Marion Street, Denver. 21 Q What is your occupation, Mr. McCall? 22 A I am a civil engineer, registered professional engineer 23 in Colorado. 24 Q And how long have you been engaged in that pursuit in the 25 State of Colorado? 44 A About fifteen years. 2 Q All right, sir. Now, Mr. McCall, you have heard the 3 testimony which has been given since the beginning of 4 the hearing this afternoon with regard to this Western 5 Agri-Systems? 6 A Yes . 7 Q Are you familiar with that project which they have, which 8 the other witnesses have testified to? 9 A Yes, I am. 10 Q Would you state please for the Commission what your 11 contact with it has been and what the requests made of 12 you with regard to that project have been? 13 A I have been familiar with the project since its inception. 14 My connection with it has been in the matter of transporti 15 material, a matter of getting it from place to place; in 16 the estimating of costs of earth work and the development 17 of pipe transportation systems, pumping, this type of 18 thing. 19 Q I think we have had some testimony from the other expert 20 witnesses, and also, we have also seen quite a little bit 21 actually through the slides of what this system really 22 amounts to and how it works. Could you give us a 23 comprehensive summary, brief summary of the system itself 24 that is contemplated in this operation? 25 A Yes. The digested stabilized sludge material is derived 45 1 from the sewq3 a treatment plant in Denver . It 's loaded 2 on tank cars at that site and transported to Weld County 3 where it 's to be discharged by gravity, without pumping, 4 into agricultural benches . 5 Now, these benches then serve as the pumping 6 bay for distribution in center pivot irrigation devices , 7 or the benches may be used during the winter for drying 8 of the sludge material. And then during the spring the 8 material will be plowed and crops planted on the benches . 10 Q Mr. McCall, you mentioned the winter problem. Several 11 members , as you know, from Weld County, you have heard 12 the testimony, including one of the members of the 13 Commission, was in Illinois recently. Are you familiar 14 with a problem which existed and was reviewed by the 15 members of the Commission at one particular installation 16 in Illinois? It had to do, as I understand it, with 17 freezing, is that correct? 18 A Yes . Would you like me to describe it? 19 Q I would like you to describe it. 20 A Yes . If you, in cold weather, if you leave a pipe 21 exposed and full of liquid it will freeze and bust, and 22 that is just what happened. It's a management problem. 23 And if they were a little smart they could have prevented 24 it by draining the pipe. 25 Q And has this kind of problem, has Western Agri-Systems 46 1 been advised and consulted by you with regard to the 2 maintenance of care and avoidance of this type of problem? 3 A Yes, they have. I would like to pass out some proposals 4 to my clients . They are in the operating business , they 5 are not very theoretical type of people. They know how 6 to handle equipment and this has been their business for 7 years. And I just don't think that that sort of problem 8 would occur. 9 Q Are you familiar, I discussed briefly with Dr. Viets a 10 short time ag• the system which is presently used in, at 11 the source from which this digested stabilized sludge 12 will come. Does that present system, as it is now 13 operating, have an ecological effect on Weld County, 14 Colorado? 15 A It does . 16 Q And what is the primary effect, adverse effect I am 17 referring to, that is has on Weld County, Colorado? 18 A In the process of drying the sludge at the present Denver 19 facilities for drying sludge, a very considerable amount 20 of lime and chloride is added with it. And this is 21 approximately forty tons of calcium chloride per day 22 which is added to the South Platte River as a chemical 23 solution. 24 This project would take the sludge without 25 going through the chemical and without the drying process 47 and would eliminate the addition of the chloride to the 2 South Platte River in this fashion. 3 Q You have reviewed the terrain and the site which has been 4 discussed near the Roggen area, is that correct? 5 A That's correct. 6 Q And you are familiar with the equipment which is proposed 7 to be used by Western Agri-Systems in their operation, is e that correct, on that site? 9 A That's correct. 10 Q And your professional opinion is the proposal which they 11 have made from a mechanical or scientific mechanical 12 standpoint, if you can use that combination of terms, is 13 it a feasible and practical program? 14 A Well, it's sound, it's feasible, it's practical, in my 15 opinion. 16 Q Okay. Are there any other things, Mr. McCall, that you 17 feel the Commission or the audience should be advised of 18 concerning this proposal? 19 A No, sir. 20 MR. VENABLE : Gentlemen, do you have any 21 questions of this witness? 22 CHAIRMAN NIX: I have a question. Perhaps I 23 didn't follow closely enough, maybe I should have gotten 24 it. The question is , you indicated that this would 25 eliminate a given amount of pollution to the Platte River? 48 1 MR. McCALL: Yes. 2 CHAIRMAN NIX: By - - 3 MR. McCALL: Chemical addition. 4 CHAIRMAN NIX: Yes. This would, in other wor , 5 take away a lot of the pollution in the Platte which is s -originating at that point? 7 MR. McCALL: It's a salt pollution, a chemical s pollution. It does not remove the organic pollution that 9 remains in the sewage, but it would eliminate a pollution 10 that tends to make the river saltier. It doesn't tend to 11 deplete the oxygen level in the river or degrade it 12 organically. 13 MR. VENABLE: Any other questions , gentlemen? 14 MR. LORENSON: I have a question. Can this , 15 the amount of sludge that is coming, or being prepared 16 to come from Denver, could this site contain it all? 17 MR. McCALL: Well, this site is so ample for 18 it that it would just get lost on it. We are talking 19 about a forty three hundred acre ranch, and one center 20 pivot system covering one hundred forty acres, less than 21 one hundred and forty acres, I think it's around one 22 hundred and ten total in the center pivot, would distrib e 23 the total sludge derived from the Denver plant in one 24 year. One hundred and forty acres is all it takes for 25 one year. 49 1 MR. VENABLE: Would you explain, please, Mr. 2 McCall, what the general discussions have been and the 3 present proposals are with regard to rotation on this 4 one site, the use of the present sludge? 5 MR. McCALL: I am not an agricultural expert. 6 I have only - - 7 MR. VENABLE: I understand. 6 MR. McCALL: I have only discussed this . 9 MR. VENABLE: All right. Fine. 10 MR. BOWLES: I have a question that is more 11 pertinent. I think what Mr. Lorenson was asking is 12 what we saw back in Illinois and it freezes and the 13 whole system is tied up. Let's don't think Roggen is 14 going to be utopia because it's sixty degrees today. 15 It can be cold, and there can be sixty to ninety days 16 that they can't dispose of that sludge. Are they going 17 to have facilities for everything that is going to be 18 hauled out, or can the benches hold it or are they 19 going to have a real mess when it does thaw out? 20 MR. McCALL: May I have that slide. 21 Well, no, perhaps I think this shows it best. 22 MR. BOWLES: How much sludge is going to 23 come out of Denver, how many rail cars? 24 MR. McCALL: Twenty rail cars per day. 25 MR. BARDWELL: One and a half acre feet. 50 1 MR. BOWLES: So it freezes up and you can't 2 dispose of anything for sixty days , can't spread anythi 3 That is a lot of rail cars . What are you going to do 4 with it? $ MR. McCALL: Well, the heat transfer equati 6 indicate that the cars won't freeze up, that the materia 7 will still be, I don't think the cars would freeze up 8 unless they sat around a long time. This loading and 9 transporting operation to get to the site would take 10 four hours from the time it starts being pumped from 11 Denver. It would be two hours in transit and two hours 12 in unloading, including the cleaning cycle. And during 13 that time the film of ice that would form at the tank 14 car wall would be really negligible. The discharge 1$ system at the site is one that drains completely when 16 it discharges . The water is not kept in the pipe. So 17 the discharge into these agriculturalhenches through a 18 clear pipe will occur daily. 19 Now, as far as the freezing of the sludge 20 material and discharging it from the tank cars and of 21 possible freezing in the tank cars, in our opinion, 22 it will not occur. The material, when it gets out on 23 the benches will freeze. And that is these eighty acres. 24 CHAIRMAN NIX: So suppose we get a high of 25 zero for thirty days? 51 1 MR. McCALL: It will still not effect the 2 material in the tank cars or system. It will freeze 3 the material on the benches. 9 We are not proposing to pump any material out 5 of the benches and out here into the discharge system 6 during the very cold part of the year. The agricultural 7 system set up for the cold part of the year is to dry 8 the sludge in these benches, plow it in the spring and 1 plant it there. The distribution in this area will 10 occur during the warmer part of the year. We will use 11 the benches as little as possible because this is a 12 more effecient means of distribution than the benches. 13 CHAIRMAN NIX: I think the information goes 14 without saying. I think Mr. Bowles question though 15 refers to a period -of time when it freezes up, what 16 would you do with it, how would you stockpile this 17 material for thirty days, and I appreciate the fact that 19 this is not an everyday occurrence, but this could 19 happen in Colorado. 20 MR. McCALL: Well, our thinking hasbeen 21 directed in detail to this problem, and the sollution 2.2 that has come up is a system of rapid transportation of 23 the material, which in itself is not nearly so much 24 inclined to freeze as water because it does have the 25 -organic material in it, which is still active. It will 52 be discharged from the sail cars through an open system of 2 gravity pipe onto these benches which are, there is about 3 eighty acres of them shown there. Now, this is enough for 4 ninety days _of freeze up or for a very long, large, long period, a much longer period of time than we expect -ever 6 to have in this country. 7 MR. LORENSON: There will be delivery throughou 8 the year, every day? R. -McCALL: Every nay throughout the year. N , 10 this may be modified in the delivery if the circumstances, 11 the economics seem to -indicate that a five day a week 12 system can be worked out, with the storage that is at the 13 other end of the line. 14 MR. LORENSON: Although I would challenge one 15 thing that you said about the temperature being markedly 16 different in holding heat, there has been ice formed on 17 top of the surface in Arcola , and even though there is ie a wind, it was only about twenty -degrees, and that -is 19 significantly below a thirty two degree freezing point. 20 MR. McCALL: Well, this was on the _open sludge 21 -bed, is -that right? 22 MR. LORENSON: yes. 23 MR. McCALL: On the open bed, yes . 24 NR. -BDWLES: I say that just planning your 25 Complete surface flow on here, to say you are going to be 53 1 able to flow that stuff when it's ten, fifteen below zero 2 is -wishful thinking. I don't -think you will ever flow it 3 very far out of a tank car to get it out there. 4 MR. -BARDWELL: One correction Tom mentioned to 5 me. The differences in the two operations, the sludge 6 pumped into the tank cars in Commerce City will be at 7 sixty degrees regardless of the outside temperature 8 when it's put in. And it will then be delivered in two 9 or three hours to this site. Whereas the sludge gat 10 Arcola -was -that which -was dredged from a Lagoon using 11 presumably cold water to start with. 12 MR. BOWLES: You will all agree that -hot water 13 will freeze faster than cold water, won't you? 14 MR. MctALL: No. 15 MR. _BOWLES: You don't think hot -water gives 16 up heat faster and freezes faster than cold wat-er? 17 14R. McCALL: It gives up BTU's, yes, but it 18 doesn' t get down to the - - 19 MR. BOWLES: But it freezes faster? 20 MR. McCALL: Oh, no. 21 MR. BOWLES: You -can freeze hot water faster 22 -than you can cold water, that's nothing real scientific 23 about that. You can find that out -in an eighth grade 24 science book. So, you know, it's a real good theory, b 25 MR. McCALL : -All you got is heat loss in BTU , 54 1 and you got more BTU's to lose it in, and it takes longer. 2 If you want to upgrade a system in the mountains that 3 freezes you add hot water to it. 4 MR. BOWLES: Okay. If you keep the hot water 5 coming you are all right. 6 MR. McCALL: As has been mentioned, the material 7 as loaded is sixty degrees. The material that is loaded 9 in Chicago is presumably close to sir temperature as it is 9 loaded, and the heat loss required there to freeze it is 10 much less than the heat loss requirement on this stuff. 11 MR. ANDERSON: You do not have any problem after 12 it is put into the bed whetherit freezes or _not? 13 MR. McCALL: Well, this is what they are 14 designed for. They are earth beds and I don't see any 15 particular problem with the material if it 's frozen. There 16 are enough beds that if we accummulate material in one, 17 we go to another one. It's just a - - 16 MR. VENABLE : Are there any other questions of 19 this witness? 20 All right, sir. Thank you very much. 21 I think probably before we go on, before I try 22 and wrap this up and conclude it in a cotple of -minutes , 23 I think Rob has some information, as sort of a coordinator 24 of this project he has someinformation on the rotation 25 subject and management plans that I would like to have him 55 explain to the Commission as well as he could. 2 MR. BARDWELL: Well, as Dr. Viets explained, the 3 control of it and the operation of the area will be 4 controlled by chemical analysis of our subsoil samples 5 and the requirements of the growing material for the given 6 year and the rainfall and what have you. But our plan, 7 based on average conditions in the area, is one where we 8 would apply the material to a given area for over a period s of a year, leaving, probably, first, after initially 10 seeding alfalfa in the area, along with the present 11 existing cover, and then applying enough additional water 12 to promote growth, keeping in mind that the daily addition 13 from the sludge will amount to about an acre and a half, 14 one and a half acre feet of water, which is a very 15 considerable amount. Then the modified center pivot syste 16 will be moved to an adjacent quarter section and the same 17 program undertaken there. 18 MR. VENABLE: gentlemen, we have taken a good 19 deal of your time, and if there aren't any further questi s , 20 I would just like to say in summary we appreciate the 21 Commission's time and consideration in this matter. It 22 all sounds a little tit complicated, I guess, when you 23 start talking about scientific ramifications that has 24 to be taken into consideration and has had to be taken 25 into consideration by these experts mho have done so. But 56 1 we have extreme faith in their opinion. We feel that our 2 clients have studied this and have hired, in other areas, 3 have studied the project well and completely, and have 4 hired the necessary people to give them the proper answers 5 as far as what you do from day to day. Certainly we -have 6 coordinated carefully with the public health department 7 at every stage of the proceedings . 8 For the Commission's information, I am sure that 9 Bill Crosier, your attorney, will advise you of this , but 10 perhaps to save him a little research, we are already 11 controlled under 63 C.R.S. 66-1-7, sub-section 6, which 12 is the powers granted to the public health department and 13 which applies specifically to us . We are aware that we 14 will have to comply with them. We are eminently familiar 15 with the criteria which has been put out by the Colorado 16 Health Publications for their criteria in this kind of 17 use of this kind of material. 18 You might be -interested to note that at one 19 point in their discussions with -regard to this they 20 specifically, now this is not with raw sewage or sludge 21 or anything, just plain old sludge or anything like that , 22 but when they get down to the point of highest refining 7.3 point of discussing digested stabilized sludge, this is 24 one of feveral alternatives that they specifically discuss , 25 using it to be placed in open fields or above ground areas . 57 1 So it's not something that hasn't been at least thought -2 of before. 3 We simply believe that we have developed and our 4 clients have developed a much more highly specialized 5 system which will result in a much more productive result. 6 Rather than just trying to get rid of something, we are 7 accomplishing that purpose and at the same time we are 8 restoring what is essentially waste lands to a highly e productive use for our own clients . 10 We hope it will be a pioneer project for other 11 people in the area and give rise to other experimentation 12 in the area so that we can reclaim valuable land, potentially 13 valuable land. 14 We think we have looked at all of the alternatives. 15 We certainly went in with the attitude that we didn't want 16 to get in any hassles that we are stealing water with 17 anybody else. The engineers have assured us that would 18 not be the case, there is no danger of that. 19 We are certainly not trying to create any 20 ecological or environmental problems, and Dr. Viets has 21 assured us we are not doing that. And in fact, we are 22 eliminating through stream pollution some environmental 423 hazards that already exist in this county and in this 24 same specific area. 25 We appreciate your time and if you have any 58 1 further questions, we will make ourselves available to 2 you. Thank you, gentlemen. 3 One more thing, if I could mark that last 4 exhibit and getit into your records please. 5 Just to complete the record, this is the one 8 map we referred to and testified to land ownership in 7 regard to that particular exhibit. Thank you. 8 CHAIRMAN NIX: I suppose that there are some 9 folks here who would like to speak. We are running way 10 short on time, and I was not aware that we were going to 11 hold a hearing this afternoon on this particular matter. 12 But we would at least extend the courtesty to the folks 13 here who might like to say something in opposition to 14 this request. If you could, may I ask you to be as brief 15 as passible. 18 MR. YOCAM: On the five o'clock news on 17 November the 23rd, Bud Palmer stated that chemicals in 18 sewage could finally cause pollution in the water. Is 19 that right? 20 DR. VIETS• Yes , but you have to get this into 21 context, sir . 22 MR. YOCAM: All right. Now, this here, this could cause pollution in the water. 24 I have six stock wells around and in this area. 25 Now, in here, I have a well right here, a well right here, 59 1 a well over here - - 2 MR. BOWLES: Which section, Mr. Yocam. You 3 lose me. 4 MR. YOCAM: Well, it's right here . 5 MR. BOWLES: Line it up with this map. 6 MR. YOCAM: All right. 7 MR. BOWLES: Line it up like so. 8 MR. YOCAM: I have a well here in 32 . It's 9 about one hundred and fifty yards from the proposed area . 10 MR. BOWLES: Now, where is 32? 11 Wk. YOCAM: That is deeded land. I have a well 12 right here, right close to it, about one hundred fifty 13 yards from the proposed area . 14 MR. BOWLES : Okay. 15 MR. YOCAM: Then I haves well over here on some 16 state land about a mile over. And then I have a well about 17 a mile north up here in Section 19 , right in the bottom 18 corner of 19 . 19 MR. BOWLES: Across the interstate? 20 MR. YOCAM: Yes , across the interstate and it 21 would be 19 . 22 MR. BOWLES: Just below the interstate . 23 MR. YOCAM: Well, it would be to the north and 24 to the west of this proposed area . 25 Now, I have a well, two wells right straight 60 north a mile and a quarter of the proposed area and I 2 have one well adjoining them about fifty yards in the 3 corner of the right side. 4 Now, if these wells were eventually polluted 5 it can damage my ranch to one hundred thousand dollars . 6 If they pump this water - - here is the water 7 basin right here, the water basin here . I have pertnear 8 all of the water in under my land. 9 Now, then, if they pump water out of here and 10 drain my water wells , this boy stated that we have water 11 problems , but I have never had no water problem around 12 this basin. I have no trouble at all. 13 In the spring, this water here, after they got 14 this water in Lost Creek over here, I had to put down 15 twenty feet of pipe, to get pumping there, from the Lost 16 Creek water. And so - - 17 MR. BOWLES : Where are you pulling from now, 18 your water level? 13 MR. YOCAM: Well , this is about fifty feet 20 deep here, and these wells aver here run eighty to one 21 hundred and fourteen. 22 This is the basin right here, and this well 23 up here is one hundred and fourteen feet deep. I put that 24 in a few years ago. It is sandstone, just a lot of sand- 25 stone. And this is the basin right here. And we have 61 1 plenty of water right through here . But if they go to 2 pumping here, pump this water up here, now this is a big 3 high divide here, and if they pollute this land here , that 4 water will run all down to my wells and pollute my wells 5 and ruin my ranch to one hundred thousand dollars . 6 MR. BOWLES : You think that pumping out of it 7 is going to take this water from the wells - - 8 MR. YOCAM: Yes . Pumping water from here 9 eventually will take the water here, because Lost Creek 10 is already started. We had to put down twenty feet of 11 pipe here and I think they have been pumping Lost Creek 12 two or three years . And I talked to Bob Sample at 13 Snyder, he is a water commissioner, and he said when he 14 told them they put too many wells in there that was going 15 to be our trouble. 16 And these lakes here , I explained it to you 17 minute ago, these lakes here we used the water, we 18 watered there until July, and then we would take the slip 19 and we would dig those out and we would water all summer. 20 Ed did the same thing. He had another lake right across 21 from me and he did the same thing. But today our lakes 22 are dried up and you can't get anything and the water is 23 lost there . And if they go to pumping here with the 24 water right here we are not going to have no water, we 25 will eventually be out of water. And if we don' t - - on 62 1 this divide we are going to pollute all that water and 2 then we are not going to have no water fit to drink. 3 That's the best cow country in the United States , let 's 4 keep it that way. There ain't no better cow country in 5 the country. If Denver, if they want to get rid of this 6 sewage, let them go down here. They don' t need to haul 7 it all the way out here . 8 Thank you for your time. 9 CHAIRMAN NIX: You bet. 10 MR. VENABIE : I would like to point out one 11 thing, and that is with regard to the Lost Creek. I think 12 it is clear that we are not within the Lost Creek district 13 nor are we within the Kiowa Bijou, which is on the other 14 side. This is a district all its awn, and it's not a 15 district. 16 Certainly, however, even though as Mr. Owens 17 has told you, we are not within a water district, but 18 obviously we are subject, and everybody is in the state, 19 to the state engineer's commission and the requirements 20 of the water commission. Everybody is vividly aware that 21 if you put in too many wells you are going to hurt somebod 22 else. But it's our experts opinion that we are not going 23 to damage anyone else. And that's the ultimate determina 'on 24 which would be made by the state engineer's office based 25 on that reason. And we are vividly aware that we have to 63 go to the state engineer to get our well permits . 2 MR. LORENSON: Mr. Chairman, I would like to 3 note that this area that this gentleman was just pointing 4 out, he was pointing to drawing water from Section 31, 5 and if you will notice the plan in front of you, that they 6 are drawing water from there observation well number one, 7 or this is number ten and that is located in Section 32. 8 CHAIRMAN NIX: Is there anyone else who wishes 9 to say something? 10 MR. KINGSBURY: My name is Kent Kingsbury. I 11 live at Orchard, Colorado. I have a couple of questions . 12 I would like to know how much water they plan to pump 13 from their wells at a given period of time, or how many 14 wells - - are you planning on putting down six wells, or 15 how - 16 MR. VENABLE: I will defer to Mr. Owens to 17 answer most of that question. I would like to point out 18 one thing, and that is we are not going to be requiring 19 any substantial amount of additional water for the purpos 20 of moving the fertilizer. Certainly once we get it on 21 there we are going to want the water as we would for any 22 other development for irrigation purposes , the water 23 itself , once a crop or pasturage or whatever is put in. 24 Initially we are bringing ninety five percent water with 25 the product. 64 1 As to the exact amounts we might need in the 2 system itself, I think probably Mr. Owens , I know you ace 3 a lot more qualified than I to explain it. 4 Wt. OWENS: I don't know what I could really 5 add to that, other than this isn't a simple application 6 of dry land being irrigated, converted to irrigated land. 7 The water we are talking about is the supplementary water 8 to keep the procedure going. The amount of water being 9 brought in is very unusual with respect to most irrigation 10 developments , and we aren' t talking about the basic 11 consumptive needs that an ordinary irrigated crop has , 12 that is two or two and a half acre feet per acre per year. 13 We are talking about a much lesser need as it is 14 supplementary water. 15 Now, the amount of water that can be produced 16 will be depending upon the result of the first well that 17 we are going to put in in the vicinity of observation hole 18 number one. And we can only estimate the production of 19 that well until we actually get the well permit, get the 20 well constructed, run a pumping test on it, and under the 21 direction or under the general supervision of the state 22 engineer's office, the ground water commission and so on. 23 And it depends on the results of the pumping test as to 24 how much that formation can actually provide. 25 MR. KINGSBURY: I was wondering how much you 65 1 plan to use, how much you think it will take to make the 2 operation work and how much additional feet of , acre feet 3 of water and how many revolutions per year of the sprinkl r 4 you think it will take to grow what you are planning? 5 MR. OWENS: tell, approximately two hundred 6 to four hundred acre feet per year. 7 MR. KINGSBURY: That would be how many 8 revolutions? Say you get close to an inch per revolution 9 MR. OWENS: I haven' t gone into the applicati n 10 at all. I am just going on the basic water needs for 11 crops. Without any supplementary water an ordinary crop 12 would take about say four hundred acre feet per year, tha 13 is two and a half acre feet per acre for one hundred and 14 sixty acres . We are talking about one hundred and forty 15 acres or less . Since we are supplementing the basic 16 water supply we ae probably talking about half that, 17 which is approximately about two hundred or so acre feet 18 per year for the crop area. The actual yield itself of 19 the well will be , I hope , around four hundred to six 20 hundred gallons per minute . We might require two wells , 21 properly spaced, to develop that amount of water. But I 22 am thinking of four hundred to six hundred gallons per 23 minute of production to the site. 24 MR. KINGSBURY: And those would be run how 25 many days out of the year? 66 MR. OJENS: Depends upon the farming operations 2 and this is the part that I am not involved with. I am 3 involved in the development of the ground water to the 4 site. 5 Now, some years this will probably run I' d 6 guess one hundred and eighty days under normal operions . 7 Of course during winter operations::you wouldn' t be doing 8 any irrigation because of freezing conditions for 9 approximately thirty, sixty or ninety days . But I would 10 imagine it would average about one hundred and eighty day 11 per year . 12 MR. KINGSBURY: I understood when the Doctor 13 was talking that he didn't thinkthere would be any 14 damage to the water as long as it was controlled. Who 15 is going to control this? 16 MR. OWENS: Well, along with the amount of 17 sludge put on within a controlled manner, and they would 18 take soil tests to see. 19 MR, KINGSBURY: Well, who would be in charge 20 of controlling this to make sure that it didn' t damage 21 the water? 22 MR. VENABLE: I haven't been acquainted with 23 all of the employees , but of course from a managements 24 standpoint, our crops depend on it, too. And certainly 25 our clients don' t want to damage it. Dr. Viets will be 67 the consultant who will be advising us. And probably you 2 could tell them better, Rob, than I. Anything further than 3 that, I think you should explain. 4 MR. BARDWELL: I think the statutory control 5 comes from the state health department and resides in the 6 county sanitary division, does it not? In other words , 7 it's against the law to exceed the bounds of -proper health 8 and safety. 9 MR. KINGSBURY: I think it's got to be somebody' 10 responsibility to keep abreast of this thing because after 11 it happens it's too late. 12 MR. LORENSON:, I think I can answer part of you 13 question rather than them. Part of my recommendations in- 14 elude a request for a testing of the area for salts both 15 downward and laterally which would effect, possibly effect 16 the water. And immediately if there is any detection of 17 this type of pollution, then I will authorize the Weld 18 County Health Department to shut the operation down. 19 MR. VENABLE: There have been a rather specific 10 set of definitions of the kind of controls you are talking 21 about, I think, which have been sort of worked out by 22 mutual agreement on an effort to do whatever is in the 23 best interests of the public as well as our own operation. 24 And if anybody wants to see the detailed proposals on them 25 most of which are Mr. Lorenson'-s, it appears along the +a b upper right hand corner of this exhibit, or they appear 2 up there. 3 MR. PAUL: Glenn Paul from the Weld County 4 Health Department. I might state also that the University 5 of Michigan has a grant, - - Illinois , I meant to say - - 6 has a grant, and this is a three year grant. And in 7 answering this fellow's questions, they are going to have 6 pretty well the answers to most of these questions as to $ how deep it's going and how far laterally it's going. 10 MR. KINGSBURY: They do not have? 11 MR. PAUL: They do have a grant, and will, and 12 I understand they have two years, in talking to Dr. Tom 13 Hinsley, he is the director of this project for the 14 university, and this is government money, and he is 15 asking for seven hundred and fifty thousand dollars next 16 year. For the past two years he has been getting from 17 four hundred and fifty to five hundred fifty, I mean that 18 is four hundred and fifty thousand dollars to five 19 hundred fifty thousand dollars. 20 So I think these questions will be answered 21 in this project. By the time they get going we will 22 have some answers to it. And I think Mr. Nieman asked 23 Mr. Lorenson, he did state on his recommendation he will 24 have a test hole, I don' t know how often, maybe every 25 six months and every year. And we will be testing for 59 this filtration or permeation of salt into the ground. 2 MR. VENABLE: Dr. Hinsley, for the information 3 of the Commission, the one that Mr. Paul just referred to, 4 has been a consultant on this project of Western Agri-System . 5 MR. KINGSBURY: Well, I think the only other 6 thing I have to say is I think it would be important to us 7 in the area to know how much water they plan to pull out. 8 We would like some kind of an answer on that. That is all e I have. 10 MR. LORENSON: I might indicate one other thing, 11 and that is that there will be another hearing before the 12 county commissioners and you will have another full chance 13 at them, if you want. 14 CHAIRMAN NIX: Is there anybody else that would 15 wish to speak? If not, we have drawn way over our allotted 16 time. I think in lieu of time that we must get on with 17 the balance of the agenda. 18 And I might say that all we could do at this 19 point is to take this under advisement. A recording will 20 be given to all of our commission members at a special 21 meeting and our recommendations will be forwarded to the 22 Commissioners. 23 MR. VENABLE: Thank you. We appreciate your 24 time. 25 MR. LORENSON: Mr. Chairman, before you call the 70 1 next case, I would also like to indicate that we have a 2 report from Stanley L. Boyes, the extension agent of the 3 county regarding this proposal. And Mr. Glenn Paul 4 would either have something verbal or written on it too. MR. PAUL: If you want something written, we 6 will have something. 7 (WHEREUPON, the hearing was closed at 3:40 8 o'clock p.m. ) 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 71 1 REPORTER'S CERTIFICATE 2 STATE OF COLORADO ) ss. 3 COUNTY OF WELD ) 4 I, Joseph J. Rusk, a Certified Shorthand Reporter of the 5 State of Colorado, do hereby certify that the above and 6 foregoing is a true and correct transcript of my shorthand 7 notes taken at the time and place as set forth on page one 8 hereof. 8 Dated at Greeley, Colorado, this day of 10 1970. 11 12 13 Certified Shorthand Reporter 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 -21 22 23 24 25 `i _PETITION \ \ > We the undersigned, and each of us, being of lawful age and being 4-, residents of the area immediately surrounding the Western Agri-Systems Ranch located in Townships Two (2) and Three (3) North of Range Sixty-one (61) West of the 6th P.M. , in the County of Weld, State of Colorado, do hereby attest that we are familiar with the said ranch and the proposed plan to rejuvenate the land of said ranch through the use of irrigation and processed waste water sludge and being _familiar have no objections to the said project. NAME ADDRESS / IDATE 4':.yy r L,-4'i..c -�/�,_ i -�_c__,_...__ `,7 &Z. �.C-G1-LYi, ( . —xe1/ ,Z. 7_ 7c, .e.„., L 3. eh/`.Ll,c,� V•, lei+,, ,, _ ._F..4 = f a (<w�, Airy' -, y, --/t. � 4/ (i. 6. 7 J 't J' t'7i I {-1-k./ /,-'e'ent,., Sri Air., ' 7 /`7 7t' 7. d '7 i �l� 1� i • i ✓ ,/i'; Cs-.-c� , !e Lei:— ,/ ' r 8. )`J, 7 (.r E> -' -i'p7_L Id. �' �A�/y r2 , /F �)f;, >> <. , C, (--(:'10. (JL,, LtLii ' `e l .,„-r... .I f /f.9, (f, , 2 `i- `,7 f.. 5 11. Lam' 74- :9 � T2 G' _ ...„9ty� i /" x �.f`ce _ �.'✓G > T 7h 12. 13. 14. 15. 16 . 17 . 18. 19. 20. 21. 22. 23. 24. L . . z z-�/ ky • • loo/ s7 . r.F , • R APPENDIX II s�• A) Chemical Analysis of Various Metro Sludges (1967) cc--/L C61: -).'►-c-��.4":r'....4-:.-,--L... • Solids Chemical No._ Source Processingl %Z3 %P % Fe ,°l2n %t n Tlc / }./, 1 }/ Denver. Dig.1 Without 1.93 0.087 0.810 0.193 0.014 I0.0 i0 • 2 Denver Dig. With 1.81 0. 162 1.035 0. 182 0 .045 +'0.048 ,- li 3 ' W.A.S . Without ' 6. 60 0.227 0. 760 0.260 0. 07.5 0.069 4 W.A.S. With 4.55 0. 135 0. 920 0. 178 0. 023 0.043 0.-/. 5 v Raw Primary. Without ' 2 .07 0. 212 1.010 0. 206 0.055 0.095 • 6 Mixed With 12.451 -- Sludge 1 . 11 _,�'7.-- .l zr}... ,., rs 3 ,3 lG'. 7 ,s�G� ,�.3,z , �� c� C7(' • • B) Chemical Analysis of Metro Dried Filter Cake (1969) , ELEMENT % BY WT. Ions as CaCO3 mg/kg , Copper -- 0. 10 CO3 170, 000 Silver 0 . 003 HCO3 20, 000 • Zir.y 0. 21 OH 0 Cadmium 0 .004 . Tin 0 . 014 • Lead ---- 0. 051 1...-// , . Iron 3. 5 et.,: ,k.,r., / '4": =. Cobalt----- 0.004 ! . - Nickel 0 . 040 T�'. �..�1 C! .N.:S i .`�t.. t.. 6? Barium 0. 034 J. /' " • Strontium 0.023 /,,,,y,',/. .,--1, . v.-.t I'" C.Le , ;r !e, 6'. r!_,f . • Titanium 0. 13 • • • Zi, ..:opium 0. 013 y� •• • Chromium 0.031 �Y��.-Y� , Mo1�►ddenum 0. 002 ":11 _,__I -„,e.,--74- c ` • Manyianese 0.033 V . / . Yttrium 0.002. 1 ,27 — .a-,./4-es., C l iOrganic Nitrogen 4.3 %G 3 ?c, c �* I�-.-'-/ c�^ 7 7 • S�� „._r , ,ter a•7 rr r� ?e V-,+ •‘" fl ash. 0. �3 j r • • L •x'.r'T 111 I; --3 --3 "2 2 . 7/ 4... We, the un r• 'r ..'wo r..si ieri - O t ... , •.' P-,, u,,er,-;',:y 1't-i iion chi: , Board mot: :aunty L'oma.lissionerss or. . .',:.1d ;'oa<x y, L.•v1or.-r4i0, N.; `,:''ie ro:o:tirt:; re- quest 0 ••'a_•tern Agri-Sybtems, Inc:. ;'or 1•,`•zoriirL. of oe.,:'a.iots 33 a:.:2 ,;4 it. :-wn=hi 3 Norte'J «.tic • •'Y West o, ' • , 41 ri1. .dRt..'ils 'l , M�h , :.44,134.:,.. 61, ..Y7'e• r:',P•* (t':h 1 . it': , Weld '..A.ti>L,•, �'r. or.atio, ;:co,.1 . ;tr. ::, e,'t•-i.-^: t•r "A-UT .,..•c'.n'•• our reasOlis for or:14,,i,,,: ,,;.;i;1 ce•rtiYli.. ,.°t: .►s.:. etz"A: (:) ''tau o{'►r, •.r�• :r •,inrS •th.:;; '/ii1! r-.:;.4...^,:'4- L?;p,s,.. o►o.; (2) J}-? destr•l►r kit Iti Of. ,.razing lane b' the injection of highly content'-: -:a t:?1'tnicals and Yraneraii 'zi+pr,~..u:t; (.1) 'evil and brit orv.-r:.►arl:J wa;•er t:olautior. a . are •••.•:.:: ai the is►tv.et' di sci,a,-'.,- yY:.4ar.on; and (4) Si t.if1cG it ..r{.i:.ioat :f•?tential be .ause of the ,...R,••e,snent c“ foreign .-`.. ter no the nali•/e. soli ;:'!`:.''.Viii, .icier..;uate ar surances as to ►teer1s of COr.f.; Ue.+ control. Nagle.:._... ..._. . .... _.._ _.._.__...A liert..19 _�. ........_._ ___.retf�._.• • _y.,i..d.-,.Vs: '+..' _ . i...-4 , J • ' / t_ i. - .1 '/ /1• ? *,..._ 4. ., . , . . I ^fir'_ '.E�"' " _.. ._._ . . .... `! I'[. its i. •' /:f r r' 5 , ` t_..�.mot_. A0. �.. L__ .�. ... 4 ( t �•' E )'tom � tr►•t.G.•,_ ��_r...1/4 • '`. ..... ,.F `�rGEr- :L4:.._ 'j ! i.i /-:r-F •./.:4.4..._.t.._....�.__-,1..........6.- .:. e !` . . .. _•..t...,..._._;.i....if'}..•_,A.%.IC. IC:� G<.._....,, _j.1....1 ... .... . / _ .:Jr. J./. •. .._ . - ._ t...__ �.....�..:...: .. •. J _ ._. •._t.... -. . ..�...w. .�... . ". ._ ... _..._ .f.._. .._.. ... . .� . . .. ... . . ....... _ . • •12. ' •• • \ k..‘ L.: z'''k I I ( i' ti . . .. • ,. . . ; . .3. 1.c.. t } �? . . • ' ' 7,:.. .. . . ._ ..l. .. . .. ..•..:.4:-.(.... ....._... __..__._w. . . _ . ..L._./•..:1. • _,...._..,.w.- .. • . x b i t 'j �C.� ,�C.I}�s .t-•'1 A '`e;'c,'-- ,0--1.1"" C. ,1,x4.2 '1 .1) - 7�. ..- . f PETITION cl- 3 - za -7i We, the undersigned residents of the area, hereby petition the �- Board of County Commissioners of Weld County, Colorado, to DENY the rezoning re- quest of Western Agri-Systems, Inc. for rezoning of Sections 33 and 34 in Township 3 North, Range 61, West of-the 6th P. M. , and Section 3 in Township 2 North, Range 61, West of the 611 P. M. , Weld County, Colorado, from"A" zoning district-to "A-UD". Among our reasons for opposing such-zoning change are: (1) The offensive odors that will emanate ther-efrom; (2) The destruction of grazing lane: by-the injection-of highly concentrated chemicals and minerals thereon; (3) Soil andunderground water pollution as-a result of the intense discharges thereon; and (4) Significant erosion potential because of the placement of foreign matter on the native soil without adequate assurances as to means of continued control. Name Address Date 7 G 1. 79_ T, ,�yy 7earia i, a) ,/h � /3 �� // o 2 tic /fv �ef n-,v 0 tCJL-R/r',e Cam% - Tr.. / 3 3. '5 r-7-�-r,L 4 ---1- `I c - -/ ( 1&6 <, /3 �x"rrr� / ( ` ' t/%1,.. . v'. �' ---' .' Pi/ �.v 7. (- ) 7' /P,e� - /c_'≥z ( ( f 7% ,c.i 7i (7,1" t c/ 6 /7i I ? a 9. 0-c 7 v, ' � ;J a t rt�v .≥. l L/ '-t iS. / / / / 1..,---r--/ / / ,97A 10. J 71/�� / I0 %� G.'-� I /' ��/ v2, 2 %? LL �C ��Zi.CL1 7P 1 1��, �h —�` � �' 1Z. /62-2,-7,- --2 i... �Y, � , C.r[-f, 13. z`-'w )• fk.-(--Ci:�'- �7�,C� ( L- 'i.Ec�(.!./ C -L.Ci IGtt t"<".1ij5 /`r 2/ 7 / 14. , 4/1'Lc,.' i r- ,- f _- / / /..f%r Lc% e eeCc f;!y�,i7/ / 4 < 17. s, ? e - - j �n „ acct. Cl 3 2_ j j t o quest or 1A 3 North, 1 61, WosL of , ',i . u I UD". 11 . c - 4 � ��cl <, LIirL' ti�1 cl �Iu 1 � C-. 7) -I , rI I :CI,' r./1 1Z1OI ,r -. .1 concentrated cR�.t n � , . .) , Irr url' r 1-,,[11,[. ;(1-7,-, ;lt of .,'-tense discharTIS thcrco��, I I iC ( , .c. ��u 11O1 OW It'.1II NI o ' ;F . -J,j, ,.Inr ; fore]nn m,ti--, t- nu In . „11II , tvllL,njl ,ui.•��nIl<` .cur'„uI' " i �, I.", • ,.l. ,i i,�t . control. n^ �.7�Irc i)-�;, 2. 7?2ai-t---,< :2/ 4. etiz v �/ G2 '� 6L-/ Cam` 'J /Ct-,24 �, — � �—_52-6 /- z fir. 10. ;'• 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. ' 17. �! 18. 19, 20. �M1 -ALLDREDGE & MCCABE MANUFACTURERS' REPRESENTATIVES PROFESSIONAL ENSINEERS 1550 SO. PEARL STREET PHONE 744-6251 2 -Apr, I 1971 DENVER, COLO. 90210 WELD COUNTY COMMISSIONER Weld County Court House Greeley, Colorado 80631 Subject: Preliminary Approval of Disposal of Sewage Sludge in Weld County Reference: Metropolitan Denver Sewage Disposal District No. I Proposal for the Recycling to the Soil of Sewage Sludge, Due April 14, 1971 Gentlemen: On page 10 of the bid documents of the reference item, paragraph H states that the bidder must present "documentation from appropriate federal , state, county and local governmental agencies giving their preliminary approval to the sludge recycling -methods proposed." It appears to us that approval must be obtained from the Weld County Commission. Zimpro, Division of Sterling Drug, Inc. will offer to construct a plant which ultimately will convert the sewage sludge into a sterile, odorless cellulose cake which will be used as a soil supplement on a farm in southeast Denver. Construction of this plant will require 540 days. However, the bid requires that disposal of the sludge must commence in 300 days. For a period of 240 days Zimpro must dispose of the unsterlized untreated sludge in some manner. If Weld County will approve of this, we propose to haul this untreated sewage sludge -through the towns of Hudson, Keenesburg, and Tamps and dump it onto ground in the vicinity of Roggen. The exact location has not been decided, because we do not wish to make a committment until we have some assurance that this action will be approved by you. The disposal method will be of identically the same material and the same method and to the same general location in Weld County and on the same type of land as has been proposed by Landfill , Inc. of Denver, Colorado, and for which Landfill , Inc. and the Denver Metropolitan Sewage District No. 1 say that your approval has been given. Con- sequently, approval of our proposal will be a repetition of an action you already -nay have taken. Hauling and disposal conditions will be as follows: Material - Digested Sewage Sludge 4% solids, 96% water Not sterile (will contain pathogenic organisms) Odor - The sludge will contain materials that will produce a strong -odor characteristic of sewage wastes. Quantity - At the rate of 120,000,000 (one hundred and twenty million) pounds per month which is 1 ,400,000,000 (one billion four may - 3 C°..4.-1 hundred million) pounds per year. err 4?(-747- /17,- T; es, WELD COUNTY COMMISSIONER 2 April 1971 Page 2 Hauling - Either by 100 tank-truck loads per day or by -40 railroad tank car loads per day. May we receive your written approval or reply by April 10 so that memay include this with ourbid on April 14. Sin'erel yours, Robert Alldredge ALLDREDGE 8 McCABE Representing ZIMPRO INC. Subsidiary of Sterli-ng Drug, Inc. RA/sg b cc: Orig. +6 7_,,C c 1 - 1940 SIMMS STREET 303-23]-8]]6 L-AKEWOOD, COLO. 60212I 303-]55-1131 WATER CIVIL STR RAL L. L. ARNOLD7 AND ASSOCIATES SANITATION nNlATON UCTU MUNICIPAL CONSULTING ENGINEERS DRAINAGE 25 March 1971 WELD _COUNTY COMMISSIONERS Weld _County Court -House Greeley, Colorado 80631 Subject: Proposal to Dump Concentrated Sewage Sludge from Metro Denver Sewage Plant it 1-he vicinity of Roggen, Color-ado Gentlemen: As a member of the Metro Denver Sewage Board I wish to inform you that on April 14 bids will be opened ty the Metropolitan Denver Sewage District mere in Denver under which a contract will be awarded for the haulage and disposal of sludge from the Metropolitan Denver Sewage Plant, The proposal which appears to be favored is reported -to be to -haul a trait load of the sludge each day -from Denver through or near the towns of Hudson, Keenesburg, and Tampa to a location in the vicinity of Roggen -where it will be dumped on farmland, although the precise destination is not beitg revealed as yet. Approximately 1 ,400,000,000 Cone billion four hundred million) -pounds per year of concentrated sewage solids -would thus to dumped onto Weld _County. This sewage -sludge will contain 4$ solids, most of it human wastes, and will have the consistency of gravy. It will tot be sterile. It will contain organic sulfur and nitrogen compounds. It will be putrescable. It can and probably will stink. Presumeably it will -have been partially digested at ambient temperatures, tut it will contain the bacteria and virus' and pathogenic organisms. The contr-act will be for a period of 5 years during which time 7,000,000,000 (seven billion) pounds of this conc-entrated sewage sludge will to dumped onto Weld County. Atf9 00 .M. on Monday, March 29 a meeting of interested persons will be held in` Aurora, Colorado City Hall (9800 East 16th Avenue, Aurora, Colorado) to discus-s this matter. Members of the Weld County Commission and the press are invited to attend. Before we award this contract, I wish to ask if the Weld County Commissioners are aware of this? Are the Weld County Commissioners -and the Weld County Health Department and the Weld County -residents along the route and in that water shed going to approve this? Are they going to permit this? -Have all the people -who will be affected been made aware of this? Sincerely yours, ames F. Dupuy JFD/gb Enc. Orig. +6 March 23, 1971 I hereby certify -that pursuant to a notice dated February 3, 1971, duly published February -5 and March 12, 1971, a publi-c -hearing was -had on a request for a Change of Zone as requested by Western Agri-Systems on March 22, 1971. Said -hearing was continued _until thisidat-e. The evidence {presented was taken under advisement. ATTEST: =C/ .,�� , ! : �.,.C COUNTY CLERt?AND -RECORDER CHAIRMAN AND CLERK TO THE BOARD BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS WELD COUNTY, COLORADO >? ,', -5'7 777 , /, Lx CONTINUANCE �l �Th t \ a \. J f/ r,�l A L 3123/71 —_ imi Western P r::(..,O) r � / j l �ti Western Agri-Systems M w ` E i I it //i .. —..-.. ... ..._..... a _....... . _} •__. .. `__:. �_......_...— _., .tea.._.. _ .. • I I TJ E\_N DA October 30, 1970 ` ti Southeast Weld Meeting, . r • L.. 30o ,,,, a. .... ._...... ! iwN^.7_ttY`+CiSl':• rw6.r•.. a- .r'., y ?-2r: I f/ -, •� Lam.. ,,`•e. �}. y�� u ie,-. ,.. /I' I ' 3• (Ye)1 6 i/ ..`J x_40‘),..{: .Lt_. _ e '- , ,ii/r ....I../ • ;,9 ,.c ..... ' • • i re' 'i •:. f'sue ice.S',z• • . • ...) • •._s `.y. I`'.J ••:'!I._J'-./'•..).4. tea_. -_- .: 1• 215),//;:70;1,1,• ' re..�.. .,�S.J,/.I�•�..i�.-. • ti._._• �/..-., j ,_ L.SQ01.4 Y'...+- •�r'i L.. ... , \f" . 2,.......:_____,,,: .. . .„,,, ,./,. , . ,...„.., .. . . I. .51/.. l o �` y _.:(........4../.1t� (_G �l��i [- G��!r �if �y'Pi..--,f� .• _/17/.T �, ..».. :.. • • • • 1. . _ _. _• - __.__... ............_._•.... ......... .. • I , 7Y / 'e76 March 22, 1971 I hereby certify that pursuant to a notice dated February 3, 1971, duly published February 5 and March 12, 1971, a public hearing was had on a request for a Change of Zone as requested by Western Agri-Systems, at the time and place specified in said notice. Said hearing was continued until Tuesday, March 23, 1971 at the hour of 10:30 A. M. in the Commissioners Chambers. Q ATTEST:aZsa/4�6�nRii/ r /i /'%� � l , 1 -- COUNTY CLE AND RECORDER CHAIRMAN -' AND CLERK TO THE BOARD BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS WELD COUNTY, COLORADO I WESTERN AGRI -SYSTEMS c/o TOM NIEMAN l'."4" �� _�� '' - _ M3 Sh 22 .1971 2:00 P.M. N- wr ice-7? e...._ i c._ _ „ „.. ii ....______....,. .. . _ _ . .?. ,_,-ti._,.:- -. fj II /C Z C 7e C--- 1Z1� .I/: ii_ ,j,/ faL441 , 9/10 , _ , • I AJ4 f. 7. i' .:. t .v-ti ,_ ,(-- f_ NJ I am'•rk '' off 0 / -k 1 ."L /�� ,l+n _ fSr:..cC/' �.S .r � 2:0t/I Y- _{ 7— fr � _ I c_cC.,,s- lfd,•^- 5,.ei..,,,i,„/ .4.4/0 .,. ;fir . .._ f'C4.cc / _7) of . f / �` q ,...z. _ / :v& ( lc,,, Liatv\AJA . _Ah , rs. ti:64.-e-, , a_` ,s:, C* _'JiJ s 4 ',Zgi : , .< jam'A Ar14 .- -- _ f L i 1 -- , - i i _. � 1 /i • Property Owners / Western Agri- Systems c/o Tom. Nieman Henry Ipp1e & Mable Weigel Wiggins, Colo. Floyd W. Yocum Masters, Colo. Kirk W. & Dorothy B. Howell Rt. 1, Box 105 Wiggins, Colo. Vernon Westhoff Wiggins, Colo. State of Colorado Board of Land Commissioners 1845 Sherman Denver, Colo. 60206 PROOF OF PLBLICn,:ON STATE OF COLORADO, ) ss. COUNTY OF WELD i, • ., . --- - being duly sworn, deposes and says: 1. That he is the Editor of theA(eene Valley Sun, a weekly newspaper printed and published in the Town of Keenesburg, County of Weld and State of Colorado, and has personal knowl- edge of all the facts set forth in this affidavit. 2. That the said Keene Valley Sun is printed and published at regular intervals, one time each week, on-Thursday and that it has agen- oral circulation in the County of Weld and elsewhere. 3. That the said Keone Valley Sun was established and has been printed and published in said County uninterruptedly and continu- ously during a period of at least fifty-two con- secutive weeks next prior to the first issue thereof containing said publication, a copy of which is hereunto attached. 4. That the said Keene Valley Sun is a weekly newspaper of general circulation, and is printed and published in whole or in part in the said County of Weld in which said pub- lication is required by law to be published, a NOTICE copy of which is hereunto attached. , 5. 'That said Keene Valley Sun is a weekly Pursuant to the 9.Oniug laws of newspaper within the meaning of the act of the General Assembly of the State of Colo- the State of Colorado, a public rado, approved April 7,1921, and entitled, An held in the District hearing will . Act Concerning_regal Notices, Advertisements 1 .�i�� and Publications and the fees of Printers and Court Hearing Roo. 'Fm, Fourth %or, Publishers Thereof, and to Repeal All Acts and Parts of Acts in Conflict with the Provision of Weld County Court House, Greeley, This Act" and as amended by an act of Colorado, at the time specified. All said General Assembly, entitled, "An Act to Amend an Act Entitled 'An Act Concerning persons in any manner interested Legal Notices, Advertisements and Publications in the renewing proposed^' IflOg2 and the Fees of Printers and Publishers Thereof, and to Repeal All Acts and Parts of of Zone are requested to attend Acts in Conflict with the Provisions of this and may be-,IleBSd; Act'," approved March 30, 1923, and as amend- ed by an act of said General Assembly ap- ' proved May 18, 1931, entitled, "An Act to BE IT ALSO KNOWN, that the Amend Section 4 of Chapter 139, Session Laws of Colorado, 1923, Relating to Legal Notices text and maps so certified by the and Advertisements," which said Act took County Planning Commission may effect on and after the first day of January, 1932, and as amended by an act of said General be-examined ]11 the offices of'.the Assembly entitled, "An Act to Amend Chapter Board of County Commissioners,139 of the Session Laws of 1923 Relating to Legal Notices and Advertisements; to Define Weld County Court souse, Greeley, Newspapers Qualified to Publish Legal Notices and Advertisements and the Fees of Printers Colorado. and Publishers Thereof, and to Provide that the Costs of such Legal Notices and Advertise • - ments Shall Be Taxed as Fees," approved D K--HP No.16 March 5, 1935; and as amended by an act of said General Assembly entitled, "An Act Re- - • lating to Legal Notices and Advertisements, Western Agri-Systems and Amending Section 1 of Chaper 113, Ses- sion Laws of 1931," approved March 25, 1935. 6. That said newspaper had, prior to Jan- 910 16th Street uary 1, 19.36, and has ever since said date been Denver, Colorado 80202 admitted to the United States mails as second class-matter under the provisions of the Act of March 3, 1879, or any amendments thereof. DATE: March 22, 1971 7. That the said annexed publication was • published in the regular and entire edition of TIME: 2:00 O'clock P.M: the Keene Valley Sun, a duly qualified weekly newspaper for that purpose, within the terms and meaning of the above named Acts. Request: Change of.Zone from S. That the said annexed publication is a "A" Agriculture District to • "A- full, true,was and correct ty copy e of the original which was-cen issues published in each p the lJD" Agriculture Unit Development regular and a entire t ipe of said newspaper, a legally qualified paper for the purpose, once DistriOL each week, on the same slay of each week, Dated: February 3, 1971. for successive weeks by • - ',, insertions and that the first THE BOARD OF publication thereof was in the issue dated t I COUNTY COMMISSIONERS 19 and • that the last publication was in the Issue WELD COUNTY, COLORADO dated _ 19 ' By: ANN SPOMER y, a, l3cticT COUNTY CLERK AND_ ySubscribed and sworn to before me this RECORDER AND y(..Wi..day of j��e 19 .1_._ CLERK_TO THE BOARD•elnic:ot Co t—Notary Public • NOTICE Pursuant to the zoning laws of the State of Colorado, a public hearing will be held in the District Court Hearing Room, Fourth Floor, Weld County Court House, Greeley, Colorado, at the time specified. All persons in any manner interested in the following proposed Change of Zone are requested to attend and may be heard. BE IT ALSO KNOWN that the text and maps so certified by the County Planning Commission may be examined in the offices of the Board of County Commissioners, Weld County Court House, Greeley, Colorado. Docket No. 16 Western Agri-Systems c/o Tom Nieman 910 16th Street Denver, Colorado 80202 Date: March 22, 1971 Time: 2:00 O'clock P. M. Request: Change of Zone from "A" Agriculture District to "A-UD" Agriculture Unit Development District A parcel of land more particularly described as follows: Sections Thirty-three and Thirty-four (33 & 34) , Township Three (3) North, Range Sixty-one (61) and Section Three (3) , Township Two (2) North, Range Sixty-one (61) West of the 6th P. M. , Weld County, Colorado THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS WELD COUNTY, COLORADO BY: ANN SPOMER COUNTY CLERK AND RECORDER AND CLERK TO THE BOARD Dated: February 3, 1971 Publish: The Greeley Booster February 5 and March 12, 1971 Affidavit of Publication STATE OF COLORADO, ss. County of Weld, 7,.u, YYl1 0t. ~` Mildred &. Hansen of r w r'4.. -{ `' j R , said County of Weld, being duly swam, say Ty =^ c »�" f that I am the (publisher) (editor) ..tom ing manager) of (advertis- ing }4X r'r9 `'f I)'%" THE GREELEY DAILY TRIBUNE, and THE -GREELEY-REPUBLICAN fy<""+r a y,.MA ,~t tM.r that the same is a daily newspaper of general circulation and printed and published in the Itfa Mi + °�a city of Greeley, in said county and state; that t e/0ss the notice or advertisement, of which thean- + tads nexed is a true copy, has been published in a v s' yXk said daily newspaper for one day; that the notice was published in the regular and entire issue of said newspaper, and in the newspaper proper and not in a supplement qtr i thereof; that the publication of said notice was contained in the issue of said newspaper , •i,,,..yya bearing date Pa egAft�o,kaa 12t'aay of March A.D. 19 71 ; m wt it 4 pat <- t+4ary :`ijtl n that said The Greeley Daily Tribune and The Greeley Republican, has been-published continuously and uninterruptedly during iF p�^ ^ IITy:p ,ni the period of at least six months next a}1a prior to the issue thereof containing said notice or advertisement above referred to; = that said newspaper has Ibsen admitted to the United States mails as second-class matter under the provisions of the Act of March 3, - -�- -_ 1979, or any amendments thereof, and that said newspaper is a-daily newspaper duly qualified for publishing legal notices and advertisements within the meaning of the laws of the State of Colorado. (Publisher) (Editor) (Advertising-.-:)-. Subscribed and sworn to before me this 15f fay of March A.D. 19 71 My commission expires May 18, 1974 Notary Public. AFFIDAVIT OF PUBLICATION STATE DF COLORADO, ) )ss. 1 y '_ e. COUNTY OF WELD. ) " 4 Loren A. Walling R x of being duly sworn, deposes and says: s . 4 ,, , , 1. That he is the Owner and Publisher of The Greeley Booster Wet , , b ~.. ." - • a weekly newspaper printed and published in the City of Greeley, Floor. -Kr. ,' County Court House, County of weld and State-of Colorado, which has been admitted to the United States Mails as second class,matter under Act of Y: Colorado, at the time Congress, of March 3, 1879. specified. All persons in any-man- 2. That the said The Greeley Booster is printed and published net interested-in the following pro- at regular intervals, one time each week, on Friday, and that it posed Change of Zone are request- has a general circulation in the County of Weld, and elsewhere. ad to attend and-may be heard. 3. That the said The Greeley Booster was established and has • RE IT ALSO KNOWN that- the. been printed and published in said county uninterruptedly and continuously during a period of at least fifty-two consecutive weeks text and maps so certified by the county Planning Commission may next prior to the first issue thereof containing said be examined in the offices of the Notice Board:of Comity Commissioners, a copy of which is hereunto attached. Weld County Court House; Gree• 4. That the said The Greeley Boaster is a weekly newspaper ley Colorado. - of general circulation, and is printed and published in whole or in DOCKET No. 16 part in the said County of Weld in which said t TOM 1 Western SgNlei stems • Nn+iL.ra is required by law to be published, a copy 91 i e PY of which is hereto at- tached. - 910, 6Ut Street " 5. That the said The Greeley Mooster is a weekly newspaper yam' s 1� a within the meaning of "An Act Concerning Legal Notices, Adver- BATE March 22, 1911 tisements and Publications and Fees of Printers and Publishers Thereof and to Repeal all Acts and-Parts of Acts in Conflict with TIME:2:00 O'etoek-P. M. the Provisions of this Act,"being Chapter 139 of the Session Laws of Colorado of 1923 as amended by Chapter 113 of the Session Request: Change of•ZonC tt'.Ofii Laws of Colorado of 1931, and later amended by Chapters 155 to L.AR Agricultdrte District'to. `'A 1.56 of the Session-Laws of Colorado of 1935. UD" Agrieultiae Unit Develeti- 6. That the said annexed $tent District". Notice A parcel of land more Partial, was published in the regular and entire edition of The Greeley lady described as follows:- Booster, a-duly qualified weekly newspaper for that purpose,with- in the terms and meanings of the above named Acts. Sections Thirty-three and.Thin tpfettr (3a •4'.$4),' -T onslnp 7. That the said annexed Three (3) North, Range-Sixty- Notice . one 161) and ,- is a full, true, and correct copy of the original which was regularly Section Three (3), Township published in each of the regular and entire issues of said news- Two (2) North, Range Sixty- paper, a legally qualified paper for that purpose, once each week, one (61) West of the 6th P. M., on the same day of each week, for successive weeks Weld County, Colorado by Two insertions and thatethee f5, pyblccation thereof Dated: February 3, 1971. was in the issue dated FF bb �lYY and that tl .s icatio vas i t e 1ss tedMreh j29 Tent THE BOARD OF 1. 1 //(l,C. COUNTY COMMISSIONERS Subscribed and sworn to before me thi. . WELD_COUNTY, COLORADO day of 19 By: ANN SFOMER COUNTY CLERK AND . RECORDER AND iCLERK TO THE BOARD I Published in The Greeley Boos- ter Febrerry 5 and March 12, 1971 I_ I BEFORE THE WELD COUNTY, COLORADO PLANNING COMMISSION RESOLUTION OF -RECOMMENDATION TO THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS Ca-se No. Z-171 Date 1/19/71 APPLICATION OF Western Aga-,yolems Address 910 16th St., Denver, Colorado 80202 c/o Tpm nlemai Moved by Phil:_p Bowles that the following resolution be introducedf'or pas sage by the Weld County Planning Commission: Be it Resolved by -the Weld County Planning Commission that the application for rezoning from "A" ( Agriculture District toA-UD ( Agxi,�.iJ,ture.Unit .Develo District) of of P- went covering the following described property in Weld County, Colorado, to-wit: Sections Thirty-three and Thirty-four (33 & 34), Township Three (3) North Range Sixty-one (61) and Section Three (3), Township Two (2) North, Range Sixty-one (61) West of the 6th P. M,, Weld County, Colorado 1 Ji • tf, be recommended (favorably) (9f€ ,Q7 ;to the Board of County Commissioners for the following reasons: See attached sheet • Motion seconded by Glen Andersen . Vote: For Passage: 0. ?I .Andexson Against Passage: Philip--Bowles doneid.,.lieitman John._Wa.ts.on The Chairman declared the Resolution passed and cordered that a certified copy be forwarded with the file of this case to the Board of County Commissioners for further proceedings. PC-Z-005 CERTIFICATION OF COPY I, Dorothy Hill Recording Secretary of Weld County Planning Commission, -do -hereby certify that the above and foregoing Resolution is a true copy of Resolution of Planning Commission -of Weld County, Colorado, adopted on Jano 18, 1971 , and recorded in Book No. II , Page No. , of the proceedings of said Planning Commission. Dated this 19th day of Jan. , 19 71. Recording Secretary, Wed County Planning Commission PC-Z-006 Approval for the following reasons: 1. The proposed site presently has little agricultural value, vegitation is sparce and the surface soils cannot retain water. 2. There are no dwellings within one mile of the site. 3. The sludge to be applied would fertilize the soil and improve the soils ability to retain moisture. sludge applications would build surface soil making ground cover possible. 4. The sludge has no offensive odor. 5. Salts pollution of the South Platte river would be decreased because a change in the filtering process at the Denver Metro Sewage District plant if this system of disposal is used. Approval subject to the following conditions: 1. Include provisions in the development plan to provide for proper management. -a. General site cleanliness and screening b. Continual testing program to determine the downward or lateral movement of salts in the soil below the holding ponds and areas of application. c. Method of providing ground cover to prevent erosion of materials to be applied. d. Operation to be controlled by the Weld County Health Department with the ability to shut down the operation if health standards are endangered in any form. 2. Specific requirements: 1. Chemical analysis of the sludge shall be provided. 2,e Bacterial analysis . Hello