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SAMS VALLEY Treated human waste idea flushed Landowner drops plans and puts property up for sale Comment By Damian Mann Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By Damian Mann Mail Tribune Posted May. 4, 2015 at 2:55 PM By Damian Mann Mail Tribune Posted May. 4, 2015 at 2:55 PM » Social News A Merlin company has dropped plans to spread treated human waste on fields in Sams Valley after more than 100 residents rallied against the idea. Clearwater Technologies withdrew its application with the Oregon Department of Water Quality on its 148-acre property at 14412 Table Rock Road and has put the land up for sale. “I just told the DEQ I wasn’t interested in giving myself a bad name or the DEQ a black eye,” said Brian Thompson, owner of Clearwater. He said neighbors opposed the proposal even though he believes there is considerable science confirming its safety. “If you don’t believe the DEQ or the EPA, where do you start?” Thompson said. “I just didn’t want to take on a conspiracy. How do you win that?” The human waste, collected from portable toilets and other sources, is treated to remove 95 percent of pathogens, or Class B biosolids, Thompson said. Because of the neighbor reaction, he’s considering treating it to remove all pathogens, so that it can then be combined with other manures and sold as a compost. Thompson said many bagged composts used in gardens contain a certain percentage of treated human waste, referred to as Class A biosolids. “Basically, it’s pasteurized,” he said. DEQ has approved applying treated human waste on other fields throughout the state, and it’s also used by farmers throughout the U.S. Alison Chan, a neighbor who opposed Clearwater’s proposal, said that when neighbors first banded together they weren’t sure they could fight the government and the company. “In the very beginning, one person said, ‘Why are we even bothering? There is no way we can impact the proceedings,’ ” Chan said. “I told them, ‘You have to try.’ ” Chan said a “for sale” sign is now posted on the Clearwater property, and the neighbors are glad the land will not be disturbed. “It’s a huge sigh of relief,” she said. Kate Jackson, DEQ regional liaison to Southern Oregon, said her agency received a rather large number of comments in opposition to the proposal. She said DEQ has sent out an informal email to residents notifying them that Clearwater has dropped out. At a later date, a formal letter will be sent out, she said. Apart from the concerns raised by neighbors, Jackson said DEQ found little information to deny the application. “It was a doable kind of permit,” she said. Going forward, Thompson said he wants to open another operation in the Medford area because most of his business comes from here. Clearwater spreads treated human waste on about 60 acres in Josephine County, Thompson said. Reach reporter Damian Mann at 541-776-4476 or [email protected] . Follow him on Twitter at @reporterdm . By Damian Mann Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By Damian Mann Mail Tribune Posted May. 4, 2015 at 2:55 PM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... 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