Metro and the DEQ may tighten oversight after a company in Milwaukie is found in violation
Oregon environmental regulators are rethinking rules governing commercially produced garden compost after a Milwaukie compost-maker was cited last week for mixing chemically treated wood with yard debris.
The state Department of Environmental Quality prohibits wood that has been painted, glued or treated with chemical preservatives, such as arsenic, from being used in compost sold as soil amendment, potting mix or ground cover. In sufficient amounts, officials say, such chemicals could kill plants, leach into groundwater or potentially create a human health risk.
Of particular concern is chromated copper arsenate, once commonly used to protect wooden decks, playground equipment and picnic tables from insects and decay. The arsenic compound was later linked to increased risk for lung or bladder cancer in children. After discussions with the federal Environmental Protection Agency, manufacturers agreed to stop using it in consumer products as of Dec. 31.
Responding to a person who said he saw arsenic-treated wood mixed with compost materials at McFarlane's Bark Inc., an inspector from the Metro regional government visited the composting operation Dec. 10. He found treated wood waste mixed with grass clippings, leaves and other yard debris to be recycled into compost.
In a "finding of violation" issued late Thursday, McFarlane's was ordered to keep treated wood separate from its compost materials or risk losing its license.
Owner Dan McFarlane said Friday that there had been a misunderstanding and that the inspector found glue-treated plywood -- not arsenic-treated lumber. He couldn't guarantee, however, that arsenic-treated wood never accidentally made its way into the compost mix.
"We want to find out what's going on," he said. "We're going to retest some of the compost we are producing."
Metro's Earth-Wise compost quality assurance program does not test for arsenic residue, though it does conduct twice-a-year screening of samples for several toxic substances. McFarlane's is one of 10 commercial operations voluntarily submitting samples for those tests.
The program's coordinator, John Foseid, said he is considering adding arsenic to about 20 chemicals, heavy metals and other substances that are part of its protocol.
DEQ Deputy Director Paul Slyman said the agency also will consider problems posed by arsenic-treated wood when it re-examines statewide composting rules early next year.
"We may need to be more emphatic about CCA-treated (arsenic) wood," he said.
In the meantime, DEQ officials said Oregonians can help make sure the problem stays in check by keeping treated wood separate from yard debris.
Until now, state and local regulators say it was rare for a compost-maker to be cited for allowing treated wood to get into the mix. They worry that more arsenic-treated wood could show up as families get rid of old playground equipment and other wood structures.
Dave Stone, a toxicologist with the Oregon Department of Human Services, said there is probably no significant health threat if traces of arsenic do turn up in compost -- unless an adult or child somehow ingested it.
"It's not going to cause a vapor hazard, and it's not going to absorb into skin," he said.
Michelle Cole: 503-294-5143; michellecole@news.oregonian.com
source: http://www.oregonlive.com/news/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/news/107209786528900.xml 22dec03
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