Neighbors Trash ‘Biosolids’ Plan Deer Park Man Wants To Use Property For Septic Tank Dump

Duane Riggle’s proposal to spread septic tank waste over 80 acres of his Williams Valley farm in southern Stevens County has made him a pariah among his neighbors.

About 100 people turned out for Wednesday’s hearing in the Deer Park community center on his proposal to charge septic tank pumpers to empty their trucks on his land. The only kind words for Riggle came from his attorney, Jeff Supinger.

Supinger said the so-called “biosolids” would be applied only at a rate that would allow them to be absorbed by crops as fertilizer. He said the waste would be slight in comparison to rainfall, and noted that opponents failed to produce any testimony about problems at other disposal sites.

But six families came with a pair of lawyers and with three scientists to try to convince officials from the state Department of Ecology that the idea is not only bad, but probably illegal.

State law allows septic tank waste to be used as fertilizer only if it won’t threaten public health or the environment. Attorneys Michael Hines and Mischelle Fulgham said “unrebutted scientific evidence” shows Riggle’s plan is a menace.

Dr. Richard Pleus, a Seattle toxicologist, cited numerous dangers from untreated septage, and former U.S. Department of Agriculture soil scientist Jim Carley of Spokane said Riggle’s land would provide no treatment.

“There is no area on this site that is suitable for the application of septic biosolids,” Carley said, citing shallow soils, high water tables and steep slopes.

Spokane hydrogeologist Paul Humphreys testified that neighbors’ shallow wells “would most likely be contaminated,” and deeper wells also could be polluted.

Fulgham scoffed at Riggle’s stated intention to pick up any foreign materials that might be deposited on his land, which she said would include feminine hygiene products.

“Is he really going to do that?” Fulgham asked incredulously.

Sheri Hodneland, who lives 300 yards from Riggle’s land, said she fears “insects that are feasting on human feces and landing on our food.”

Neighbor Jim Berry, a Spokane Falls Community College geology teacher, said he is confident the Ecology Department will deny Riggle’s request for a permit, but “it shouldn’t have gotten this far. No way.”