The Kentucky Steward LLC, R. M. True

Victory Against the Malpractice of Biosolids Landfarming

On September 26, 2024 the Trimble County, KY Board of Adjustments (BOA) denied a conditional land use application that proposed the spreading of human septic waste on hay fields. This decision represents a watershed moment for the community’s environmental stewardship. This victory, while localized, carries significant implications for the broader discourse on Kentucky’s sustainable domestic waste disposal and landfarming management practices, while also reflecting proper due diligence on behalf of the BOA and its constituents to execute an objective, ethical decision. Such decisions, when informed by specific environmental considerations, as well as other community concerns, underscores the importance of evidence-based policymaking in environmental and community governance.

Community Stewardship in Action

The success of this victory represents the power of collective action as it fosters environmental and community advocacy. The BOA’s denial, which was reinforced by irrefutable considerations voiced by the community as well as The Kentucky Steward (as detailed in here), exemplifies the democratic principles underpinning environmental stewardship, where informed citizenry becomes the vanguard of sustainable and ethical practices. These moments of collective action allow individuals of communities—who otherwise may not cross paths, or possibly believe they share little in common, with another—to participate and progress the greater body politic of a community faced with environmental risks. It is The Kentucky Steward’s belief that after such victories, community members re-assume their individuality with a refined sense of stewardship and community belonging; which well-equips them when faced with future environmentally adverse propositions.

Blueprint for Other Alike Communities

The Trimble County community’s opposition to the malpractice of biosolids landfarming in areas of environmental and community concern serves as a just blueprint for other alike communities. It was not chance that the BOA denied the conditional use application. Rather, an observable strategy: (1) vocalizing preliminary concerns pertaining to the environment and other community factors; (2) community members engaging scientific literature; (3) effective public communication; and (4) collectively reviewing and presenting to the greater community significant deficiencies with federal and state regulations relating to the management program at hand. Other alike communities would do well to adopt this multifaceted approach to address their own environmental and community concerns. But they will not do so alone.

Call for Statewide Reform of the Department of Public Health’s Mismanagement of the Domestic Septic Waste Disposal Practice

The deficiencies discovered in the Department of Public Health’s domestic septic waste disposal program (as detailed here) extend beyond the victory in Trimble County. Rather, in addition to dozens upon dozens of active biosolids disposal sites, especially “non-public” sites, there are undoubtedly numerous conditional use applications proposing biosolids landfarming or disposal practices around the state. The environmental risks presented and perpetuated by 902 KAR 10.150/160 and local health departments are not isolated deficiencies, but rather symptomatic of a lack of stewardship of the Department of Public Health to the citizens of Kentucky. It is The Kentucky Steward’s opinion that it is imperative the discourse presented during the Trimble County, KY BOA’s ruling is elevated to the state level. Specifically, by whatever means necessary, elevated to Governor Andy Beshear and relevant authorities to advocate for and, consequently, initiate a comprehensive overhaul of domestic septic waste management disposal policies. Such an overhaul, unlike the existing waste management policies, will be predicated on current scientific understanding and scholarship and will be aligned with best practices in environmental stewardship.

Fellow stewards, you have the word of The Kentucky Steward: despite the significant local victory of Trimble County KY, The Kentucky Steward will not stand idly by while other alike communities face similar environmental adverse propositions. The Kentucky Steward’s next course of action is to organize and execute an approach to policymakers at the state level that includes presenting the preliminary findings of The Kentucky Steward’s “Opposition to the Malpractice of Biosolids Landfarming in Areas of Environmental and Community Concern” Op-Ed and Expanded Report for consideration. To fellow stewards of Trimble County, congratulations on your well-deserved victory.

To fellow stewards elsewhere in the state, yours is forthcoming.

What’s Next for The Kentucky Steward?

The Kentucky Steward’s mission statement remains: “promoting the ethical stewardship of Kentucky’s environment and culture”. And while our crosshairs have been calibrated given the discourse above, we also look forward to the following initiatives as they pertain to the ethical stewardship of Kentucky and its local communities:

1. Continued advocacy through other non-domestic septic waste disposal lens
2. Engagement for fellow stewards to submit and share their “boots on the ground” literary input (see Submissions) for the collective education of all Kentucky stewards
3. Finalizing The Kentucky Steward’s 5-Year Plan; by doing so, The Kentucky Steward will be able to focus resources and efforts on the optimal path to ethically stewarding the great state of Kentucky.

To fellow stewards, lest you forget:

Steward the State!