Because the public has concerns about health, natural resource protection, and potential nuisances associated with biosolids applications, communication with the public is an important part of every biosolids program. In this module, participants will learn appropriate methods for notifying application site neighbors and responding to complaints from the public. Other topics include public information resources, strategies for working with the media, and proactive approaches to public information.
You can approach the issue of public information from many different perspectives. Work with one or several of the following presenters to introduce training participants to a diversity of viewpoints:
A representative of your local biosolids permitting authority can discuss required procedures such as neighbor notification and signage at application sites.
A biosolids manager can give examples of everyday public information needs, make suggestions for managing truck drivers and applicators, explain routine procedures to minimize nuisances to the public (dust, noise, etc.), describe how to work with application site neighbors, and tell how to respond to complaints.
A public information specialist can share the challenges of working with television, radio, and print media.
A facilitator can suggest the best ways to involve the public in the planning process for your biosolids program, and provide examples of collaborative versus top-down planning.
A representative of your state/regional biosolids organization can discuss the resources available for telling the public about beneficial use of biosolids.
Holding a mock public meeting will provide participants with practice in responding to questions in a formal setting. Briefly construct a context for a mock meeting conducted by biosolids managers with the general public, such as: "A land application site proposed near the City of Cornucopia has gained notoriety through a local newspaper. You, the biosolids managers, schedule a public meeting to explain your project to the public." Then, select participants to act as "biosolids managers" responding to questions from the public (the rest of the participants) such as: "What are biosolids? Are biosolids safe? How will local water resources be protected from contamination? Who regulates biosolids, and what assurances are there that the regulators do an adequate job?"
You may want to appoint a few participants to act as observers. The observers watch the meeting from an audience's perspective, noting effective and ineffective responses from the biosolids managers. The observers share their findings with the whole group after the mock meeting is concluded.
You can keep this activity going for a long time by supplying new situations and allowing participants to change roles.
Session 1: Examples of everyday public information needs. Suggestions for managing truck drivers and applicators. Routine procedures to minimize nuisances to the public (dust, noise, etc.). How to work with application site neighbors. Responding to complaints.
Session 2: How to work with television, radio, and print media.
Session 1: Biosolids manager
Session 2: Public information specialist for a wastewater treatment agency
Session 1: Public information materials used by the biosolids production facility
Session 2: Do's and don'ts for working with the media
Session 1: No visual aids. Short formal presentation with extended question and answer session.
Session 2: No visual aids. Lecture covering major topics listed on the handout. Extended question-and-answer session.
The publications and World Wide Web sites listed below provide examples of public information on biosolids. Many are too general or too region-specific for your needs. However, they provide key ideas for creating localized fact sheets for your biosolids program.
Public Participation. Chapter 12 in: Process Design Manual, Land Application of Sewage Sludge and Domestic Septage, EPA-625-R-95-001.
Biosolids recycling: Beneficial technology for a better environment. EPA Publ. 832-R-94-009.
Biosolids questions and answers. Northwest Biosolids Management Association, Seattle, WA.
Fact sheets: Wastewater treatment, forestry, land reclamation, agriculture, environmental effects. Northwest Biosolids Management Association. Seattle, WA.
Biosolids recycling in Oregon. EC 1471. OSU Extension Service, Corvallis, OR.
Web addresses are listed in this format: organization name, Web address, and "pages" with biosolids public information topics. Complete contact information for each organization is provided in "Training resources."
Northwest Biosolids Management Association: http://www.nwbiosolids.org/
Biosolids questions and answers
Fact sheets accessible from "Biosolids questions and answers" include: wastewater treatment, forestry, land reclamation, agriculture, environmental effectsOregon State University: http://www.orst.edu
Biosolids Recycling in OregonKing County Washington, Department of Natural Resources, Wastewater Treatment Division: http://waterquality.metrokc.gov/
Biosolids Recycling Basics
Biosolids Management Program
Biosolids Recycling ProjectsWater Environment Federation: http://www.wef.org/WEF/
U.S. EPA Biosolids Fact Sheet Project
Biosolids Recycling Facts
Biosolids Recycling: An Environmentally Sound Way to Put a Valuable Resource to Work for All of Us
Biosolids Recycling: Beneficial Technology for a Better Environment
Biosolids Recycling Public Awareness Program--Biosolids Information Kit
Biosolids: The Growth of Recycling
Northwest Biosolids Management Association
821 2nd Ave. MS 81 Seattle, WA 98104-1598
Phone: 206-684-1145
Fax: 206-689-3485