Companies behind biosolid fertilizers are pressing Congress to pass legislation shielding them from legal actions related to pollution caused by harmful chemicals.
Toxic Fertilizer Producers Seek Legal Protections from Congress
Toxic Fertilizer Producers Seek Legal Protections from Congress
As concerns rise over PFAS contamination linked to sewage sludge fertilizer, companies like Synagro are lobbying Congress for immunity from lawsuits.
For decades, the little-known company Synagro, under the ownership of a Goldman Sachs fund, has been profiting from an unusual byproduct of American society: sewage sludge. This treated sludge, marketed as biosolids, is sold to farmers as a fertilizer. However, recent findings indicate that these products may harbor dangerous "forever chemicals" (PFAS), associated with severe health risks such as cancer and reproductive issues.
Farmers across the nation have begun to report instances of these toxic chemicals contaminating their agricultural lands, water supplies, and livestock. In response to this growing concern, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) declared two common PFAS variants as hazardous materials this year under the Superfund law.
Amidst mounting pressure from affected communities, Synagro has become a leading player in a concerted effort to lobby Congress for immunity from lawsuits pertaining to the cleanup of farmland tainted by its sludge fertilizer. Documentation of this lobbying effort indicates that Synagro’s chief executive is the chair of one of the advocacy groups pushing for this initiative.
In a March letter addressed to the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works, representatives from the sludge industry, including Synagro, contended that they should not be held liable for contaminations since the PFAS was present in the sludge prior to its processing into fertilizer.
The lobby effort has already gained traction, culminating in the introduction of a legislative bill by Republican Senators John Boozman of Arkansas and Cynthia Lummis of Wyoming. This proposed legislation aims to provide legal protections for sludge companies like Synagro, as well as the wastewater treatment plants supplying the sludge, from potential lawsuits. A corresponding bill has also emerged in the House.
