10:00 PM PDT on Monday, July 12, 2010

By IMRAN GHORI
The Press-Enterprise

A proposal for an open-air sludge composting facility near the High Desert community of Hinkley that has raised objections from residents will go back before the San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors Tuesday.

The board approved the project in 2007 but after opponents sued a Superior Court judge found that part of the original environmental impact report was inadequate and overturned that approval. Nursery Products, the proponent of the project, is again seeking approval of the 80-acre plant on 160 acres near Highway 58, eight miles west of Hinkley.

The facility would collect up to 2,000 tons per day of biosolids – the waste byproduct from households, industry and offices – from sewage-treatment plants. It would process 400,000 tons of waste a year to produce compost that would be sold for agricultural use, according to the applicant.

Residents from Hinkley and Barstow have opposed the project, saying not enough study has been done about the health effects of biosolids.

The land use report to the board states that organic compounds from the composting of biosolids and green material would have a significant impact on air quality. However, the report recommends approval citing substantial benefits to the county with the increased recycling of biosolids and green waste.

Opponents say that the county is not following the court order and must redo the entire environmental report, not just parts of it.

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