Where
threats of serious or irreversible harm to people or nature exist, anticipatory
action must be taken to prevent damage to human and environmental health
Call to Action:
• The definitive chemistry and microbiology of Sewage Sludge
and Wastewater Effluent are unknown
• The environmental impact of the land
application of Sewage Sludge on Cascade forest soils and waters and Puget Sound
is unknown
• The environmental impact of Wastewater Effluent on Cascade rivers
and Puget Sound is unknown
We intend to Find Out
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The
proponent of an activity bears responsibility
for providing evidence of safety
Protecting Cascade Watersheds and Puget Sound
Evaluating the effects of Sewage Sludge (Biosolids) and Wastewater Effluent
applied to forest soils and waters on the greater Puget Sound Ecosystem
Thesis: The application of Sewage Sludge and Wastewater Effluent to forest soils and waters degrades the natural environment and threatens ecosystem sustainability and biodiversity
Mission Statement: The Precautionary Group (TPG) was formed to evaluate the adverse effects of Sewage Sludge and Wastewater Effluent on the greater Puget Sound ecosystem
Mission Objectives:
Evaluate the chemical and microbiological composition of Sewage Sludge and Wastewater Effluent
Determine the effects of Sewage Sludge and Wastewater Effluent on the biota of the Snoqualmie-Skykomish Watershed and the greater Puget Sound Ecosystem
Determine the fate of Sewage Sludge and Wastewater Effluent components in the Snoqualmie-Skykomish Watershed and the greater Puget Sound Ecosystem
The Precautionary Principle: When an activity raises threats of harm to human health or the environment, precautionary measures must be taken, even if cause and effect relationships are not fully established scientifically
The Core Tenets of the Precautionary Principle:
Take preventive action in the face of uncertainty
Shift the burden of proof to proponents of an activity
Explore a wide range of alternatives to possibly harmful actions
Include public participation in decision making
The number of known or suspected environmental pathogens, mutagens, carcinogens, teratogens, endocrine disrupting chemicals and other toxic chemicals compels us to protect public health, without irrefutable proof of harm
(The President's Cancer Panel: Reducing Environmental Risk, April 2010)
Expected Outcome: The Precautionary Group intends to analyze the chemistry and microbiology of Sewage Sludge and Wastewater Effluent as they are produced by the wastewater treatment process and released into Cascade forest soils and waters and into rivers and Puget Sound. The results of a series of chemical and microbiological analyses of the impact and fate of sewage sludge and wastewater effluent components using advanced technologies and methods will be reviewed objectively and published widely for use by agencies and the public.
Images: The images below show the natural beauty of the Cascade Mountains and Puget Sound, which define the region and provide the basis for the superb quality of life that is afforded the residents of the Northwest, and which is the foundation of the tourist industry in the Cascade and Puget Sound region. Why are these valuable and highly beneficial attributes compromised for purposes of sludge disposal convenience? Note the linked PDF file below the images titled, Cascade Forests and Puget Sound.
We intend to Find Out
The Precautionary Group A Washington State Nonprofit Corporation Protecting Cascade Watersheds and Puget Sound
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