You want forever chemicals with that?

The Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) will hold its second and final hearing tomorrow night (June 16) on the use of biosolids as fertilizer on about 2,500 acres of Orange County farmland. The hearing is part of the process involved in a permit renewal application from Synagro, which bills itself as “the largest recycler of organic byproducts in North America” and has plants all over the U.S. and three in Canada.

Although Synagro’s website bills the company as environmentally friendly, not everyone sees its biosolids that way. The Piedmont Environmental Council (PEC), for one, strongly objects to the spreading of biosolids (sludge) containing “forever chemicals” that could endanger human health and harm the overall environment, including waterways. The technical name for these chemicals is per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS).

Don McCown, the PEC’s senior land use field representative for Madison and Orange counties, wrote to Byrd Street, “The significance of the June 16 hearing is that it will be the first public hearing on a permit request, where public participation is already underway, since the General Assembly passed multiple bills in 2026 related to PFAS and biosolids.”

In response to a request for further comment, McCown wrote, “PEC urges DEQ, as a condition of the permit, to require testing of soil and water resources for PFAS where sludge is applied in Orange County; and (2) utilize the resulting data to impose additional restrictions and permit conditions as necessary to protect human health, state waters, and the environment.”

The first hearing related to Synagro’s permit renewal took place last year and drew comments from more than 60 local residents voicing their objections to the application. Among those was Jamie McConnell of Orange, chair of the Rotary Club of Orange’s conservation committee. He has been working hard to get the word out about the dangers of spreading PFAS-laden biosolids on Orange County farmland.

McConnell is urging local residents to attend tomorrow night’s hearing, though only those who previously submitted comments on Synagro’s permit renewal application will be allowed to speak. Here are his thoughts on what’s at stake:

At the heart of this issue is the continued spreading of biosolids—also known as sewage sludge—on Orange County farmland. Marketed as a free fertilizer, biosolids can contain PFAS, commonly called “forever chemicals,” which have been linked to cancer, immune system dysfunction, reproductive issues, and other serious health concerns. These synthetic chemicals are extraordinarily persistent, remaining in soils and water for decades or even centuries. Once PFAS contamination occurs, there is currently no practical way to remove it from the environment.

Across the country, communities are grappling with the consequences of PFAS-contaminated biosolids, including polluted drinking water, contaminated farmland, and financial hardship for farmers. Yet despite receiving more than 60 public comments raising concerns about PFAS contamination and its long-term impacts, DEQ has largely dismissed these concerns and continues to move toward approving this permit.

DEQ’s mission is to protect human health and the environment—not to facilitate the disposal of industrial waste under the guise of agricultural fertilizer. Orange County residents deserve a precautionary approach that prioritizes clean water, healthy soil, and public health over corporate and industrial interests.

This hearing may be one of the last opportunities for concerned citizens to hold DEQ accountable and demand stronger protections for our community. If you care about the future of Orange County’s farms, waterways, and drinking water, stay informed, attend the hearing, and make your voice heard.

For more information, visit dontspreadonme.org/orange-county.—Jamie McConnell

For the DEQ’s full memo on Synagro’s permit renewal request, including maps showing where the company is seeking to apply biosolids, click here.

The DEQ hearing will be at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, June 16, at the Orange County Public Safety Building.

The Arts Center in Orange hosted four events in a row on Sunday (June 14), which may be an Arts Center record for a single day. First up was the Byrd Whistle poetry and prose reading (see story below). Next came the official opening of the Grills Gallery, dedicated in honor of the late Marge Grills, a longtime generous supporter of the arts center. Her husband, Joe Grills, spoke about his late wife, whom many in the audience had known, and described her devotion to her family, the arts center and the community.

The Grills Gallery, formerly the Community Gallery, features a large, beautiful rug, track lighting and fresh paint. With an exposed brick wall adding texture and character, it’s a lovely, intimate space for art exhibitions and literary gatherings. It is currently home to Orange resident Lee Nixon’s twinkling, magical paintings of the Rapidan River and other local scenes. The opening for Nixon’s show was the third event on Sunday’s schedule.