Farmers Backing Out of Plan to Spread Sludge
A plan by the city of Los Angeles to get rid of up to 300 tons a day of sewage sludge by spreading it over Antelope Valley farm fields as fertilizer appeared to be unraveling Wednesday, as the owners of four of the five proposed farm sites backed out.
The farmers, who control about 2,900 of the 3,500 acres involved, said in interviews that they don’t want land sales or development prospects endangered by sludge-related environmental concerns. That left only one 640-acre farm, owned by the company hired by the city to truck the sludge.
“It sounded pretty good at the time to get free fertilizer on your land,” said William Barnes, owner of the 941-acre Barnes Bros. Ranch west of Lancaster. “But I’m not so hot on that thinking now.”
Meanwhile, County Supervisor Mike Antonovich, who represents the Antelope Valley area, said he plans to ask the Board of Supervisors today to halt the project pending county review.
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