Jackson Township residents had a chance to ask some questions but weren't thrilled with the answers Wednesday at a second community meeting when they questioned representatives from the state Department of Environmental Protection about the sludge being spread on 800-plus acres in the township.

The dumping of sludge from Allegheny County Sanitary Authority's sewage treatment plant as fertilizer on a Franklin Road farm has had neighbors up in arms over a lack of notification and potential environmental danger.

Because there has been a question of whether adjacent neighbors had been given the required 30-day notice via letter, ALCOSAN stopped sending the sludge Tuesday until the matter is cleared up.

"I understand they've stopped dumping for a week," said Tracey Grant of Jackson Township. "Will they stop dumping for 30 days once new notices have been sent out?"

"As far as I'm concerned, the 30-day notice kicks in," said Ric Gilson, regional manager of DEP's water management program.

But when DEP soil scientist Regina Schweinsberg was unable to answer some questions about sludge, such as what exactly is in it, the crowd showed no mercy.

"She doesn't know specifically. And she's your technical support," Robert Snyder of 2204 Sandy Lake-Grove City Road, Worth Township, told Gilson. Ms. Schweinsberg explained that ALCOSAN, not DEP, would know the composition of sludge that comes from its treatment plants.

"They are following the requirements they need to follow," Gilson said.

"And we got a permit for something that may not be too good for us," Snyder said.

Several residents expressed worry about health dangers that could be spread by the sludge.

"All us hunters know the Neer farm is a haven for the reproduction of deer ... frolicking in class B sewer sludge," said Robert Grant of 1536 Franklin Road. "Lo and behold as they jump over the fence into Bob Grant's yard. Today my yard was exposed to pathogens."

Ms. Schweinsberg said that although sludge contains bacteria and other microorganisms, they are at levels that the federal Environmental Protection Agency has deemed safe.

Another resident was worried about water from Neer's property running off onto her property. "I live on (state Route) 965. Did you ever come out during a storm?" asked Sandy Bachman of 139 Henderson Road, also known as Route 965, of the DEP representatives. "Water comes like a river through a field back there through my father-in-law's yard and mine."

"The point here in this building is what we want to do to prevent and keep Jackson Township, Pa., from becoming ALCOSAN's depository for their toxic sewage sludge," Grant said. "Please keep an open mind to the fact that these employees of the state have to feed their families. They must spout the party line."

Residents asked questions about people apparently not in attendance.

"Are there any Worth Township supervisors in this room?" Snyder asked. There was no response.

The Neer property borders Worth Township and their township secretary had also received a letter on April 25 from DEP about the pending dumping. The property also borders Lake Township, but Lake Township supervisors did not receive a letter.

Residents praised Jackson Township Supervisor Brian Patterson who has been trying to come up with a way to stop the dumping. His suggestions ranged from passage of an ordinance outlawing the waste delivery to having the township raise taxes to buy Neer's property.

"You've done a good job trying to pull it together," Snyder said to Patterson as the room applauded.

The supervisor said that he had commitments from all involved parties to attend the township supervisors' meeting June 5 in Jackson Center Firehall.

Patterson also addressed rumors that a former business of his, Patterson Septic Service, was spreading sludge on Neer's farm.

"I sold that business," he said, shaking his head, and referring to the business owned by his cousin that pumps out septic tanks and transports the waste to a Franklin treatment plant.