Once again, members of the NH Water Pollution Control Association (NHWPCA) traveled to Washington, DC on April 17-18 to participate in the annual New England Water Environment Association (NEWEA) Congressional Briefing. This visit coincided with a National Fly-In for water professionals from around the country. This was the first year that the Fly-In combined drinking water and wastewater in a collaboration to double our efforts for effective outreach on all water infrastructure and topics.

New England was well represented with more than 30 folks attending, and New Hampshire was well represented by both NHWPCA and NH Water Works Association (NHWWA) members.  Dan Driscoll, Superintendent for Concord WWTF; Shelagh Connelly and Eryka Reid from RMI, were joined by drinking water folks including Charity Ross the Executive Director for NHWWA, John Lyons, the President of NHWWA and  Chris Hodgson the President of NEWWA.

The purpose of the Fly-In was to get in front of our elected officials to make sure they understand how important it is to continue funding water infrastructure and supporting programs and policies that ensure clean water for all our communities. With many programs seeking funding through the federal budget, it is important that water advocates are at the table.

On Tuesday we enjoyed the NEWEA luncheon and briefing.  Shelagh Connelly was delighted to introduce both Senator Shaheen and Senator Hassan and it was very nice to be able to recognize   their long-term involvement in water quality issues starting back when they were each state senators, then NH Governors, and now our federal Senators.  Strong, smart and powerful women from NH who are not afraid to lead the charge on water quality!

Later that day there was an excellent Policy Fly-In Plenary with an incredible line-up of speakers from the water industry.  The panel of speakers included leadership from WEF, NACWA, EPA, Dept. of Interior, Dept. of Agriculture, Dept. of Energy, and several staff with topics ranging from funding to blending to water reuse to USDA Farm Bill, integrated planning to WIFIA and affordability.  This was an excellent event and well worth the trip.  And then it got even better with an evening reception filled with interesting talk amidst all the water peers from around the country!

The next day kicked off with a Congressional Breakfast and Staff Roundtable which was packed with excellent policy discussion and could have lasted all day but was limited to 2 hours before we headed over to the Hill for a Joint Congressional Briefing in the Senate Dirksen Building.  George Hawkins gave a rallying talk and we heard from several speakers about the importance of participating in these Fly-Ins and being connected to our elected officials so they never forget that clean water is a top priority for our government and investment in infrastructure is essential.

We then headed out as our group of 6 from NH and met with the offices of our 4 delegates.  The first stop was with Congresswoman Carol Shea-Porter’s office and we were delighted to meet with her staffer Tony Hobbs who made it a point to bring out his Water’s Worth It water bottle that we had given him back 4 years ago!  We had a good chat with Congresswoman Annie Kuster’s staffer Justin German and they too had the Water’s Worth It mug we had brought down 5 years ago. Next up was a meeting and photo with Senator Hassan, followed by an end of day meeting with Ariel Marshall who manages the environmental policy issues for Senator Shaheen. Fortunately we had fancy mugs from the NHWPCA and NHDES 50^th celebration (courtesy of Ray Gordon!) to give to each office and we will look to see which staffer got to keep them on our next visit!

Our final event was another reception atop the Library of Congress.  What a view of the Capitol and all the beautiful buildings and monuments in the area.  The food and drink were wonderful and we met people from all over this country.  This trip, and advocating for water, is truly worth it!

As Congressman James McGovern from Massachusetts reminded us –  our passion for water is important to share every year in Washington.  With so many competing issues we have to be at the table sharing our story.  The message we carried was about the need to invest in our aging and failing water infrastructure, the difficulty of working with increasing regulatory burden, the acknowledgement that water is essential to our economy and public health, and the need for a sustainable water trust.

The NHWPCA is committed to visiting DC each year so that our delegation keeps water as a high priority.  The unseen water infrastructure needs a champion – and that is what we are, because Water’s Worth It!

Every year the New England Water Environment Association (NEWEA) recognizes either an engineering firm, a specific project, a municipality, or a specific municipal or industrial facility for their outstanding accomplishments in the field of biosolids management. This year, RMI President Shelagh Connelly was nominated for this Biosolids Management Award. Shelagh along with her partners Charley Hanson and Marty Riehs have been successfully operating RMI throughout the northeast since 1994. Shelagh is very active on the Government Affairs Committee for NEWEA and for NHWPCA, and assists with regulatory overview and legislative initiatives throughout the northeast on biosolids, wood ash and paper fiber initiatives. Shelagh lives and breathes biosolids management and will do anything that needs to be done in order to ensure continued legislative and community support for biosolids land application. From wastewater treatment plant tours for local high schools, presentations at colleges, public outreach at town hall meetings, to testifying before the legislature in NH and DC there is nothing Shelagh won’t do to promote and protect the land, the environment and the people she and her RMI Team serve.

Shelagh and the whole team at RMI is beyond honored to have been awarded this achievement and we can’t wait to see what 2018 has in store for us!

Thank you all for your continued support and for helping RMI build healthy soils!

Building Organic Matter and Improving Soil

Soil in New England is often acidic and not optimal for crop production. Paper Fiber, a soil amendment derived from paper production, can assist in improving the fertility of topsoil. The use of Paper Fiber will increase the pH of soil. Paper Fiber is spread on farm fields with the use of conventional agricultural equipment, and a typical application rate of ten tons per acre provides two tons of lime value. In addition to increasing soil pH, Paper Fiber adds organic matter to soil. Organic matter in topsoil serves several important functions — it influences the release of nutrients over time, enhances the water-holding capacity of the topsoil, and improves erosion resistance. As organic matter breaks down, it slowly makes nutrients like nitrogen and phosphorus available to the crop. Increasing the water holding capacity of topsoil improves drought resistance and helps prevent the loss of nutrients through leaching. Erosion resistance is enhanced by the cellulose in Paper Fiber, which assists with slope stabilization and minimizes run-off in storm events. The use of Paper Fiber has also been documented to increase the percent crude protein in corn silage. Evaluating the overall fertility of the soil is the first step toward enhancing both the soil health and crop yields. Let our qualified Field Services Team come out to your farm and take soil samples so we can help determine what is needed for your cropping plan!

RMI Partners with Northfield Mount Hermon School

This fall RMI partnered with the Northfield Mount Hermon (NMH) School located in Gill, MA to clean out their sewage lagoons. Because this project to empty the lagoons only happens every 15 years, some of the faculty on campus decided to use the opportunity as a “teachable moment”.  Several classes toured the lagoon and learned how the system works and the importance of investing in infrastructure to clean our wastewater and protect the Connecticut River watershed.  Many of the students did not realize that their daily showers and flushes are piped down the hill from campus and are treated through a biological lagoon system to convert their waste into microbes and a final fertilizer product called biosolids. Recycling the biosolids is part of a long-term commitment to sustainable practices at NMH.

This project was particularly fun for RMI President Shelagh Connelly as she graduated from NMH in 1982 and currently has a daughter who is graduating next spring.  “It was nice to be able to work for the school that was pivotal in getting me on the environmental track so long ago.”

NEBRA – Managing Residuals in a Complex World Conference

At the recent North East Biosolids and Residuals Association (NEBRA) Conference in Burlington, Vermont Mike Potash, RMI Certified Crop Advisor and Andrew Carpenter, RMI Consultant and owner of Northern Tilth, presented their research regarding hydrosolids, or water treatment residuals. Their research focuses on reducing plant-available phosphorous in agricultural soils by land applying hydrosolids. Four corn silage fields were selected for trials from farms in both NH and VT. All of these fields have a long history of using manure and/or biosolids as primary sources of soil fertility. After two years of applying hydrosolids and testing the soil regularly it was clear that the hydrosolids did play an important role in reducing plant-available phosphorous, which in turn will help protect water quality surrounding agricultural areas.

To learn more about their research please head to https://tinyurl.com/ybx4sqke to read their presentation.

Legislative Hurdles in 2017

In 2017 there were several bills introduced in NH and VT that could have had potentially profound impacts to three recycling programs which have been successfully operating for decades (wood ash, biosolids, and paper fiber recycling). In NH SB 129 was critical to the survival of six independent wood-fired power plants operating in New Hampshire. Without these power plants, New Hampshire would have lost most of its low-grade timber markets, and without these markets, forestry and timber management would no longer be affordable. Also in NH, biosolids land application along designated rivers was finally approved on a permanent basis eliminating the need to go back to the legislature every five years for renewed approval. In Vermont H.211 was a single bill with five different parts jumbled together but had the phrase “to develop a plan to reduce or phase out land application of sludge and septage” which legislators did not really seem to understand the impact to farmers, municipal wastewater treatment facilities, and paper mills. Once they heard from their constituents they tabled the bill for further study.

It was a busy legislative season and there are lessons to be shared about the importance of staying engaged with our elected representatives at the local, state and federal level. Hosting the annual Water’s Worth It legislative breakfasts, going to the National Fly-In with New England Water Environment Association, and collaborating with NEBRA are all critical for success in the legislative process.

RMI Hosts Spreader Demo

On September 22, 2017 Brandy Thomas, RMI Sales Representative, and Mike Potash, RMI Certified Crop Advisor, hosted a Wood Ash Spreading Demonstration at Middle Intervale Farm in Bethel, Maine. Brandy and Mike focused on the benefits of wood ash being able to renew soil fertility and pH balance. Wood ash is the best source of organic potassium for farms, it is fast-acting and quickly raises soil pH making nutrients in the soil more available to plants.

Meet Todd Gammell!

Todd has been driving for RMI for a little under a year. He services almost all of out generators throughout New England and has racked up 50,000 miles, 1600 hours and delivered 355 loads of Heart & Soil Ag. Products to our loyal customers. Todd is a great addition to RMI and we love having him on our team!

Thanks for keeping us rolling!

 

Come see a spreader in action and learn about RMI’s wood ash and spreader rental program. RMI Sales Representative, Brandy Thomas, and Certified Crop Advisor, Mike Potash, will be there to answer all of your soil amendment questions!

All are welcome and workshop is free!

For more information or to RSVP, contact:
RMI@rmirecycles.com
603-536-8900
www.RMIrecycles.com

Thanks to all you who called, emailed and supported SB 129!

Because of everyone’s hard work NH will continue to support low-emission, locally generated, renewable energy and the future of our biomass plants!

As some of you have heard, on Tuesday July 11th at 12:01 AM Senate Bill 129 went into law.

SB 129 is critical to the survival of New Hampshire’s six independent biomass plants. Timberland owners and the forest products businesses rely on the low-grade timber markets that these biomass power plants provide.

Without these power plants, New Hampshire would lose most of its low-grade timber markets, and without these markets, forestry, logging, and sawmilling would look very different.

Foresters and landowners would have lost an important tool for sustainable forestry. Loggers would have lost an important market for their timber. Sawmills would have lost an important market for mill waste and farmers would have lost wood ash.

RMI wants to personally thank all of you for taking the time to send letters, make calls, attend hearings, and testify on this important piece of legislation. Without your help SB 129 might have not become law!

YOUR HELP IS NEEDED TODAY!

WOOD ASH FROM BIOMASS PLANTS WILL NO LONGER BE AVAILABLE FOR YOUR FARM FIELDS IF THE GOVERNOR VETOS THIS BILL

Please call or fax the Governor’s office right away. Leave him a message that you support Senate Bill 129 and ask the Governor to not veto this bill. Leave your Name and Town and ask him to support biomass because you need the wood ash from the biomass plants for your farm operations.

Please contact the governor’s office TODAY to voice your support for SB129 or wood ash could disappear.

Contact Governor Sununu:
(603) 271-2121 phone. Or fax (603) 271-7680
Or email him through his website https://business.nh.gov/nhgovernor/comments.asp

The opposition is also contacting the Governor’s office, and we need to counter that and show that SB 129 is critical to the survival of N.H.’s six independent biomass plants and to New Hampshire’s timberland owners and the forest products businesses that rely on the low-grade timber markets these plants provide. Without those plants, New Hampshire will lose most of its low-grade timber markets. Without these markets, forestry, logging, and sawmilling will look very different a few months from now. Foresters and landowners will lose an important tool for sustainable forestry, loggers will lose an important market for their timber, and sawmills will lose an important market for mill waste. And farmers will lose wood ash.

In short, if the Governor only hears from the opposition and as a result does not act to allow SB 129 to become law, it would be a bone-breaking blow to our industry, meaning the loss of over 900 jobs and $250 million in annual economic activity, according to an economic analysis conducted by Plymouth State University in March.

PLEASE CALL GOVERNOR SUNUNU’S OFFICE TODAY!

In your message, clearly state that you support Senate Bill 129 and the importance of the continued biomass power operations to your timberland, business, farm operation, and jobs.

If you have any questions please contact Shelagh Connelly shelagh.connelly@rmirecycles.com or Charley Hanson charley.hanson@rmirecycles.com
or call RMI at 603-536-8900