TRANSMITTAL LETTER FOR BOARD MEETING OF JULY 8, 2010
COMMITTEE ON MONITORING AND RESEARCH
Mr. Richard Lanyon, Executive Director
Title
Authorization to Initiate an Annual Biosolids Beneficial Reuse Awards Program
Body
Dear Sir:
Authorization is requested to initiate an annual Biosolids Beneficial Reuse Awards Program under the District’s Controlled Solids Distribution Program (CSDP). In the CSDP, the District’s aged, air-dried exceptional quality biosolids are utilized in the Chicago metropolitan area by schools, park districts, villages, and golf courses as a fertilizer or a soil amendment for maintenance and construction of recreational areas.
If approved, the Monitoring and Research Department (M&R) will administer the proposed Biosolids Awards Program. The objectives of the Biosolids Award Program are listed below.
1. Recognize the efforts of communities and individuals that use biosolids under the CSDP and use their resources to educate the public about the benefits of using biosolids.
2. Encourage individuals and communities to maximize the benefits they receive from the CSDP.
3. Increase demand for the District’s biosolids through innovation and environmental stewardship.
4. Increase visibility of the District’s biosolids beneficial reuse program.
5. Improve public perception and acceptance of biosolids beneficial reuse.
M&R expects this recognition program to increase the local demand for District biosolids, thereby reducing biosolids management costs and decreasing hauling distances from the biosolids processing facilities.
The award selection committee will consist of staff from M&R, the Maintenance and Operations Department and Public Affairs. Nominations for the awards will be solicited every year in March. Every year, an award will be given to an organization/community and an individual. Each of these two awards will consist of a certificate of recognition and a plaque that will be presented at a Board Meeting.
Requested, Louis Kollias, Director of Monitoring and Research, LK:CO’C:AC:LSH:kq
Respectfully Submitted, Mariyana T. Spyropoulos, Chairman Committee on Monitoring and Research
Disposition of this agenda item will be documented in the official Regular Board Meeting Minutes of the Board of Commissioners for July 8, 2010