**Target:** Dana Ames, Environmental Crime Investigator, Johnson County, Texas
**Goal:** Hold accountable those allegedly responsible for the devastating contamination of farms due to hazardous fertilizer.
Farmers in Johnson County are facing an agricultural crisis due to the shocking contamination of their lands with hazardous chemicals found in biosolids-based fertilizers. Tony Coleman and James Farmer, among others, have witnessed the harrowing deaths of over 35 animals, including a 3-week-old calf and beloved horses, following the use of said fertilizer. The situation is worsened by a disturbing sewage smell emanating from neighboring properties prior to these events, suggesting a dire link between the fertilizer application and the mortality of livestock.
After months of investigation, county officials indicated that the deaths correlate with the use of fertilizer made from biosolids polluted with PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances), which are harmful to both human and animal health. Despite the chemical’s known hazardous effects, including links to cancer and other serious health issues, there are currently no federal regulations requiring testing for PFAS in biosolids used in fertilizers. Consequently, farmers unknowingly utilized this tainted product on their lands, subsequently jeopardizing their animals’ health and their financial stability.
Prompt action is crucial now to prevent further devastation. Johnson County farmers demand accountability and ask for immediate regulatory changes. This petition seeks to ensure that the responsible parties are held accountable, and that necessary measures are implemented to prevent future exposure to PFAS in fertilizers by requiring thorough testing and disclosure to farmers about the products they use.
PETITION LETTER:
Dear Dana Ames,
As an environmental crime investigator, your authority and expertise are greatly needed in light of the devastating situation that farmers in Johnson County face. Alarming reports indicate that over 35 cattle have perished due to contamination from biosolids-based fertilizers used in the area, which have been linked to hazardous PFAS chemicals. This contamination has triggered not only the death of livestock but has also left these farmers in financial ruin and emotional distress.
The barnyard scenes witnessed by Tony Coleman and James Farmer, where animals lay dead while the air is thick with an unidentifiable stench, underscore the urgency of action. It is apparent that these individuals and their families are suffering from the repercussions of a system that failed to protect them from toxic substances in fertilizers claimed to be safe.
In light of the profound impact this situation has had on both animal welfare and farmer livelihoods, the petition calls for holding accountable those responsible for the contamination, as well as for the establishment of rigorous regulations that ensure thorough testing for PFAS in biosolids before being marketed as fertilizer. It is vital that farmers in our communities are protected from further harm and that this tragic pattern does not continue unabated.
Sincerely,
[Your Name Here]
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