IOWA – SEPTEMBER 2009
KAREN and JAMES ELLERBACH, 23363 Tollgate Road, Holy Cross, Iowa 52053
SLUDGE VICTIMS DRIVEN FROM THEIR HOME BY PUTRID STENCH AND SERIOUS ILLNESSES FROM
UNAUTHORIZED SEWAGE SLUDGE OPERATION – ONTARIO, CANADA, ACTIVIST MAUREEN REILLY INTERVENES
ON THEIR BEHALF WITH IOWA DEPT. OF NATURAL RESOURCES, WHICH ORDERS REMOVAL OF THE SLUDGE
For the last year and a half, Karen Ellerbach, age 48, and her husband, Jim, age 55, a previously healthy farm couple,
have suffered unrelenting attacks of nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, coughing, burning eyes, chronic sinus and colon
infections, and recently Jim got pneumonia. This occurred after neighbor John Wulfekuhle started stockpiling and
spreading sewage sludge on his land from Dyersville and Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
The Ellerbachs repeatedly appealed to the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) for help and relief from the
nuisance and trespass of airborne sludge pollution, chemicals, emissions, bioaerosols, and airborne pathogens into
their home. The DNR arrogantly dismissed their pleas for help, telling them “it is legal” and “EPA says its safe” and the
DNR would do nothing.
Jim’s doctor, Chadwick Nachtman of Dubuque, Iowa, wrote a letter dated September 21, 2009, “To whom it may
concern” “I currently have James Ellerbach as a patient. I recently diagnosed pulmonary reactive airway disease and
chemical irritation secondary to fecal and human waste products being spread out on his neighbor’s property.
“Not only does the human waste have a rather significant stench, but it sounds like there is a possibility some chemicals
are mixed in that cause irritation. The patient should continue to wear a mask. I have also recommended removal of
himself from this toxic situation, but unfortunately it is a little hard, as that is where he lives and makes a living farming.”
Their health declining, the state DNR refusing to help, in desperation Karen and Jim were forced out of their farm into a
small apartment 25 miles away. They now commute back and forth twice a day between the farm and the apartment to
do the chores related to their hog custom feeding operation and raising corn and beans. Their illnesses are somewhat
relieved when they stay in the apartment, but the misery and symptoms return whenever they go back to the farm twice
a day to do their work.
Sludge activist Maureen Reilly, Sludge Watch, Ontario, stepped in to help. Maureen has been wonderful, taking control
of the situation, investigating the legal (or illegal) status of the sludge operation, and the enforcement (or lack thereof)
by the DNR of Iowa and federal sludge rules. Maureen found, at a minimum, that the state sludge rules had been
violated by excessive sludge applications including too much sludge dumped on “conservation” land and unauthorized
sludge stockpiling.. Lack of testing still leave questions up in the air as to whether the sludges are Class A or Class B
or something else, pathogen-wise.
HOLY CROSS, IOWA – SEPTEMBER 2009 - SLUDGE VICTIMS SUFFER NAUSEA, VOMITING, DIARRHEA,
COUGHING, BURNING EYES, CHRONIC SINUS AND COLON INFECTIONS, PNEUMONIA – SLUDGE ACTIVIST
MAUREEN REILLY, ONTARIO, CANADA, INTERCEDES ON BEHALF OF VICTIMS – IOWA DNR ADMITS VIOLATIONS
- ORDERS SLUDGE REMOVAL