Kentucky Real Estate Business

Archive for July, 2010

These condos are especially located at the beautiful locations at the major cities and have all the facilities that generally a four star or above hotels have. Hotel California Eagles YoutubeThese hotel condos for sale are available in major tall rise hotel buildings and are good and enjoyable places for outings. If you have a condos purchased in any of the hotel, you can use it whenever you want it or you can also rent it for the remaining time and it will looked after by the hotel staff and you will also get a share earned from it.

If you enjoy outing and travel for a few days in a month, hotel condos may be a suitable option for you to invest your money in real estate. There you will not only get full enjoyment in these beautiful building but will also get all facilities of a four or five star hotel. In addition to the investment you will also get return on your investment for the time the condos was spared for rent. These luxurious condos may be a dream vacations for you and your family.

Looking or searching for these hotel condos for sale is also easy as you can get the information directly from the websites of the concern hotel. You can also look for the other real estate websites. The information provided on these websites is sufficient enough and sometimes the inside view of the hotel condos is also provided. You can also look for the availability of condos in the selected hotels in a particular city or you can ask a property dealer.

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The property appreciation rate is also best in these hotel condos and you can expect a good return on your investment. These hotel condos are becoming more popular in big cities and the demand is continuously rising for these in the hotels. People are making these hotel condos as another home and are freely using these not only during holidays but occasionally for meeting purposes also. During the stay at hotel condos, the hotel staff provides the best services to their customers and therefore preferred by the owner for all occasions.

Before investing your money in purchasing hotel condos, you should also ensure that your money is invested in a good real estate. You should also ensure that all the facilities as told you are available in the hotel. You should personally inspect and ask the hotel staff to show you the restaurant, conference halls, bar rooms, swimming pools etc as told. You should ensure that the apartment provided to you luxuries and meets your needs.

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Everyone dreams of that perfect vacation, in an idyllic, stress-free, and clean location, with excellent accommodation and recreational facilities for the whole family. To most people, this scenario remains a dream, an eldorado. To the knowledgeable, it exists in reality. Can you picture in your mind’s eye what the original ‘Garden of Eden’, or ‘Shangri-La’ must have looked like? Then be ready to see the modern one. Welcome to Ojai, a small city in Ventura County, Southern California, USA. A most interesting place to have your next unforgettable vacation, the city has a population of about eight thousand souls.

This town is located less than twenty kilometers from the Pacific Ocean coast in Southern California, and within ear shots of the cities of San Buenaventura, Santa Barbara and Los Angeles. It is about fifteen minutes drive from San Buenaventura, and less than an hour by car from either Santa Barbara or Los Angeles. The location of the city within the valley of the same name, which is surrounded by hills and mountains on two sides, and a river running between, gives it a most scenic beauty.

The valley was given its name by the Chumash Indians who lived in it before it was settled by a Spaniard, Fernando Tico who built a ranch there in 1837. Ojai in Chumash language means ‘Valley of the Moon’. Fernando Tico sold his land holdings to some oil prospectors in 1853. The new land owners built a city and named it Nordhoff. The German sounding city name was changed to Ojai during the First World War in 1917.

The unsurpassed scenic beauty of this area makes it a veritable destination for movie sets and film festivals. The valley was the location for the famous 1937 Frank Capra film, ‘Lost Horizon’, which depicted the mythical utopia called ‘Shangri-La’.

This place is also the home of the Ojai Film Festival, which annually showcases independent films from around the world. The film festival holds every year in mid-summer. The scenic beauty of the area is further accentuated by the superlative efforts put in the environmental development of both the city proper, and its surrounding countryside by the city authorities. As proof of their determination to maintain the town as the ultimate destination for every stressed out big city dweller, and keep the metropolis spotlessly clean, the city council has instituted a two day street cleaning exercise per month. All cars are moved off the city streets and side-walks, while both roads and drains are given thorough scrubbing.

As if to take a cue from the city council, Ojai hotels are a beauty to behold. From the rustic country style cottages to the most modern, elegant, well appointed architectural styles, all hotels are pleasing to view. The interior of each hotel is most comfortable and tastefully furnished. All types of accommodation are provided by Ojai hotels. From the cheap but comfortable single room, to two or more bedroom apartments, right up to suites and condos. Your choice of accommodation is limited only by the size of your purse, or the depth of your pocket. The Topatopa mountains on the north side and the Sulphur mountains to the south, enclose the valley, which is drained by the Ventura River. Every evening, just before sunset, you can watch the surreal beauty of the hallow cast over both valley and city by the brilliant shade of pink on the Topatopa Bluffs. Ojai City is one vacation destination you will remember for a long time after your first visit.

Immediately east of the intersection 620, off 2222 in Texas, River Place is a planned community that offers an exceptional value. Buildings in the area began in the mid 1990s and development in general began in the first half of the decade. Homes for sale from this period are characterized by large lots, well-preserved buildings, and many older people. However Riverplace some land so that it is possible to buy the new homes in the community. Whether you want a house witha lot of character, or whether you want to instill character in your own home by adapting the building to suit your requirements, River Place can offer you what you’re looking for.- Equity texas

The River Place real estate market offers primarily single-family houses with some high-end condominiums. Properties vary in size, facilities and style, so you can find the exact home that needs the most to you. Once you buy the perfect home in this great community, you will also be able to access the manyAmenities and facilities that are housed in River Place. River Place offers all the fine restaurants, special social events, gyms and fitness facilities to call – not to luxurious golf and tennis facilities – that anyone can imagine. If you live here, have fun and enjoy an active lifestyle are second nature. Thanks to an exceptionally planned location, you can use a maximum of comfort and convenience take legal claim in your own backyard.- Equity texas

River Place also offers an excellent location.Downtown Austin and the Arboretum are both only a 15 minute commute away. This places key recreation options and career opportunities just minutes away from River Place residents. Lake Travis and Lake Austin are also only a short drive away, so that you can enjoy both hill country and lake views whenever you desire them.

With innovative planning, great facilities and amenities and a location that is hard to beat, River Place offers everything that a home buyer could want READ MORE http://www.equitytexas.pannipa.com/2009/09/18/austin-texas-real-estate-profiles-river-place/

While additional residents are added to the population of UK, a corresponding demand for housing becomes a concern. Per report on UK, there are 3 million housing needed to cover the inhabitants of UK. Correspondingly, there is an expected increase of this demand as people from different places in world continue to migrate to the United Kingdom. In other cases, residents in UK simply reproduce and create a family that becomes part of the population of UK needing moir and more residential units. With these facts facing UK, more investors are taking this as an opportunity to utilize the land that is available there. Once the land for sale is available to the public, it would be up to the purchasers what to use the land for. Housing developers is one of the potential investors of land for sale.

While the demand for residential units is available, developers scout for land for sale that provides high returns of investment. The land for sale is an opportunity for them to do their business. In UK more lands are available in suburbs or rural areas. As the lands are converted to residential units, they produce other more business opportunities in the area. Meaning, once there are people living in the area, there are opportunities for businesses as well. Industries will rise as there are existing markets already. For example, as there are residential units in Wickford, Essex, there are also opportunities for businesses to rise. When there is land for sale available in the area, it would be a good investment as there is potential market.

Investors can look for companies selling land. One of the companies selling land in the United Kingdom is Crown Land. The good thing about Crown Land is that they spot freehold land that has high potential for development in the future. Currently, they have Cranfield Park as land for sale. Cranfield is a suburb of Wickford Essex. There are already residential units near Cranfield Park so investors can take advantage of the existing residents in the area for business opportunities.

As a company, Crown Land carries plenty of land for sale whether they are already developed or undeveloped. If you are an investor who wants to be the first to know of certain land for sale, you can simply register with Crown Land to get updates or information on latest land for sale. The registration with Crown Land can be done through their online site. It is therefore easy to be registered since it can be done online plus Crown Land offers registration for free.

As more land is to be developed in UK, there will always be opportunities attached to it. Land investment is one of the wise investments you could ever make, whether you are a professional investor or a simple individual planning to have a family. With a land, you can utilize it for personal or business use. Land does not depreciate and it is a fixed item. If in the future you even think of not using it, you can always sell it at higher price which still provides you an advantage.

SEWAGE SLUDGE DISPOSAL – LAND APPLICATION -ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEMS – AN OVERVIEW

Md. Wasim Aktar

Pesticide Residue Laboratory, Department of Agricultural Chemicals,

Bidhan Chandra Krishi Viswavidyalaya, Mohanpur-741252, Nadia, West Bengal, India

1. Introduction

Most wastewater treatment processes produce a sludge which has to be disposed of. Conventional secondary sewage treatment plants typically generate a primary sludge in the primary sedimentation stage of treatment and a secondary, biological, sludge in final sedimentation after the biological process. The characteristics of the secondary sludge vary with the type of biological process and, often, it is mixed with primary sludge before treatment and disposal. Approximately one half of the costs of operating secondary sewage treatment plants in Europe can be associated with sludge treatment and disposal. Land application of raw or treated sewage sludge can reduce significantly the sludge disposal cost component of sewage treatment as well as providing a large part of the nitrogen and phosphorus requirements of many crops. Very rarely do urban sewerage systems transport only domestic sewage to treatment plants; industrial effluents and storm-water runoff from roads and other paved areas are frequently discharged into sewers. Thus sewage sludge will contain, in addition to organic waste material, traces of many pollutants used in our modern society. Some of these substances can be phytotoxic and some toxic to humans and/or animals so it is necessary to control the concentrations in the soil of potentially toxic elements (PTE) and their rate of application to the soil. The risk to health of chemicals in sewage sludge applied to land has been reviewed by Dean and Suess1

Sewage sludge also contains pathogenic bacteria, viruses and protozoa along with other parasitic helminths which can give rise to potential hazards to the health of humans, animals and plants. A WHO (1981) Report on the risk to health of microbes in sewage sludge applied to land identified salmonellae and Taenia as giving rise to greatest concern. The numbers of pathogenic and parasitic organisms in sludge can be significantly reduced before application to the land by appropriate sludge treatment and the potential health risk is further reduced by the effects of climate, soil-microorganisms and time after the sludge is applied to the soil. Nevertheless, in the case of certain crops, limitations on planting, grazing and harvesting are necessary.

Apart from those components of concern, sewage sludge also contains useful concentrations of nitrogen, phosphorus and organic matter. The availability of the phosphorus content in the year of application is about 50% and is independent of any prior sludge treatment. Nitrogen availability is more dependent on sludge treatment, untreated liquid sludge and dewatered treated sludge releasing nitrogen slowly with the benefits to crops being realised over a relatively long period. Liquid anaerobically-digested sludge has high ammonia-nitrogen content which is readily available to plants and can be of particular benefit to grassland. The organic matter in sludge can improve the water retaining capacity and structure of some soils, especially when applied in the form of dewatered sludge cake.

2. What is sludge?

Residuals, biosolids, septage, sewage, wastewater byproduct, compost: there are many names for sludge and sludge products. The term “sludge” is used as most people understand it: the sometimes solid, sometimes liquid material generated by wastewater treatment plants and used as fertilizer on fields, in gravel pits, and on forestry lots throughout the state. Sludge may classified as “Class A” if it has been treated to reduce germs to background levels (levels normally found in soils) and “Class B” if it has been treated so that germs are reduced by an estimated 90%.

3. Composition of sewage sludge:

The nature of the sewage sludge depends on the waste water treatment process and on the source of the sewage. In general it contains both toxic and non-toxic organic wastes. Of the two, non-toxic compounds are most prevalent comprising all materials of plant and animal origin, including proteins, amino acids, sugar and fats. Toxic organic compound comprises Poly-nuclear aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), alkyl phenols, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) organo-chlorine pesticides, monocyclic aromatics, chloro-benzenes, aromatic and alkyl amines, polychlorinated dioxins, phenols etc. In addition to these organic waste material sewage sludge also contains traces of many pollutants like Copper, Zinc, Nickel, Cadmium, Lead, Arsenic, Chromium, Selenium etc. Some of these substances can be phytotoxic and some toxic to humans and / or animals, so it is necessary to control the concentrations in the soil of potentially toxic elements and their rate of application to the soil. Sewage sludge also contains pathogenic bacteria, viruses & protozoa along with other parasitic helminthes which can give rise to potential hazards to the health of humans, animals and plants. Apart from those components of concern sewage sludge also contains useful concentrations of N, P and organic matter. Each component of the sludge has its own environmental impact, which must be taken into account when choosing the disposal route.

4. Processing of sludge:

Increasing urbanization and Industrialisation have resulted in a dramatic increase in the volume of waste water produced around the world. The waste water treatment step concentrates the various pollutants (upto 90%) in the waste water into sludge, normally containing between 1% and 2% by weight dry solids. The waste water treatment commonly involves the following processes to process the sludge for the production of suitable end products for utilization or disposal:

Sludge processing methods

Process Description

Sludge pasteurization Minimum of 30 minutes at 70ºC or minimum of 4 hours at 55ºC (or appropriate intermediate conditions), followed in all cases by primary mesophilic anaerobic digestion.

Mesophilic anaerobic digestion Mean retention period of at least 12 days primary digestion in temperature range 35ºC ± 3ºC or of atleast 20 days primary digestion in temperature range 25ºC ± 3ºC followed in each case by a secondary stage which provides a mean retention period of at least 14 days.

Thermophilic aerobic digestion Mean retention period of at least 7 days digestion. All sludge to be subjected to a minimum of 55ºC for a period of at least 4 hours.

Composting The compost must be maintained at 40ºC for at least 5 days and for 4 hours during this period at a minimum of 55ºC within the body of the pile followed by a period of maturation adequate to ensure that the compost reaction process is substantially complete.

Lime stabilization of liquid sludge Addition of lime to raise pH to greater than 12.0 and sufficient to ensure that the pH is not less than 12 for a minimum period of 2 hours. The sludges can then be used directly.

Liquid storage Storage of untreated liquid sludge for a minimum period of 3 months.

Dewatering and storage Conditioning of untreated sludge with lime or other coagulants followed by dewatering and storage of the cake for a minimum period of 3 months. If sludge has been subject to primary mesophilic anaerobic digestion storage to be for a minimum period of 14 days.

5. Agricultural application

The application of sewage sludge as a “ safe fertilizer “ started in earnest after the 1988 ban on dumping sewage sludge into the ocean. When the Ocean Dumping Ban Act of 1988 went into effect, the municipalities & the Govts. left with a new problem – how to get rid of the tons of sludge they generate on a daily basis. The federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) stepped in with a plan to “solve” this problem by promoting sludge (sometimes called ‘biosolids’, a public relations term that is used interchangeably by EPA with the technical term “sewage sludge”) as fertilizer to be spread on land – where people live, work and play. Though, the viscous, black cake adds free Organic Matter & Fertilizer to poor soils, making them productive and profitable, the main limitations arising from such factors are: pathogens, heavy metals, toxic organics. Therefore, the plan of EPA has allowed toxic chemicals into air, water, soil, crops & into us. So, to call this sludge “ fertilizer” is tantamount to call a soup “food” which, though it contains some meat & vegetables, also contains a bit of lead, a little arsenic, and perhaps hundreds or even thousands of other toxic organic and inorganic materials whose impact ranges from carcinogenic to teratogenic (birth defect inducing ). “Most people want a simple answer; is it good or is it bad. The answer is not that simple. It is not completely risk free, but it has benefits. Just like driving a car”, Sanden said.

The benefits of sewage sludge on agricultural land

• Valuable agricultural nutrients like Nitrogen, Phosphorus, Potassium and Sulphur can be returned to the land

• Soil organic matter levels have been increased to 12% – 15%

• Ground water and surface water quality are maintained

• Decrease bulk density and increase the non-capillary pore space

• Improve the aggregation of soil particles

• No significant health or nuisance problems occur

6. Problem of Sludge

Sludge contains measurable quantities of pollutants, such as heavy metals, dioxin, and other toxic chemicals. Sludge also contains pathogens–human germs, bacteria, viruses, and parasites. And sludge smells: sludge odor is more than just a nuisance; it is a public health threat, which has been linked to respiratory problems and death. The land application of sludge distributes pollutants from large towns and cities to rural areas, far from where they were originally produced. State and federal agencies of various countries regulate sludge spreading, but regulation of this waste is difficult and problematic. Many scientists agree that the current land application rules do not protect human health, agricultural productivity, or the environment. The lack of funding to provide proper regulatory oversight and the very nature of sewage allow for sludge spreading of an unknown quality to occur on our lands.

The problems with sludge include:

? Sludge contains heavy metals, toxic chemicals, and pathogens.

? The testing and regulation of sludge is inadequate and problematic.

? Sludge odors pose a public health threat and lower quality of life.

7. The trouble with sludge

7.1. How toxic sludge become fertilizer

In traditional agricultural societies, human waste was often used to enrich the soil. The Industrial Revolution caused increased urbanization and the need for cities to develop primitive sewer systems to remove human waste. Pipes and gutters were built to dump sewage directly into our lakes, rivers, and oceans. As industry increased in World, factories began using these primitive sewer systems to get rid of their waste. This practice continued well into 20th century, when industry began widely using toxic chemicals. Using the local sewer system as a dumping ground for toxic waste was an easy solution to their disposal problems and was cheaper than treating their waste on site. Sewage loaded with toxic chemicals created major public health and environmental disasters throughout the World: rivers caught fire, public drinking water supplies became polluted, and waste washed up on our beaches. Public outcry from the growing number of disasters led to the passage of the federal Clean Water Act in 1972. This act set water quality standards nationally and provided money to communities to improve sewer systems and create wastewater treatment facilities. Unfortunately, instead of addressing the root of the problem by stopping industrial use and disposal of toxic chemicals, the act instead regulated the amount of pollution large industries could release into sewer systems.

By the late 1970s, extensive sewage systems had been built across the country. Wastewater treatment plants were built to separate solid waste from water, and, following natural and chemical treatment, release water back into the environment, clean of human waste. Unfortunately, they were not built to treat toxic chemical waste. While these sewage systems and wastewater treatment plants improved public health standards and water quality, they have an ironic flaw. The treatment process creates cleaner water but also creates a toxic byproduct: sludge. In fact, the Clean Water Act rightly defines sludge as a pollutant. Like all waste, sludge must be disposed of in some way. What to do with sludge has been a source of controversy for the past three decades in the World. Through the 1970s and 80s, the federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) strictly regulated the land spreading of sludge, effectively prohibiting much of the waste from being used on agricultural land. Wastewater treatment facilities could only dispose of sludge in one of three ways: by sending it to a landfill, by incinerating it, or by dumping it 100 miles offshore into the ocean.2

Ocean dumping eventually created large under-sea dead areas. In response to public concern, Congress passed the Ocean Dumping Act, which banned ocean dumping of sludge in 1992.3 Sludge disposals was then largely limited to landfills and incineration that became expensive for wastewater treatment plants. Municipal treatment facilities then pressured the EPA to relax its standards for the land spreading of sludge on agricultural fields. Following a number of draft rewrites of EPA regulations, corporate sludge marketing companies and municipal wastewater treatment facilities were successful in relaxing the limits of toxins in sludge for land spreading. What was once considered hazardous waste became a fertilizer? By classifying sludge as a fertilizer, it became exempted from several waste management regulations.

7.2. Marketing of toxic sludge

Municipal water treatment facilities depend upon corporate sludge brokers to dispose of their sludge. To dispose of it, these private corporations convince farmers and landowner across the country to spread sludge on their fields as a nutrient supplement for their crops. Sludge is marketed to landowners and consumers in two different ways. The first, and most obvious, is by offering them free sludge. By convincing individual property owners that sludge is of “agronomic benefit” to their land, sludge brokers are finding extremely cheap disposal sites for sludge that would otherwise have to be shipped to landfills or incinerators at a cost of approximately $70 a ton.4

Companies then claim that everyone wins: treatment plants have a cheap disposal option for their sludge, which gives taxpayers a break, and landowners get free nutrients for their fields. As an accurate result, the sludge brokers walk away with the disposal fees from the treatment facility. The sludge brokers also escape from potential liability, which is now assumed by the farmer or property owner. The second way sludge is marketed is by composting or palletizing it. Then it can be sold or given away as compost or fertilizer. Since the weakening of sludge regulations in the late 1980s, citizens cross the World have been fighting to keep sludge from being spread on fields and farmland in their communities. Activists fighting sludge are up against formidable opponents. Water treatment facilities and sludge brokers have formed powerful trade groups, such as the New England Biosolids & Residuals Association (NEBRA). NEBRA, in turn, is part of an even larger and more powerful group: the National Biosolids Partnership, which is a coalition of groups such as the EPA and Water Environment Federation, whose primary responsibility is to change “public perception” about sludge spreading.

7.3. Toxic secrets of sludge

Land applied sludge is required laws to have toxic levels below certain limits and it is treated with lime to reduce pathogen levels. However, no sludge in World is completely free of toxic chemicals or pathogens. In fact, after it is treated, Class B sludge still contains a significant amount of pathogens5.

7.4. Toxic in sludge

A. Heavy Metals

All sludge in world contains heavy metals like arsenic, cadmium, chromium, copper, lead, mercury, molybdenum, nickel, selenium, and zinc.6 These metals are persistent—that is, they do not break down in the environment and therefore build up over time. As the Cornell Cooperative Extension states, “most heavy metals remain in the soil for long periods of time, ranging from several decades to many centuries.” The heavy metals in land spread sludge therefore become permanent additions to the total quantity in the soil. Even extremely small amounts of heavy metals in sludge, therefore, are dangerous.7 High levels of arsenic in food or water can be fatal. Cadmium, chromium, nickel, and selenium have been linked to cancer. Cadmium has also been linked to kidney problems, miscarriages, and stillbirths. Copper, nickel, and zinc are known to cause growth problems in crops. Children exposed to lead can develop behavioral and learning problems. Mercury exposure at key moments in fetal development can cause learning disabilities and neurological disorders. Molybdenum bioaccumulates in grass eating livestock; ingested in excess, it can cause anemia, diarrhea, and growth problems.8 These metals can be taken up by the plants that are grown on sludge and re-enter the human food chain via livestock feed. These metals can also leach into groundwater. Highly acidic soils, like those found in Maine, can exacerbate heavy metal leaching.9

B. Pathogens: Bacteria, Viruses, and Parasites

Sludge, by its very nature, contains human pathogens: germs such as bacteria, viruses, and parasites. Whereas exposure to heavy metals can cause problems over time, exposure to these germs is more acute and can cause health problems almost immediately. Because of the extremely large numbers of pathogens that exist in the world, it is impossible to test sludge for all types of pathogens. Some common pathogens in sludge include the bacteria E-coli and Salmonella, the virus Hepatitis A, and parasitic worms. Pathogens can cause intestinal problems, other serious illnesses, and death. Land spread sludge can be treated to nearly eliminate pathogens. By composting sludge, for example, pathogen levels can be reduced significantly. Unfortunately, federal and state laws allow “Class B” sludge, which has not been treated to the strictest pathogen reduction methods, to be spread. In other words, sludge with live pathogens is being spread throughout the state. Unfortunately for the residents and workers of Northern New England, wet and overcast climates encourage pathogen growth. Researchers have found that pathogens can survive in sludge for weeks, months, or even years after reduction treatment processes.

Humans can be exposed to sludge pathogens in a number of ways. We might consume vegetables that have pathogens on them. Children might accidentally gain access to a sludge field and become exposed to the germs. Pathogens can also be spread by pets or wildlife, such as deer, that walk through a sludge field.

C. Dioxin: “The Darth Vader of Chemicals”

Dioxin is the unwanted byproduct of chemical processes involving chlorine. According to the EPA, sludge spreading is the largest land distributor of dioxin nationally.10 Dioxin is a known carcinogen and has been linked to reproductive problems, genetic damage, and endometriosis. Scientific evidence suggests there is no safe exposure level to dioxin.11 As one well-known dioxin expert called it, dioxin is “the Darth Vader of chemicals,” because you can’t see or taste it, but it is deadly. The source of dioxin contamination in sludge is not known. It might be discharged into the sewer system by unknown industrial or residential sources. Dairy cattle grazing on sludged land may ingest dioxin and the chemical will then enter humans via milk and meat.

7.5. What We Don’t Know Can Hurt Us

The federal Environmental Protection Agency estimates that there are 70,000 synthetic (not naturally occurring) chemicals. Yet, only 2% of these chemicals have been fully tested. In fact, even the most basic toxicity testing results cannot be found in the public record for nearly 75% of the most widely used of these chemicals. The ways in which these chemicals affect human health and the ways in which they interact with one another in the environment (their “synergistic effects”) are not always known. Despite this, industry only needs to report the discharge of 1% of these chemicals into the waterways and sewers. Although industries and households release thousands of chemicals, World sludge is only regularly tested for few heavy metals and occasionally tested for dioxin and toxic pesticides.

8. Source of toxic chemicals

Sludge contains heavy metals and other pollutants because industry and households use and release far too many toxic chemicals. The sources of contaminates in sludge are many, depending upon the specific water treatment facility and the community that it serves. Sources of contamination include industrial releases, small business discharges, hospital releases, household waste, leachates from landfills and Superfund sites, including nuclear waste dumps, and municipal water and sewer systems as a whole.12Everything that is discharged into a sewer that leads to a water treatment plant could potentially become part of the sludge that the facility produces. If a worker at an industrial facility accidentally dumps toxic chemicals down the drain instead of disposing of it properly, those chemicals could end up in the sludge. Likewise, if a home gardener rinses out a bottle containing toxic pesticides in the sink, those toxic pesticides could find their way to the sludge.

8.1. Industrial Hazards

As discussed earlier, many chemicals used by industry have not been properly tested and are not regulated or reported. Additionally, even at the safest facilities, accidents happen and toxic chemicals can be released into the waste stream. World requires wastewater treatment plants to work with large industries on reducing and monitoring their waste discharge. This “pretreatment process” is required of companies that discharge a large amount of waste into the sewer system or use a large amount of chemicals that could affect the operation of the sewer system. Unfortunately, once companies release heavy metals, or other toxins, into the sewer system, there is no process to remove these chemicals from the sludge. In addition, every industry in the country can discharge 33 pounds of hazardous waste every month into wastewater treatment plants, without penalty or reporting.13

8.2. Small Business Hazards

Many small businesses are not regulated for their toxic releases. Nor are they included in the pretreatment processes. While auto garages, dentist offices, photo developers, dry cleaners, and other small businesses may not individually release a large amount of toxic chemicals, taken as a whole their contribution to chemicals in sludge could be dangerous.

8.3. Hospital Hazards

All hospitals are required to dispose of toxic chemicals and biohazards in a state approved manner. Nevertheless, accidents do happen: from a broken mercury hermometer to additional human pathogens being washed down the drain, hospitals can contaminate sludge.

8.4. Contamination from Municipal Water and Sewer Systems

Many towns and cities have water and sewer systems made with lead and copper pipes. Lead, copper, and other metals often leach into the waste stream and contaminate sludge. Contamination of sludge can also occur if a town’s reservoir is polluted with pesticides and other chemicals for which testing are not required.

8.5. Household Hazards

From pesticides (including flea shampoos), to heavy duty cleaning agents and hair coloring products, toxic chemical containing products abound. Any of these chemicals dumped down the drain could end up being spread on a farm field or in a forest.

9. Sludge regulation

It is nearly impossible to know the exact levels of toxic materials in each batch of sludge because what is released into the waste stream varies day to day. While sewage waste is treated at wastewater facilities for several days, not every batch of sludge is tested before it leaves the plant. It is more due to economics than to concerns for health protection, that sludge generators do not test the waste more frequently. For example, waste is often only tested for dioxin twice a year because of the cost of the test. A worker may accidentally spill pesticides into a sink or storm drain, or someone might illegally dump other toxic chemicals down the drain, and no matter how strict regulations are in the law books, testing could miss these sudden increases in contaminants. Regulations and testing cannot guarantee sludge safety until toxic chemicals are removed from industrial household use.

10. Sludge consequences

“Temporary odors are a necessary inconvenience in the practice of agriculture.”14 Sludge smells similar to manure and that the smell will dissipate “within several days.” Despite industry propaganda, studies have shown that sludge odors are more than just a nuisance; they are a public health threat. Harmful gases, called organic amines, can develop from chemical reactions that occur in sludge. These gases are released when the pH of sludge is raised above 10, such as when lime is added. Studies suggest that sludge odor can cause health problems in humans as far as 1600 feet from a site.15A study performed by a former EPA sludge regulator linked sludge odors to “severe irritation to mucous membranes followed by respiratory infections” in residents living near a sludge site. Irritation of the eyes, throat and skin make infection from pathogens in sludge more likely. The study was conducted following the death of a New Hampshire man suffering from respiratory distress in the vicinity of a sludge site.16 Residents near sludge sites have not been the only victims of sludge odor. Symptoms associated with organic amine poisoning frequently occur among waste treatment plant workers and drivers who haul sludge.

10.1. Deaths associated with sludges

At least two deaths have been associated with sludge spreading. In October 1994, an eleven-year-old boy, named Tony Behun, went dirt bike riding near his home in Osceola Mills, Pennsylvania. Unknowingly, the boy rode through a field covered in Class B sludge. He came home covered in dirt and grime. Two days later, he developed a sore throat, headache, and a boil on his left arm. Brenda Robertson, his mother, took him to the doctor, who prescribed flu antibiotics. The next day, Tony had trouble breathing. He died after being flown by helicopter to a hospital in Pittsburgh. The final diagnosis was that Tony had died from a bacterial infection. How her son contracted the infection remained a mystery to Brenda Robertson until five years later when she read about an investigation into her son’s death by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection. Without consulting Brenda, the state published a report concluding that Tony died of a bee sting and that Class B Sludge was not spread on property that he went riding on.

Another sludge related death occurred in Greenland, New Hampshire. In late October of 1995, the Marshall family had their otherwise quiet lives tragically disrupted. Sludge was being dumped on a field in their rural neighborhood. This was just the beginning of the residents’ problems. On Halloween, Joanne Marshall rushed home from work to take her little girl trick-or-treating. When she arrived home and jumped out of her car, she was “greeted by such a stench, it took her breath away. ”17 The Marshalls and their neighbors began suffering from nausea, vomiting, stomach cramps, migraine headaches, flu-like symptoms, slowed reflexes and respiratory problems.

10.2. Environmental Assessment and some remedy:

Recycling sewage sludge to agricultural land to gain benefit from the essential plant nutrients and organic matter it contains, would seem a reasonable and rational method of managing a material which would otherwise need disposing of by some other non-beneficial route. But sludge also contains inorganic, organic and biological contaminants and so careful, management is required to avoid the potential environmental problems. The problems are listed in following Table. Large application of sewage sludge can decrease the soil pH. This can be avoided, if the soil pH is increased by application of lime, or if sludge application rates are limited in some way.

The no. of bacteria of different genera in sludge varies. In general, a total coliform count of 10 to 10 can be found per gram of dry wt., while fecal coliform bacteria generally represent 10 to 10 per gram of dry wt. The pathogens should be reduced to levels that are unlikely to cause a threat to public health and the environment under specified use conditions processes to significantly reduce pathogens, such as digestion, drying, heating and high pH or their equivalent are the most commonly used one.

For the removal of OCs from sludge mainly two approaches ar there – physico chemical or microbiological which involves either high temperature oxidation (incineration) or reductive dechlorination (pyrolysis in an atmosphere of hydrogen). To achieve allow level of risk, presticide concentrations in the combined soil and sludge mixture must be less than 1.25 mg/kg dry wt.

Environmental impact risk and benefit assessment for sewage sludge recycling to agricultural land (B= beneficial effect, L=Low risk, P=Possible risk, NA=Not applicable.)

Environm-ental parameter PTEs Organic contaminants Pathogens Nitrogen Phosphorus Organic matter

Human health L P L B B B

Crop yields L L L B B B

Animal health L L L B B B

Ground water quality L L L P L L

Surface water quality L L L P P B

Air quality L L L P NA NA

Soil fertility P L L B B B

Natural ecosystem P P L P P B

11. Sludge regulation

Sludge, by its very nature, is difficult to regulate. Depending upon what chemicals are being released into various sewer systems minute to minute, the toxicity of the state’s sludge could vary day-to-day, minute-to-minute. Regulations of sludge do not adequately protect public health and the environment.

11.1. Regulations problems:

• Have weak pollution standards;

• Allow for the spreading of sludge containing live pathogens;

• Discourage municipalities from being precautionary and public health oriented by not allowing them to make stricter standards than the state’s; and

• Marginalize citizens’ voices in the process as the sludge industry has greater access to state regulators than the average citizen.

11.2. Heavy Metals Standards (in ppm)

Heavy Metal Denmark Sweden Finland Germany Netherlands Norway European Union

Arsenic 25 N/A N/A N/A 0.15 N/A N/A

Cadmium 0.8 2.0 1.5 5 or 10* 1.25 2.5 20

Chromium 100 100 N/A 900 75 100 N/A

Copper 1000 600 N/A 800 75 1000 1000

Lead 120 100 100 900 100 80 750

Mercury 0.8 2.5 1 8 0.75 3 16

Nickel 30 50 100 200 30 50 300

Zinc 4000 800 1500 2500 300 800 2500

*Source Harrison, et al. 1999 7

11.3. Sludge vs. Natural soil

Heavy Metal Average Sludge (ppm) Natural Soil (ppm) Times Higher than Natural Soil

Arsenic 5.6 7.4 1.3

Cadmium 2.4 0.37 6.4

Copper 388.0 23.3 16.6

Chromium 33.3 30 1.1

Lead 61.5 17 3.6

Mercury 1.2 0.003 400

Molybdenum 7.5 0.79 9.4

Nickel 22.8 18 1.2

Selenium 2.6 0.45 5.7

Zinc 468.5 68.5 6.8

11.4. Standard values for organic compounds

Compounds Concentration in sludge

PAHs 1-10 mg./Kg.

Alkyl phenols 100 – 3000 mg./Kg.

PCBs 1 – 20 mg./Kg.

Poly chlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins Very low

OC pesticides

Monocyclic aromatics

Chloro benzenes

Aromatic & alkyl amines 0 – 1mg./Kg.

Phenols 0 – 5mg./Kg.

12. The sludge solution

If spreading sludge in our communities is dangerous, where should it go? What are we supposed to do with this waste? The real question is, how can we eliminate the spreading of toxic pollutants on our land and how can we eliminate these contaminants from our wastewater treatment plant so that human waste becomes a truly useful and safe commodity? Because sludge contains toxic chemicals and other pollutants, the best solution to our sludge problem is reducing these contaminants at their source. By dramatically reducing the use and disposal of industrial and household toxic chemicals we can greatly cut the chemical levels in sludge. Until the long-term goal of eliminating the use and disposal of toxic chemicals is achieved, the state should:

1. Ban the use of sludge that contains industrial discharges.

2. Require the strictest level of pathogen reduction.

3. Broaden and strengthen sludge testing and toxic limits.

4. Allow municipalities to enact ordinances that are more stringent than the state’s regulations through the town meeting or a town-wide vote process.

5. Provide for the long-term pH maintenance and metal monitoring of sludge sites.

In addition to statewide protections, municipalities should also enforce their own protections through strong ordinances controlling sludge. It is, after all, local communities that are most threatened by sludge spreading.

13. Disposal of sludges

Sludge disposal is a worldwide problem and a wide variety of disposal routes have been adopted as directed by local conditions. The final resting place of the sludge must be either on the land, in the air or in the water. Disposal of sludge to the air largly employs high temperature incineration or pyrolysis. Although, this reduction is sufficient to “stabilise” the sludge, a large volume remains for disposal. Disposal of sewage sludge to the ocean in now banned because of its perceived environmental effects. The major sludge disposal methods employed by the waste water treatment plants are alienation or selling lagooning, used for municipal gardens, used for instant lawn cultivation, land application. The remaining of the sludge is either stockpiled or land filled.

Disposal and application of sludge’s should involve the following

1. The application must contain a summary of the types of crops to be grown on the proposed site, the method of sludge application, and an anticipated spreading schedule. The application must also include a representative soil nutrient analysis for the site.

2. The sludge must provide “agronomic benefit” to the crops grown on this soil–meaning the generator must show that the site has a need for the nutrients provided for by the sludge. Farms utilizing sludge are required to have a licensed nutrient management specialist develop a whole farm nutrient management plan. This plan is the basis for the above determination that additional nutrients are needed on the farm.19

3. The application must show that “the water of the state will be protected.” In practice, state regulators assume that the waters of the state will be protected as long as certain setbacks and spreading requirements are provided for in the application.

4. To this end, sludge cannot be spread when soil is frozen, snow covered, and water logged. Sludge cannot be spread on land that favors the growth of water loving plants such as wetlands, swamps and others.

5. The soil of a proposed sludge site must have a six-inch soil cap and a minimum depth to bedrock of 10 inches for perennial crops (such as hay) and 20 inches for row crops (such as corn).

6. For Class B sludge, spreading may not occur within 25 feet of on-site waterways, including gullies, ravines, and swales. Sludge sites may not be located within 75 feet of a river, perennial stream, or great pond.

7. The application must include a statement as to whether or not the site is located on or next to a protected natural resource, a sensitive area, and/or a direct watershed to waters.

8. The generator must demonstrate that the sludge spreading activity will meet traffic standards for the site. This standard is assumed to be met if the sludge spreading activity will result in 16 or less vehicle trips a day.20

9. The application must include a site-specific odor control plan to prevent nuisance odors at neighboring properties. It assumes that odor, air quality, and nuisance standards will be met at the site if the site is 300 feet from occupied buildings, if there is a site specific odor control plan.21

10. The application must prove that the sludge is “non-hazardous”. To prove this, the application must include an analysis of the heavy metal levels in the sludge. If the generator’s sludge contains heavy metal concentrations above screening concentrations then the application must include a sampling and monitoring plan as well as demonstrate that the maximum heavy metal soil concentration will not be exceeded.

11. The application must also include an analysis of the dioxin level in the sludge. If a generator’s sludge contains 27 parts per trillion of dioxin, then the application must include a statement signed by the generator, the landowner, and the operator acknowledging the dioxin in the sludge to be spread.

The statement must also include an agreement to the following conditions:

? The site will be tested for dioxin within 3 months of the last sludge spreading.

? If the soil on the site contains 27 parts per trillion of dioxin, then livestock intended for human consumption may not be pastured on site, crops for human consumption may not be grown on the site, and the deed to the site must record this information.

12. The application must also include a sampling plan: how often and in what manner the sludge will be tested for heavy metals and other toxins.22

13. Sludge will be spread at a minimum of 15 inches above groundwater surfaces. Food crops grown on the site with harvested parts that touch the soil will not be harvested for 14 months after the last sludge spreading.

14. If the sludge remains on the land for four months or more before being incorporated into the soil, food crops that grow below the soil cannot be harvested for at least 20 months after the last sludge spreading.

15. Food crops, feed crops, and fiber crops grown on the site but do not have harvested parts that might touch the sludge cannot be harvested for at least 30 days after the last sludge spreading.

16. Domestic animals are not allowed to graze on the land for at least 30 days after the last sludge spreading.

17. Turf grown on the site cannot be harvested for one year after the last sludge

spreading.

18. The application must contain site maps, including: a topographical map; a sketch of the site; a tax map; soils map (from U.S. Department of Agriculture); sand and gravel aquifer map; and a flood zone map.

19. The site sketch should include all the set backs and buffers that will be incorporated, as well as the location of onsite and abutting roads, wells, and buildings. The topographical maps are used to determine slopes at the site. The soils, sand and gravel aquifer, and flood zone maps are used to determine if the site is suitable, in a regulatory sense, for sludge spreading activities.23

14. Conclusion and Recommendation

14.1. Policy recommendation

? Prohibit sludge that contains industrial discharges from being land applied. The best way to ensure that our rural land is protected from industrial contamination is to ban the use of sludge that contains these toxins.

? Require land spread sludge to undergo the strictest pathogen reduction method available. Sludge with viruses, bacteria, and parasites above background levels should not be land applied.

? Broaden and strengthen sludge testing parameters. Sludge needs to be tested more frequently for more contaminants. In order to best protect public health and the environment, allowable pollutant levels should be guided not only by toxicology but also by natural background levels as well.

? Allow municipalities to enact ordinances that are more stringent than the state’s through a town meeting or town-wide vote. The people who are most affected by sludge sites are local residents. It is important that these residents have a voice when it comes to decisions that affect their community.

? Provide for long-term maintenance of sludge sites. Sludge generators should be responsible for testing the pH of all sludge application sites, whether active or closed, and cover the costs of lime (or other amendments) to maintain safe soil pH. All large volume sludge activities should be recorded on deeds so that future potential buyers are aware of past use of the property.

15.2. Recommendation for municipalities

• Sludge is an especially important issue for municipalities to oversee: it is local residents that have the most to lose from the threat of sludge.

• In municipalities that are home to a wastewater treatment facility, local residents, town officials, and directors of the facility can work together to implement the above statewide recommendations at the local level.

• All towns have the authority to ban the use of sludge, or sludge materials (such as compost) on municipal property.

• Municipalities can also pass strict ordinances controlling sludge application. Although the state preempts local control on setting strict standards, there are several ways towns can discourage sludge spreading.

15.3. What concern citizen can do?

Citizens can protect themselves and their community from the dangers of sludge by being proactively engaged in sludge reform. Depending upon the needs of the community, citizens can reform sludge rules through engaging town officials, local and statewide public health and environmental groups.

References

1. Dean and Suess (1995). Toxic Sludge Is Good For You!, Center for Media & Democracy. Published by Common Courage Press, Monroe, ME. p. 101-107.

2. www.vpirg.org , On the Ground, The Spreading of Toxic Sludge in Vermont, Vermont Public Interest Research Group,VPIRG, 64 Main St., Montpelier, VT 05602. (802) 223-5221.

3. vpirg@vpirg.org . 7-9.

4. www.vpirg.org , Conversations with DEP Officials and Staff of Portland Water District

5. vpirg@vpirg.org On the Ground, The Spreading of Toxic Sludge in Vermont, Vermont Public Interest Research Group, VPIRG, 64 Main St., Montpelier, VT 0560. (802) 223-5221. 35-36

6. State of Maine Solid Waste Management Regulations Chapters 419, 400, 405, & Appendix A of Chapter 418, as well as repealed Chapter 567, Department of Environmental Protection, Bureau of Solid Waste Management, 17 State House Station, Augusta, ME 04333-0017. Chapter 419, 17.

7. Harrison, Ellen Z. et al, (1999) The Case for Caution, Recommendations for Land Application of Sewage Sludge and an Appraisal of the US EPA’s Part 503 Sludge Rules, Cornell Waste Management Institute, Center for the Environment, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853. February.

8. www.vpirg.org ,vpirg@vpirg.org On the Ground, The Spreading of Toxic Sludge in Vermont, Vermont Public Interest Research Group, VPIRG, 64 Main St., Montpelier, VT 05602. (802) 223-5221. 12-14.

9. www.essential.org/cchw America’s Choice Children’s Health or Corporate Profit, Center for Health, Environment, and Justice, PO Box 6806, Falls Church, VA 22040 703.237.2249, 546

10. Gibbs, Lois Marie et al. (1995) Dying from Dioxin: A Citizen’s Guide to Reclaiming Our Health and Rebuilding Democracy. South End Press, Boston.. p. 25

11. vpirg@vpirg.org 10-11.

12. Scott, Laura, et al. (1998) The Sludging of New Hampshire. Answers for Local City and Town Officials in New Hampshire. New Hampshire Sierra Club. “Land Application of Wastewater Biosolids in Maine.” Maine Wastewater Control Association brochure.

13. Lewis, David L., et al. Enhanced Susceptibility to Infection From Exposure to Gases Emitted by Sewage Sludge: A Case Study, Departments of Marine Sciences, Biological and Agricultural Engineering, and Medical Microbiology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, BIOSET, Inc, 13700 Veterans Memorial, Ste. 385, Houston, TX, 77014. (conclusions)

14. Tuohy, John, (2000) “State probe wrongly followed path of bike ride to a bee sting,” USA Today, July 13,. 20. Statement of Joanne Marshall

15. www.essential.org/cchw. “A Comparison of Heavy Metals in Sewage Sludge, Soil, and Applicable Regulatory

16. cchw@essential.org Standards,” 10/10/00 fact sheet from Maine Department of Environmental Protection. 47

17. State of Maine Solid Waste Management Regulations Chapters 419, 400, 405, & Appendix A of Chapter 418, as well as repealed Chapter 567, Department of Environmental Protection, Bureau of Solid Waste Management, 17 State House Station, Augusta, ME 04333-0017. Chapter 2, 21-22.

18. Standards,” 10/10/00 fact sheet from Maine Department of Environmental Protection.

19. State of Maine Solid Waste Management Regulations Chapters 419, 400, 405, & Appendix A of Chapter 418, as well as repealed Chapter 567, Department of Environmental Protection, Bureau of Solid Waste Management, 17 State House Station, Augusta, ME 04333-0017. Chapter 419, 7-10.

20. State of Maine Solid Waste Management Regulations Chapters 419, 400, 405, & Appendix A of Chapter 418, as well as repealed Chapter 567, Department of Environmental Protection, Bureau of Solid Waste Management, 17 State House Station, Augusta, ME 04333-0017. Chapter 419, 26.

21. State of Maine Solid Waste Management Regulations Chapters 419, 400, 405, & Appendix A of Chapter 418, as well as repealed Chapter 567, Department of Environmental Protection, Bureau of Solid Waste Management, 17 State House Station, Augusta, ME 04333-0017. Chapter 419, 7-10 and 26.

22. State of Maine Solid Waste Management Regulations Chapters 419, 400, 405, & Appendix A of Chapter 418, as well as repealed Chapter 567, Department of Environmental Protection, Bureau of Solid Waste Management, 17 State House Station, Augusta, ME 04333-0017. Chapter 400, 28.

23. State of Maine Solid Waste Management Regulations Chapters 419, 400, 405, & Appendix A of Chapter 418, as well as repealed Chapter 567, Department of Environmental Protection, Bureau of Solid Waste Management, 17 State House Station, Augusta, ME 04333-0017. Chapter 419, 26-27.

Every year, the United States Census Bureau publishes data for population shifts between incorporated cities with more than 100,000 people. For cities within California, the top 15 are ranked below based on the percentage increase in population from July 2005 to July 2006.
1. Lancaster . Located about 70 miles north of Los Angeles, Lancaster achieved the largest percent growth from 2005 (population = 134,106) to 2006 (140,804), resulting in a 4.99% change.
2. Bakersfield . Located between Los Angeles and Fresno, Bakersfield had a 2005 population of 295,769 and a 2006 population 308,392. This is a 4.26% increase from 2005 to 2006.
3. Visalia . Located just south of Fresno, Visalia had a 2005 population of 109,433 and a 2006 population of 113,487. This is a 3.70% increase from 2005 to 2006.
4. Irvine . Located in the heart of Southern California, Irvine had a 2005 population of 187,457 and a 2006 population of 193,956. This is a 3.46% increase from 2005 to 2006.
5. Fontana . Located in the heart of San Bernardino County, Fontana had a 2005 population of 164,468 and a 2006 population of 170,099. This is a 3.42% increase from 2005 to 2006.
6. Elk Grove . Located just south of Sacramento, Elk Grove had a 2005 population of 125,293 and a 2006 population of 129,184. This is a 3.10% increase from 2005 to 2006.
7. Palmdale . Located just north of Los Angeles, Palmdale had a 2005 population of 134,650 and a 2006 population of 138,790. This is 3.07% increase from 2005 to 2006.
8. Moreno Valley . Located in Riverside County, Moreno Valley had a 2005 population of 178,272 and a 2006 population of 183,571. This is a 2.97% increase from 2005 to 2006.
9. Santa Clara . Located south of Silicone Valley, Santa Clara had a 2005 population of 105,778 and a 2006 population of 108,518. This is a 2.59% increase from 2005 to 2006.
10. Simi Valley . Located north west of Los Angeles, Simi Valley had a 2005 population of 118,671 and a 2006 population of 121,288. This is a 2.20% increase from 2005 to 2006.
11. San Jose . Located in the heart of Silicon Valley, San Jose had a 2005 population of 915,668 and a 2006 population of 929,936. This is a 1.55% increase from 2005 to 2006.
12. Riverside . Located in Southern California, Riverside had a 2005 population of 290,417 and a 2006 population of 293,761. This is a 1.15% increase from 2005 to 2006.
13. Roseville . Located just north of Sacramento, Roseville had a 2005 population of 105,946 and a 2006 population of 107,158. This is a 1.14% increase from 2005 to 2006.
14. Fresno . Located between Bakersfield and Stockton, Fresno had a 2005 population of 461,454 and a 2006 population of 466,714. This is a 1.14% increase from 2005 to 2006.
15. Stockton . Located south of Sacramento, Stockton had a 2005 population of 287,069 and a 2006 population of 290,141. This is a 1.07% increase from 2005 to 2006.
Increases in population have many implications for society. For a complete ranking of population changes, visit the United States Census Bureau’s site.

Are you planning to buy a house in the near future? If you are, it seems that you need to have buying guide, in which some information of a house – type, location and price – is available. There is no need to get confused where to go for real time information of homes for sale since Homesforsale-Dfw.Com is here to give assistance. Some selections of home for sale advertised in here so that you can get more choices.

In order that you can get a house that meets your criteria, make sure you use a feature of ‘property searches’. When you get into this site, you can also come across information of homes for sale in Denton that comes with various models and prices. In addition, homes for sale in Corinth are also available in the advertisement of this site. If you are going to advertise your home for sale but you have no enough information where to go, then you can come to this site since current market evaluation available.

Are you looking for homes for sale in Coppell? If you are, here you will find some choices so that you will be able to get the best one that matches your personal criteria.

Are you looking for personal financing solution? If you are, then you should consider taking out personal loan online. Well, you just need to look for online loan portal where you can find application form. Nowadays, you will come across some selections of online loan portal that provide you with instant application of personal loan. However, you should work with one that fits you the best in order to get effective way of gaining personal financing solution.

For a reference, you should head over Americaoneunsecured.Com since it provides such a simple way of applying for Guaranteed Online Personal Loans. In many cases, someone just take a few minutes to complete the entire application process and it is entirely online. It means that you do not need to move out to a physical location to get Personal Loan as well as Fast Business Loans. As this site has worked with outstanding lenders, you should take the opportunity of gaining personal or commercial financing solution.

For urgent cash seekers, this site also provides Payday Loans application. There is no need to wait for a long time to get urgent cash since it is likely to happen to get the cash within 24 hours in many cases.

You may have heard how the real estate sector has suffered a huge setback due to the recession. The good news is that however bad it may seem, the real estate sector will always bounce back, due to its high demand. In countries like India, the real estate sector is also responsible for providing employment to many people. People will continue to buy lands and make investments in the real estate sector and the investors will continue to profit from that. If you want to join the Houston Texas real estate market as an investor, you must play carefully.

 

Real estate investing is profitable in many ways to the investor. In order to make money people also invest in shares and bonds alike. However these are not very stable and experience huge rise and falls. One lucky day prove to be very beneficial, but another bad day can ruin one’s life. With real estate the changes are not so prominent and frequent. It happens gradually and since the demand is always present, it does not come crashing down upon the investor. It will not cause you to lose all your investment in one day.

 

Real estate is also a source of constant income. If you have a piece of property you can choose to rent it out so that it ensures a monthly income for you rather than selling it off for bulk money. These tenants will give you a rent every month which can also be hiked up if you provide additional facilities in your property.

 

However like investment in all other sectors, real estate sector also requires you to be very careful when you start out. First thing you must keep in mind is that the properties you are dealing with are located at prime locations of the city or state. It should be well connected and have landmarks like railways stations, airports, or markets nearby. If some new urban development plan is happening in the area like development of roads, highways, or other means of communication, the prices automatically hike up a lot.

 

These are important things that you can keep in mind when you decide to invest in real estate. If you are looking forward to make some purchase in the real estate sector, then you may also visit kwmemorial.com for details. You will find various information like property prices, property pictures and also various other types of information here.

California real estate is the most sought after and expensive real estate in the United States. It has a wide variety of diverse properties, from condos to vacation homes to single-family residences to apartments. Therefore, while searching home or commercial property in California, having real estate professionals by your side will make your search easier.

Generally, real estate professionals in CA include real estate agents, realtors, mortgage broker, and mortgage lender. Buyers and sellers more often need them at the time of buying or selling.

1. Real Estate Agents

A Real estate agent is either a person or an organization whose business is to market real estate on behalf of clients. There are buyer’s agent, seller’s agent and dual agents who work for both seller and buyer. Their main function is to look for suitable houses, negotiate price and terms on behalf of both, and prepare a standard purchase or selling contract.

2. Realtors

They work with their customers to define their needs and identify suitable alternatives. They are the total real estate solution providers starting with identifying the property to closing the deal.

3. Mortgage Broker

These professionals have specialized in the entire loan processes and help their customers in getting the best loan to fit their needs. They are either companies or individuals who work closely with mortgage lenders to provide a wide variety of loan schemes to their customers. They act as a mediator between mortgage lender and customer. They are ready to assist you with your lending needs. They will help you through the process and requirements-from home inspection to insurance.

4. Mortgage Lender

They are the companies who actually finance the loan to the customers through the brokers. In the past, lenders were almost banks and saving& loan associations. Due to their limited options in lending, many different types of lenders have joined in this field. Today, most mortgage bankers act as wholesale lenders. They offer loans at a lower rate of interest than banks. Mortgage brokers deal with these lending institutions that have wholesale loan department for their customers.

Hence, it is a team work of all agents, realtors, brokers and lenders to provide better service to their customers. By effectively using their own resources, they can co-ordinate with

A recent decision by the Special Commissioners in Belfast highlighted a distinction between Agricultural Property Relief (APR) and Business Property Relief (BPR) that is of importance to anyone who owns agricultural land. The case has the snappy title of “Philip Norman McCall and Bernard Joseph Anthony Keenan (personal Representatives of Eileen McClean deceased) v The Commissioners for HM Revenue and Customs”, and it dealt with APR and BPR.

When you die, Inheritance Tax (IHT) is payable on the value of your estate to the extent it is greater than the “nil rate band” which is currently £312,000. There are a number of reliefs that can be claimed, and the two most important are BPR and APR.

APR reduces the value of “agricultural property” in your estate by up to 100%, giving what is effectively an exemption from IHT, providing certain conditions are met. It would take a book to cover the detail of this, but what we are concerned with here are the exemptions available when you “occupy” land “for the purposes of agriculture”.

Obviously, a traditional farmer who owns and farms his land will qualify for this, but on the margin there are those who own the land but receive payment from someone else for using it. This commonly occurs when a farmer is getting on in years, or perhaps he has died and his widow does not want the trouble of actually farming the land herself. Or perhaps he is a “lifestyle farmer” who bought the place because he enjoys the country life, but is too busy to farm it himself.

One way in which the “occupation” condition has traditionally been met in such cases is to let the land for “grass keep”. Grass keep is an arrangement between the landowner and a third party (“the grazier”). The grazier has the right to graze his animals (sheep or cattle, typically, because horses are not “agricultural” except in special cases) on the land for a period of less than the full 365 days in any year, and the landowner undertakes to deal with hedging, ditching, mending gates and fences, and generally keeping the land in good condition.

It is well settled in law that a properly drawn up agreement for grass keep has the effect of leaving the landowner in “occupation” of the land “for the purposes of agriculture”, so on his death APR can be claimed at 100%.

In fact, 100% APR is also available in most cases where the land is let out on an ordinary tenancy to another farmer, but there are two crucial differences as a result of the landowner no longer being the “occupier”. One of these is that unless the landowner is also the farmer, the farmhouse occupied by the landowner will not qualify for APR, and the other is that APR is only available on the “agricultural value” of the land.

The “agricultural value” of land is its market value estimated on the assumption that it could never be used for anything except farming. If the land has development value because it has planning permission, or even “hope value” because it might get planning permission in the future, that part of its value is not covered by APR. Those who know their land values will appreciate that, even with the price of farmland up to £6,000 per acre these days, the development value, or hope value, may well be many times the agricultural value.

This is why it has been considered good tax planning to ensure that the landowner remains in “occupation” of the land. In the case of a farmer and his land, BPR comes to the rescue where APR fails to provide relief for the full value of the land.

BPR does not draw a distinction between agricultural value and market value. If the landowner is using the land for his trade at the time of his death, then BPR (also at 100%) covers any of the value of the land which is not covered by APR.

There has been a perhaps rather glib assumption that provided you met the “occupation” condition for APR, you were deemed to be farming the land yourself, so BPR would kick in as described above.

The Special Commissioner in Belfast did not agree. He accepted (indeed it was not in dispute) that APR was due on the land involved, because it was being grazed under an agreement for “agistment” (which is the Northern Irish equivalent of grass keep), but he did not accept that this automatically meant that it was also eligible for BPR.

The Special went through the written agreements in minute detail, and also looked closely at the evidence of what work was done by the landlord on the land, and he reached the conclusion that although what was done was (but only just) “a business”, it failed to attract BPR because it was a business of “making or holding investments”, which is specifically excluded from BPR.

The decision included this description of the grass keep arrangement:



“The activities of the business consisted of the making available of its major asset to other persons for payment without the separate provision of any substantial other goods or services”

More succinctly, the Commissioner also said:



“The land was used not to make (part of) a living on it, but to make (part of) a living from it; it was used as an investment”.

That is a neatly expressed distinction that I expect to appear in letters from HMRC in future when the difference between the agricultural and the real value of land qualifying for APR is important. Just to end with a flavour of the gap between agricultural value and open market value, in the McClean case, the agricultural value of the land was £165,000.

The open market value was £5,700,000, because the land had been zoned for development by the local council!

James Bailey

http://www.taxinsider.co.uk/