Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Biosolids topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Council approves renewal of four farm leases to continue South Platte Renew biosolids program
Summary
The Littleton City Council on Dec. 16 approved Ordinance 27-2025 renewing four farm leases that allow South Platte Renew to continue land-applying treated biosolids to farm ground east of the metro area. City staff and South Platte Renew presented testing data and a PFAS study plan; the leases raise average per-acre rent to $21.43.
Littleton — The City Council voted 5–0 on Dec. 16 to approve Ordinance 27-2025, renewing four farm lease agreements that allow South Platte Renew to land-apply treated biosolids on approximately 7,500 acres east of the metro area.
South Platte Renew director Peter Van Rhein and deputy director Blair Corning told the council the agency has transported and land-applied biosolids for decades as a cost-effective alternative to landfill disposal or incineration. Corning said the facility stabilizes and tests the solids, then rotates application across leased farmland; the crops are winter wheat and corn for animal feed, not fresh produce.
"This approach lets us recover nutrients and avoid expensive disposal while maintaining rigorous regulatory oversight," Corning said, noting long-term testing partnerships with Colorado State University.
The leases update the per-acre rent from $16 to $21.43 based on a combination of the State Land Board and USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service rates. One parcel (referred to as the Beakley site) will not receive biosolids and will instead receive a discounted arrangement because of proximity to residences, staff said.
Council members asked about environmental safety. Corning and Van Rhein pointed to nearly four decades of soil and crop testing with Colorado State University and told council they secured a $100,000 CDPHE grant to study PFAS, the class of persistent chemicals that has attracted recent scrutiny.
"We have a strong, long-running dataset and are continuing independent testing," Van Rhein said. "We also rotate application, and we have farmer partners who understand regulatory compliance."
During public comment, residents praised South Platte Renew's work but urged continued study of long-term pollutant impacts; the Environmental Stewardship Board was specifically asked to review data.
Councilman Reichert moved to approve the ordinance; Council member Grove seconded. Voting was 5 in favor, none opposed.
The leases will be executed after Englewood’s concurrent ordinance finishes its 30-day period, anticipated in January. Staff said land-application logistics include roughly three trucks a day hauling about 3,500 dry tons per year (roughly 1,000 truckloads), spread across the leased acres on a multi-year rotation.
What happens next: Staff will finalize lease execution in January after the other owner (Englewood) completes its notice period. The council action authorizes the city to enter the updated leases but does not change operational testing procedures; staff flagged ongoing monitoring and the PFAS study as follow-ups.
