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Mr. Porter's petition now allows opposition to the zoning change to be expressed. The increase in volume, and people becoming more aware of the dangers of having this silage nearby has motivated residents to voice disapproval. Mr. Porter has stated that he 's had this silage pit for 17 years. Our residential development began about 12 years ago Until Mr. Fredenburg began staring sweet corn silage there two years ago, residents didn't experience the noise or odor problems that the operation now creates. The past two years Mr. Fredenburg began storing the large amounts of silage there. It's a huge mound approximated at too feet by 75 feet, containing an estimated 20,000 tons of silage. An approximation of how much total leachate will seep out is 750,000 gallons. Leachate is the liquid_ that drains from the silage. It's a potent by-product. As a strength comparison, measuring biochemical oxygen demand, domestic sewage has 300 parts per million while sweet corn leachate has Li0,000 parts per million, which makes the leachate 130 times stronger in organic strength. According to John Edwards of the Department of Natural Resources, the leachate run off can cause an increase in the nitrate level of ground water. Even if efforts are made to catch the run off in a basin, we have no guarantee that the process would be flawless. Questions include "Could the basin leak?", and "What happens when rains cause the fields to become muddy and make it impossible to spread the leachate?". At the local zoning commission meeting, John Edwards informed those present that there would be no monitoring of the silage pit, ground water, or leachate spreading. What happens if the water does become contaminated? Sweet Corn Silage has a strong odor while it is fermenting. It is extremely offensive and not a normal farm odor that one would expect living in the c untry. Sweet Corn Silage is different than field corn silage. The increase in volume the last two years has not only heightened the odor, but also its' duration. This revolting smell alone could have an adverse effect on attempts to sell Windsor Hill homes, thereby possibly decreasing the value of our home investments. The pit is just too close to the residential development. It's only about 150 yards away from the beginning of Windsor Hill. When it rains, the water collects in a pond directly adjacent to Windsor Hill residents on the southern side. Could leachate run off also drain into this surface water? Last year we had an extensive period of rain that prohibited getting in the fields. When this happens, the leachate would then gather in the catch basin. As a catch basin fills, it follows that the odor would increase.