Sunday, September 6, 2009

GEC opposes expansion at local hog farm

From the Green Environmental Coalition:

GEC has recently learned that the Pitstick Pork Farm, 1146 Herr Road, Fairborn, approximately 4 miles from Yellow Springs, has applied to OEPA for state permits to increase its number of finishing pigs by 2795, bringing the farm’s total capacity to 7095 pigs. …. Which equates to 2.2 million gallons of manure per year.

In 2001, this same farm was in violation of polluting nearby Hebble Creek when manure from this facility overflowed resulting in a fish kill of 9463 fish and other aquatic animals. We see this addition of animals- nearly doubling the number of pigs on the Pitstick farm- as a disaster waiting to happen.

There will be a public meeting on Sept 10 at 7 PM (and an "open house" at 6:30) at the Fire Station in Fairborn, 2200 Commerce Center Blvd; written comments will also be accepted at ODA Livestock Environmental Permitting Program, 8995 East Main Street, Reynoldsburg, Ohio 43068. These comments must be received by ODA no later than 5:00 p.m. on Sept. 17, which is five business days after the public meeting.

Please join us at this important public meeting. We need your support!

For more information read the Ohio Department of Agriculture Press Release (PDF)

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

Perhaps this is an opportunity for collaboration and ingenuity instead of simply opposition. Instead of simply saying no, I'd challenge GEC to find ways to work with businesses of all types to expand their operations or try innovative alternatives to prove that business and sound environmental practices can co-exist. GEC can encourage environmentally-sound ways to dispose of the waste or even utilize it. Many farmers are now looking at methane as a source of biofuel to power their operations. In the current economic climate, we need to find ways to support business growth that are healthy and environmentally-sound.