When Allen Family Foods declared bankruptcy in 2011, Korean poultry-producer Harim stepped in, purchasing the Harbeson plant. It was a deal praised by state officials, who said Harim's investment would save jobs and assure poultry production on Delmarva.
Five years later, poultry production in Harbeson has increased from 1 million chickens a week to nearly 2 million chickens weekly.
More chickens means more water for processing, and that means more wastewater.
Through no fault of Harim, the plant, until February 2016 was releasing wastewater under a permit that expired in 2011 but was repeatedly extended by the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control. DNREC said the department is understaffed, so it didn't get around to issuing a new wastewater permit until February 2016.
The plant has also announced a $35 million upgrade of its treatment plant, about of third of that paid for with low-interest loans from the state's Clean Water State Revolving Fund.
All of this should be good news. Harim saved jobs and is making improvements to meet the requirements of a new, more stringent permit.
But there's a problem.
Chicken production nearly doubled before any wastewater improvements were made. DNREC this month issued a notice citing serious violations that go back to 2012 and continue right up to last month. Poultry production is critical to our economy, and we expect government to work with companies to keep the industry strong.
But we also expect officials to protect our environment. It's a mission critical to everyone's health and to promoting our vitally important tourism industry.
Something is clearly wrong when a plant that can't meet pollution standards is permitted major increases in wastewater production before it upgrades failing wastewater systems.
Something is also clearly wrong when the monitoring agency knows about serious problems in 2012 and 2013, but doesn't issue a violation until 2016 – even then issuing no fines. Citizens should not have to choose chicken or the environment.
We demand both: clean, well-regulated chicken production and clean, clear-flowing creeks and rivers.
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Editorials are considered and written by Cape Gazette Editorial Board members, including Publisher Chris Rausch, Editor Jen Ellingsworth, News Editor Nick Roth and reporters Ron MacArthur and Chris Flood.
