Citizens come out against Allen Harim permits

A public hearing in Milton turned into a parade of citizens speaking out against a proposal to allow two contractors to haul wastewater and sludge from the Allen Harim corporate headquarters in Millsboro.

At issue were permit requests by Clark’s Environmental Services of Salisbury and Denali Water Solutions of Wilmington related to Allen Harim’s proposal to base a chicken deboning operation at the former Vlasic pickle plant. The firms would haul sludge and wastewater off the Millsboro site to Allen Harim’s chicken processing plant in Harbeson. Clark’s is seeking a permit for sludge, while Denali’s would allow hauling wastewater. Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control held a public hearing on the two permits April 11.

Prior to the hearing, a handful of people protested the permits outside the library. Inside, those who attended railed against pollution from Allen Harim’s facilities, truck traffic and water quality. They were also furious at the lack of information about the specifics of the proposals.

Representatives from Allen Harim and the two haulers did not speak or provide presentations. Opponents also pointed out that Allen Harim’s deboning operation has yet to be approved by Sussex County Board of Adjustment. Hearing officer Robert Haynes said the hearing was called to receive public feedback on the two permits.

“I don’t know why we are here,” exclaimed Joann Haynes. “It will take years to fix Indian River. We can’t have it. The stench is bad. The water, we can’t drink. How dare they do this to us! This is wrong.”

Haynes’ husband, Ken, and Keith Steck, all of Milton, also questioned why they were there.

“Is this DNREC’s way of telling us it’s a done deal?” Steck asked. “We don’t have any information.”

Steck said there were loads of unanswered questions.

“They say it’s nonhazardous, but how do we know? What was in that sludge before? Where is the water that they are using for the deboning operation coming from in the first place? Where are they testing it?” he asked.

Bill Klunk of Milton, referring to environmental issues at Allen Harim’s Harbeson plant, said, “They can’t handle what they have now. And they’re going to handle more?”

For Jay Meyer, the issue was more personal. Meyer has lived in Possum Point since 1980, a development surrounded by the Mountaire chicken plant on one side and the former Vlasic plant on the other.

“Our wells are already contaminated there. We can’t drink our water; we can’t cook with our water. Our nitrates are so high the levels are 50, it’s supposed to be 10. It’s just one thing after another after another. It’s not fair to the people. Not fair to the communities. There’s probably more contamination there than anywhere in the state of Delaware,” he said.

Meyer said the smell from the Mountaire plant is so bad, he and his wife can’t sleep at night. He said it wasn’t always that bad, but it’s become very noticable the last several years.

“It’s not every day, but you never know when it’s going to hit. It’s like vomit and poop mixed together in a septic tank,” he said.

Meyer also questioned the commitment of Delaware politicians to protecting the environment.

“It seems like all these guys, they’re out for big business. It’s just a shame,” he said.

Meyer wasn’t the only one to call out state legislators and DNREC.

Charlotte Reid of Rehoboth Beach said, “We will not be quiet anymore. We will not let you pollute us and ruin our children’s future.”

Anthony Scarpa of Milton said, “When does it stop? We have dirty water, dirty air and contaminated wells. Our politicians are on the side of big business. They think creating jobs is a wonderful thing to do here regardless of the impact on your health. It’s time for DNREC to protect public health, and not politicians and big business in Sussex County.”

Comments from the hearing will be given to DNREC Secretary Shawn Garvin for a final decision. Hearing officer Robert Haynes said there is no timetable for the decision.