Neighbors: Allen Harim plant noisy, odorous

For neighbors of the Allen Harim chicken plant in Harbeson, it’s a case of a company counting its chickens before they hatch.

Allen Harim is seeking to double chicken production to 2 million birds a week by the end of the summer. To deal with additional wastewater production, the company is embarking on Phase 2 of plans to upgrade the company’s wastewater treatment plant. Phase 2 will see nutrient removal technology installed, which Allen Harim attorney Elio Battista Jr. says will significantly reduce the plant’s nitrogen and phosphorus load into the Broadkill River.

At a June 9 public hearing at Milton Public Library, neighbors and environmental advocates said the problem is not the treatment upgrades, which they favor, but the fact that Allen Harim will be allowed to double production before making the upgrades. In addition, they say that Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control has been less than forthcoming with public documents related to the project, which is being funded to the tune of $11 million in public funds.

Maria Payan of the Socially Responsible Agricultural Project, a national organization that works to protect communities from the negative impact of factory farms, said she asked for loan documents for the Allen Harim project months ago, but was stonewalled by DNREC. She asked that the public record be kept open until DNREC delivers the loan documents. Her request was denied; DNREC agreed to keep the record open for seven days after the June 9 meeting.

Payan said DNREC should require Allen Harim to install wastewater improvements before increasing the processing capacity.

Neighbors of Allen Harim want DNREC to require Allen Harim to reduce odor and noise coming from the plant.

Bob Lawson, president of the Harbeson Improvement Association, said improving odor from the plant should be part of the application. Lawson said he toured the Allen facility and saw raw wastewater lagoons, which were smelly and have a negative effect on neighborhoods around the plant.

“I personally feel that DNREC needs to hold back some money on this Phase 2 to do something to improve the smell. This is devaluing our property. We have homes a mile from the plant that can smell it. I am suggesting this air quality needs to be addressed,” he said.

Dan Fay said while he favored improving the wastewater treatment plant, noise, which sounds like a large generator, must be reduced. He said the state put the cart before the horse, allowing expansion of the plant before improving wastewater treatment. Fay said of nearby Beaver Dam Creek, “Nothing is alive in there.” He also said the odor from the plant is particularly pungent.

Susan Stringfield of Milton said residents feel like they are at the mercy of DNREC and Allen Harim.

Diane Albanese said she was appalled by the water quality in Beaver Dam Creek.

“When it’s in your backyard, and you can smell it, you can see it – to live near something so incredibly polluted. I would like to see the water quality go in before the increase of 2 million birds per week. I’m hoping in good faith you make a ton of money and then pour it back into this community and be a good neighbor,” she said.

State Rep. Steve Smyk, R-Milton, said DNREC’s requirements are more strict than the federal Environmental Protection Agency, and that Phase 2 will allow Allen Harim to be even cleaner.