An editorial in the Aug. 8 issue of the Cape Gazette supported the Allen Harim/Artesian plan to pump up to 2 million gallons of poultry wastewater eight miles to a site in Milton where Artesian is seeking to construct a 90-million-gallon lagoon for storage before spraying the effluent on agricultural fields in the area.
Unfortunately, the editorial is based on a misunderstanding of the facts.
The editorial, while acknowledging that the processing plant has polluted Beaverdam Creek and the Broadkill River for decades, mistakenly indicates that Allen Harim has spent $11 million to upgrade its treatment.
In fact, the State of Delaware made available to Allen Harim low-interest (2 percent) loans totaling $11.5 million. A portion of the funds was to be used to upgrade the onsite treatment facility and the balance was to be used to build a system to permit the company to reuse some of the water in its processing facility. Allen Harim only used about $6.5 million on its facility upgrades and has abandoned its plans to build the water reuse system. Instead, it is giving the remaining $5 million to Artesian.
And how have things gone since Allen Harim's celebrated ribbon cutting on its state-funded facility? The company has continued to violate pollution standards. Not unexpected, considering that DNREC in November 2016 issued a Notice of Violation citing the company for 90 violations from 2012 through Oct. 28, 2016. No reason has been given for DNREC taking four years to issue a violation notice. Not a single fine has been assessed. One violation listed shows enterococcus levels at 9,000 times the permitted level.
The editorial implies that the wastewater will be treated to a more stringent standard now that it is to be piped up to the enormous lagoon in Milton. In fact, the water pumped up to Milton will be treated to a lesser standard now that it will no longer be released into a body of water.
The editorial implies that the project helps to preserve open space in Sussex. It does nothing of the sort. The designated spray fields were, years ago, placed in agricultural preservation, and the farmer transferring his development rights was paid handsomely by the state - to the tune of approximately $1.6 million.
Allen Harim may be a local employer but it is not a good neighbor. Its history of pollution and OSHA violations bears that out. Artesian has applied for a permit with documents that are so deficient and outdated as to be laughable. DNREC has shown that it lacks either the ability or inclination to ensure the safety of our communities and the water in our wells, not to mention the creeks and other bodies of water that may be impacted. This project, permitting a proven polluter to continue to flout our laws, cannot be permitted to proceed.
Given the facts, perhaps the Cape Gazette will reverse its position and join the community it serves in opposition to the Artesian/Allen Harim proposal.
Andrea Green
cofounder, Keep Our Wells Clean
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