During the administration of our former Governor, James B. Hunt, Jr., the swine industry was allowed to explode in growth and pollute North Carolina's environment in unspeakable ways. Now, years later, Governor Hunt expresses regret for not doing more to protect the environment.

RALEIGH NEWS & OBSERVER  April 1, 2008

"Regrets? He has at least one. "I did not do nearly as much in protecting the environment of North Carolina as I wish I had done." he says, adding that he now rejects the old notion that business and environmental issues are somewhat at odds. "We know that if you want to have the kind of economic development based on real brain power that North Carolina wants to have, people who help make that happen value the environment tremendously, and are attracted by a beautiful environment. " 

This is not an "awakening." In his second term, the devastation caused by the swine industry in North Carolina was so evident that Governor Hunt was forced to speak out.  The following excerpts are taken from a web site published in the late 1990s under his administration:

Background

Swine production has mushroomed over the last decade. Despite a decreasing number of swine facilities, the number  of hogs has increased threefold to ten million……There are approximately 2,400 major swine facilities in North Carolina  with approximately 4,000 active anaerobic lagoons, and there are about 650 inactive swine lagoons…..

Economic Impacts

......swine production in North Carolina can produce significant odor, reduce neighboring property value, and harm tourism. Also, as shown in the above graph, the number of hog farms has decreased from almost 70,000 to under 5,000 facilities (emphasis added).

Environmental and Public Health Impacts

......the environmental and public impacts of the swine industry demand further action by the State and the swine industry. Swine production impacts the environment and public health are listed below.

• Surface Water. Surface water can be contaminated by discharges from the lagoons or run-off from sprayfields. In 1998, there were 107 documented discharges from swine facilities with 31 of these reaching the surface waters.
• Groundwater. Groundwater can be contaminated either through leaking lagoons or leaching of sprayfield applied waste. An NCSU study showed that waste from 38% of older, unlined anaerobic lagoons leaked nitrogen compounds into the groundwater at "strong" or "very strong" levels, while preliminary estimates of a Department of Environment and Natural Resource (DENR) study indicate that 25% of lined facilities may leak to contaminate groundwater. DENR data show that conventional sprayfields seem to be just as problematic as lagoons.
• Odor. Odors are generated from lagoons, sprayfields, or swine houses. When odors are not confined to the property of the operations, they have the potential to cause health problems, heightened community tensions, and losses in property values.....
• Atmospheric Deposition. Approximately 2/3 of the nitrogen in the swine excretions is emitted to the air in accordance with the design of a lagoon and sprayfield system. A DENR study estimates that swine facilities produce 20% of North Carolina’s total atmospheric nitrogen compounds which react with other constituents in the air and is deposited to land, vegetation, and water bodies. This figure is 53% for just Eastern North Carolina.
• Nutrient Imbalance. The rapid growth of the swine industry has resulted in a nutrient imbalance in parts of North Carolina. The feed imported to swine facilities generates more nutrients than receiving plants, land, and waters can absorb. For example, 95% of the nitrogen in manure produced in the Neuse River Basin is imported from outside the basin.
• Public Health. Swine waste is a source of nitrates in groundwater and pathogens in the ground and surface waters which can directly impact human health. Odors too can adversely impact human health as they can cause coughing, nausea, dizziness, headaches, and burning eyes as well as psychological effects.