Factory Hog and Poultry Farms flood (once again) as a result of Tropical Storm Ernesto
Ernesto flood waters approach a hog lagoon, Duplin County 9/3/06
Spray flields under flood waters--again and again!.
Flood waters surround this factory hog farm 9/3/06
It's not just factory hog farms that are problematic. Poultry farms also discharge huge amounts of animal waste when flooded.
9/3/06 This factory hog farm, owned and operated by Smithfield Foods of Virginia, was also flooded during Hurrican Floyd. Instead of closing it , Smithfield continues to operate it at full capacity.
Factory animal farms in the flood plain, like this one, continue to create environmental problems when heavy rains arrive--as they often do.
9/3/06 Hog factory farms in North Carolina are typically located on the banks of wetlands, streams, creeks and rivers--this defies common sense
9/3/06 Lagoons, active and abandoned, can both present a problem when flood waters rise.
Hog Island? 9/03/06
9/3/06 The wall of what appears to be an abandoned hog lagoon is flooded by Tropical Storm Ernesto
Duplin County 9/3/06 Tropical Storm Ernesto flood waters approach two factory hog farms
Ernesto's flood waters approach this poultry farm in Duplin County 9/3/06
What about the animals confined inside these factory Farms?
This factoy hog farm was flooded during Hurricane Floyd. It may now be out of production but the lagoons remain.
RECENT FLIGHT INFORMATION
Hog Flight of February 5, 2004
At about 10:15 AM, February 5, 2004, while on routine air patrol over Jones County, NC, we observed hog waste being discharged into an adjoining wetland/stream in the Trent River watershed. Within three hours the incident was reported to the state's Division of Water Quality (DWQ) along with supporting photographs. Later the same day, an investigation by DWQ verified the discharge of hog waste to the nearby wetland/stream. Rain was predicted for the following day. Enforcement action is pending.
Pictures of the incident are set forth below.
Hog waste from sprayer can be seen flowing from the field into the woods
Hog waste can be seen flowing through the woods into a wetland stream.
The discharge can again be seen at the lower left side of the photo. Observe how the area is heavily ditched around the lagoon and how close the wetlands and streams come to the facility
Hog Flight of Sept 25, 2003
On the afternoon, of September 25, 2003 some of the hog facilities in Craven, Jones, Onslow and Duplin Counties were observed. A few were spraying and some had ponded hog waste on their fields. It is noted that it has been only seven days since Hurricane Isabel passed through these areas.
Of particular concern are the many hog lagoons containing low levels of animal waste. Rainy conditions have made conditions unsuitable for the application of animal waste during much of the time between January and August of this year. The state is required to ensure that animal waste is applied to fields at agronomical rates in accordance with each facilities waste management plan. Violations of waste management plans can easily result in runoff of hog waste to wetlands, streams, creeks and rivers.
Because of the weather conditions noted above, most hog lagoons should be very near their authorized levels of capacity. An inquiry has been sent to the Secretary of Environment and Natural Resources requesting an explanation for these low lagoon levels.
A few pictures for the flight of September 25th are set forth below.
