NC Environmental Justice Network
DEQ lists progress on environmental justice, swine farms; critics say enforcement essential
After initial results showed elevated levels of contaminants in Duplin County waterways commonly found at industrialized swine farms, the NC Department of Environmental Quality is continuing its water quality investigation to find the source. Policy Watch previously reported that in the Stockinghead Creek watershed — with 40 industrialized hog farms permitted to grow 94,068 swine, another […]
Farm Bureau wins Round 1 versus DEQ over swine farm requirements
This is a developing story and will updated. The North Carolina Farm Bureau has temporarily prevailed in a contested case hearing against the NC Department of Environmental Quality over three issues related to industrialized hog farms. Administrative Law Judge Donald Overby on Friday placed a temporary stay on requirements that were included in general swine permits: […]
Swine farmers, hog industry turns out in force to oppose revisions to draft permits
DEQ proposes stronger regulations, but waste lagoon and sprayfield system would remain status quo
Jed Arena stands in his backyard, placing most of his weight on one bent leg. A former hog farm worker for Tyson, Smithfield and smaller operations, he’s been fighting off a bacterial infection in his spine. About 10 years ago, well before his recent diagnosis of osteomyelitis, he contracted MRSA...
BREAKING: SBI investigating Duplin County employee over lagoon testing on hog farms
The locations of eight of the 35 farms sampled by Duplin County Watershed Technician Billy Houston. Some of the locations have more than one farm. These were sampled on March 17. Because of discrepancies in the results, Houston is being investigated by the SBI and DEQ. This is a developing story. It will updated as […]
In settlement with environmental groups, DEQ changes complaint process about swine farms
The NC Department of Environmental Quality says it will be more transparent about how it handles citizens complaints against industrialized livestock farms, including those that have been cited for violations as the result of those complaints. DEQ is implementing the new complaint investigation process as part of a settlement agreement with several environmental groups and […]