May 28, 2007

Cargill and Pilgrim's Pride face pollution lawsuit in Virginia

The largest poultry company in the US, Pilgrim's Pride and Cargill Meat Solutions are facing pollution lawsuits in the state of Virginia.

The lawsuits alleged that their meat processing plants are polluting the Shenandoah River in Rockingham County, Virginia

Anti-pollution groups such as The Waterkeeper Alliance, Shenandoah Riverkeeper and Potomac Riverkeeper claim these plants have overwhelmed a wastewater treatment plant in Timberville, Virginia and caused illegal overflows of ammonia, faecal coliform and other industrial pollutants into the river.

The Waterkeeper Alliance charged that the two meat processors did not ensure their waste water was properly treated before allowing it to be discharged into the river.

Cargill countered that the waste was the responsibility of the treatment plant, operated by SIL Clean Water.