September 24, 2007

 

Residents in Missouri sue to prevent building of chicken farm

 

 

Residents near a state park in Missouri are going to court to prevent the authoriesed building of a poultry farm.

 

The Ozbun Farms confined-animal feeding operation (CAFO) is situated close to the Roaring River State Park in Missouri State. The facility could house up to 65,000 laying hens for George's Processing Plant.

 

Despite being just one mile away from a state park, the operation has been awarded a construction permit. Opponents are now challenging the authorisation.

 

Opponents filed a motion seeking a stay of the operating permit, and previously filed an appeal of the construction permit, which will be heard in early January.

 

The state's Administrative Hearing Commission plans to hear arguments on the operating permit, said Ranada Vinyard, an attorney for the commission.

 

The Missouri Department of Natural Resources (DNR) issued an operating permit to the poultry farm on Aug. 22. This was later challenged by an area property owner.

 

The appeal of the construction permit and the appeal of the operating permit are being dealt with separately, Vinyard said.

 

Residents said opposition to the farm is growing, adding that opponents will try to show that DNR mishandled permits for the CAFO.

 

Local residents and environmental and parks organizations in Missouri have criticized the DNR for allowing the project to be constructed near a state park.

 

DNR said the operation complied with state law and met all environmental requirements.