September 27, 2006

State imposes stricter conditions for Simmons poultry plant
 

Simmons Foods has received a five-year operation permit from the Missouri Department of Natural Resources for a poultry plant operating in the state, but not without a struggle, local media reported. 

The permit was granted under more rigorous conditions than its previous one and even at that, some residents nearby say stricter conditions are called for to protect water quality in the area.

The new permit was issued only after the department received significant public input from residents in Missouri, said Kristen Pattinson, who handled the permit.

The new permit lowers the amount of phosphorus and nitrates that can be released into waters nearby and requires more sampling to check for leakage of the plant's wastewater lagoons, Pattinson said

If there is groundwater contamination, the lagoons would have to be closed or lined, Pattinson said.

The treated wastewater flows into Cave Springs Branch, which flows into Grand Lake. Some members of the Grand Lake Association are opposed to any permit allowing contaminated water to flow into the lake.

The new permit lowers the phosphorus limit to 0.5 milligrams per litre for the monthly average, with a daily maximum not to exceed 1 milligram per litre. The new nitrate level is 10 milligrams per litre for the monthly average, with a daily maximum of 20.1 milligrammes.

The permit would cut by more than half the amount of dissolved oxygen that is permitted in the stream and would significantly cut the amount of ammonia that is permitted. The company would have three years to meet the stricter limits for ammonia.

Gary Murphy, president of poultry operations for Simmons, said the company has anticipated the stricter conditions and have implemented measures to improve efficiency and do not anticipate problems meeting the new standards.

Deborah Wolek, director of the Grand Lake Association, applauded the tougher permit as a step in the right direction but at the same time cautioned that the poultry plant did provide significant employment in the area. She added the association would work with the company to find better answers.