THE LAWSON FILE: LOCALS NOT EXCITED ABOUT CHICKEN WASTE

I know I sure as hell wouldn't be thrilled to hear that Cobb Vantress, a subsidiary of Tyson Foods, was planning to build 60 poultry houses for research and hatchery operations in my neck of the woods. Now, of course, as a vegetarian I find these places pretty atrocious and evil.

And then there is the smell which bothers even those who eat chickens.

The hatchery which Cobb proposes to build in a Lafayette, Tennessee industrial park would hatch about 100,000 chicks a day, four days a week. Instead of an incinerator, the Macon County Times reports the hatchery would include a disposal tank - much like a septic tank - for shells and unhatched eggs. The waste will be shipped off and processed into byproducts for dog and cat food.

Cobb is opposed to any environmental impact studies if they were going to be done before the building of poultry houses. “If we're going to be told we can't build houses until there's an environmental impact study done, we'll probably move on,” Cobb spokesperson Ben Green stated. “Because there are a lot of little communities that want us. If we feel unwanted, we don't want to be here.”

It is usually a good idea to do such studies before rather than after the problem, don't ya think.

It was a local resident who brought up in September that an impact study ought to be conducted. Concerned about the health of the 500 residents that live across from the proposed site of the hatchery, as well as property values and quality of life, Bonnie Davis asked that the council look into Cobb's business as well as residents have.

“I talked to 125 of the households in my neighborhood,” said Ms. Davis, “and only one of those households said they thought the hatchery was a good idea. I ask you, especially, to look into the impact on those of us who live across the street from the industrial park.”

Doesn't sound like Cobb's threat to take their chickens and leave town is a grave concern of those who will live nearby the proposed operation.

Farmer Jeff Poppen, acting as as spokesperson for those who have reservations about Cobb's intentions, told local commissioners last month, “We're just asking that you slow down and think about it,” said Poppen, who asked for (1) an environmental impact study; (2) a study of what affect additional chicken houses would have on neighboring property values; and (3) the social impact, i.e., find out what has happened other places where Cobb-Vantress has located both research facilities, hatcheries and contract pullet and hen farms.

But as already noted, that's too much for these big chicken maggots.

Three years ago citing the protection of Oklahoma lakes and streams, drinking water and public health, Oklahoma Attorney General Drew Edmondson announced his office had filed a lawsuit against several out-of-state poultry companies for polluting the waters of the state. Defendants in the lawsuit are: Tyson Foods Inc., Tyson Poultry Inc., Tyson Chicken Inc., Cobb-Vantress Inc., Cal-Maine Foods Inc., Cargill Inc., Cargill Turkey Production LLC., George's Inc., George's Farms Inc., Peterson Farms, Simmons Foods Inc., Cal-Maine Farms Inc. and Willow Brook Foods Inc.

The complaint alleges violations of the federal Comprehensive Environmental Response Compensation and Liability Act, state and federal nuisance laws, trespass and Oklahoma Environmental Quality and Agriculture Codes.

"It all comes down to pollution," Edmondson said. "Too much poultry waste is being dumped on the ground and it ends up in the water. That's against the law. The companies own the birds as well as the feed, medicines and other things they put in their birds. They should be responsible for managing the hundreds of thousands of tons of waste that comes out of their birds."

Among the organizations supporting the Oklahoma law suit are Illinois River Outfitters Association, Concerned Citizens for Green Country Conservation, Keep Oklahoma Beautiful, Greater Tenkiller Area Association, Grand Lake Association, City of Grove, Indian Nations Audubon Society, Sierra Club, Trout Unlimited.

The law suit is still going on.

Recently Attorney General said the bottom line is that, "You cannot destroy a watershed in the name of profit."

Pollution from poultry farms in an issue of national importance, Edmondson said.

He has called for a "national solution" to protect the nation's waterways, especially in Georgia, the Carolinas and the Delmarva Peninsula states of Delaware, Maryland and Virginia.

No wonder they don't want any impact statements on that planned chicken operation in Tennessee.

The following is from WSMV in Nashville.

Residents Plan To Protest Chicken Operation

LAFAYETTE, Tenn. -- Macon County residents are planning to protest a new chicken research and hatchery operation in Lafayette.

The protesters plan to picket city hall and the county courthouse on Monday night to show their concern.

They said the city of Lafayette sold nearly 10 acres to a subsidiary of Tyson Foods, which is apparently looking to build more than 60 poultry houses.

There is concern that the buildings will produce unpleasant odors and that poultry trucks will run through residential roads.