Agricultural News
Oklahoma, Iowa, North Carolina Hog Farms Targeted by HSUS Lawsuit Threat
Wed, 11 Jul 2012 19:52:17 CDT
The Humane Society of the United States is apparently turning up the heat on pork producers who have not backed away from the use of gestation crates. The HSUS announced it has served notice that it intends to sue 51 hog producing operations in Oklahoma, North Carolina, and Iowa for alleged violations of environmental safety regulations.
In a news release, and a teleconference Wednesday, HSUS officials alleged each of the targeted farms owned by Seaboard Farms, Decoster Enterprises, Christensen Farms, Iowa Select, Hanor, and Maschhoffs released more than 100 pounds of ammonia into the atmosphere each day. Peter Brandt, senior attorney for farm animals with the HSUS, said the law does not prohibit the farms from releasing ammonia into the atmosphere, but requires companies to notify local emergency responders when such a release occurs. He alleges the farms have not complied with the notification requirements.
When questioned how the six companies were selected for scrutiny by the HSUS, Brandt said, "One common factor is that these are all companies that are using gestation crates and they've made no commitment to move away from them."
HSUS Senior Vice President Paul Jonathon Loverne was quick to add that the companies were targeted because they are among the largest hog producers.
Brandt said the federal law which was written in 1987 has been tested before and has been applied to agricultural producers, but he said he was not aware of if fines had ever been levied as a result of it. He said the law provided for penalties of up to $37,500 per day.
Also during the teleconference, HSUS officials said their allegations did not rely on physical evidence of ammonia release, but were based on their own estimates derived from a mathematical model. They also said they were not aware of the existence of any data from local emergency response personnel to substantiating ammonia releases or notification of authorities by hog farms.
The notice letters are required under the federal Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act before any litigation can start, according to that statute's citizen suit provisions.
The targeted Seaboard Farms operations in Oklahoma include: Brown Sow, Bryan Sow, and Choate Sow in Kingfisher County; Cliff Sow, Dixon/Jeffus Sow Farm, Kendra Sow East, Kendra Sow West, and McGarraugh Sow in Texas County; Dorman Sow, and Wakefield Sow in Beaver County; Fairview Sow 1 in Woodward County; Fairview Sow 2 in Major County.
Facilities owned by the Maschoffs in Oklahoma which were sent notification letters include: Randolph Sow and Nursery in Caddo County.
Oklahoma facilities owned by Hanor of Wisconsin include: Trails End BGF #1 in Kingfisher County; Trails End BGF #2 in Major County; Roberts Ranch, and Huffman G/F Sites in Woodward County.
Click on the LISTEN BAR below for an audio version of this story.
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