Permits for New Poultry Grow Houses do not require Nutrient Testing

The Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) is preparing to issue the first permits to Poultry Grow Houses in Accomac County. These are the first permits issued for this type of activity—at issue, the drafts contain no nutrient testing, as well as neglecting to account for pollution coming from the large fans used in poultry houses.

Links to the draft permits can be found here on the Virginia Eastern Shorekeeper website.

The new facilities will be discharging into Bulbeggar, Assawoman, and Pitt Creeks.

Poultry operations are still a major source of excess nitrogen and phosphorus reaching the Chesapeake from the lower Eastern Shore of Maryland and Virginia. Setting a precedent with these permits by not forcing adequate nutrient and airborne pollution testing is not in the best interest of the lower Eastern Shore which is becoming more economically dependent on having a clean coastal environment.

Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) will be accepting comments until October 20th.

Email comments to DEQ:
robert.smithsonjr@deq.virginia.gov

Mail Comments to DEQ:
Attention: Robert Smithson
5636 Southern Boulevard,
Virginia Beach, VA, 23462

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Wayne Creed

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