Premium Standard Farms News
From PSF
Perspective --In
a groundbreaking settlement November 20, Premium Standard Farms
committed to reduce nutrients produced from its waste handling system
in Missouri by half. This reduction will allow the company to
dramatically reduce land used for application. The commitment to reduce
nutrients is part of a consent decree between the company, the United
States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and the Citizens Legal
Environmental Action Network (CLEAN). The agreement settles all
environmental claims against the company by EPA and CLEAN.
The
agreement also settles all environmental claims against ContiGroup
Companies for alleged environmental violations on swine farms in north
Missouri. CGC's Missouri swine operations were merged with Premium
Standard Farms in 1998.
The
agreement supports the development and implementation of Next
Generation Technology to improve waste handling on company farms in
north Missouri. The company has been developing and testing Next
Generation Technology as part of a 1999 agreement with the state.
"We
are committed to producing consistent high quality pork in an
environmentally sustainable system. The technologies we have been
testing since 1999 serve as the foundation of our work to reduce land
used for application, and enhance our environmental stewardship," said
David Townsend, Vice President of Environmental Affairs for Premium
Standard Farms. "These technologies may help us reduce the nutrients in
our waste, reuse a portion of the wastewater produced, or recycle
nutrients through value-added processes. Reducing the nutrient
concentration will allow us to reduce the land used for application.
That means we can select land for application that is farther away from
neighbors and streams," David said.
The
collaborative nature of the agreement is being praised by Missouri's
congressional delegation. "It's great to see the state and federal
governments work with industry to develop solutions to very complex
problems," said Sam Graves, Congressman from Missouri's sixth district.
"I'm excited these new technologies are being developed in north
Missouri. These systems have the potential to not only reduce
nutrients, but reduce odor, thereby improving the quality of life for
neighbors and ensuring the viability of an important area industry."
Specifically,
the agreement calls for a 50 percent reduction in nitrogen
concentration of the effluent applied to area fields from the company's
larger farms. This reduction in nutrients will allow Premium Standard
Farms to apply more gallons of diluted effluent to each field. This
reduces the total acres needed for land application. It provides an
additional benefit for area farmers in the increased volume of water
applied to their crops. This water can replace existing irrigation or
improve yields on fields that were not receiving supplemental water.
Lagoon
testing will be conducted as part of the settlement. A total of 22
lagoons on seven farms across five counties will be tested to ensure
the lagoons meet government standards. "There has never been evidence
of a problem with our lagoons and we have a high degree of confidence
in the integrity of our lagoons," David said. "However, we recognize
that some neighbors have concerns. It is our hope that these extensive
electromagnetic and hydrologic tests will put those concerns to rest."
Air
monitoring is another important part of the agreement. Premium Standard
Farms will be measuring baseline emissions from an untreated lagoon and
an untreated barn for several months to account for seasonal
variations. During the same time frame, the company will be measuring
emissions from a covered lagoon, wastewater treatment cells and barns
involved in a dust control test. An on site lab will be measuring
emissions of hydrogen sulfide, ammonia, particulate matter and
non-methane volatile organic compounds at both the treatment and
control sites.
The
company has also agreed to implement a series of Best Management
Practices to further reduce the risk of spills. These include improved
land application practices, rapid spill response and notification and
additional set-backs under certain conditions.
Other
key elements of the agreement include payment of a $350,000 civil
penalty, and a schedule of stipulated penalties in the event of future
violations.
PSF and Lundy's Make Record Contribution
Responding
to a "Call to Care" from the United Way of Sampson County, employees of
Lundy's, A Premium Standard Farms Company and Premium Standard Farms of
North Carolina pledged an unprecedented $51,208 to community service
agencies funded through United Way in the company's 2001 annual
campaign. The October campaign was the largest company campaign in the
history of Sampson County's United Way program and more than doubles
last year's record-setting campaign of $22,000.
"Amazing,
overwhelming, astonishing--the words seem inadequate in describing the
generous response of our employees to this year's United Way campaign,"
said Lundy's Vice President and General Manager Jere Null. "Often
people talk about being committed to their communities, but our
employees have gone beyond just talking about it; they have
demonstrated their personal commitments with this outpouring of support
to this year's United Way campaign."
Building
on a strong tradition of United Way support started by company founder
Burrows T. Lundy and employees of the former Lundy Packing Company,
current employees will be providing financial support to 11 United Way
funded agencies located in Sampson County. It is estimated that one in
three people in Sampson County benefits from United Way partner
agencies.
In
addition to the employee support of United Way of Sampson County, Vice
President of Production David James announced that Lundy's and Premium
Standard Farms of North Carolina will make corporate donations of
$1,000 each to United Way programs in Harnett County and Edgecombe
County. Lundy's subsidiary, Boneless Hams, is located in Harnett County
and North Carolina Farms has company support operations in Edgecombe
County.
"In
addition to the outstanding commitment that our employees have made, we
are pleased to be able to provide support in these two counties through
corporate donations." David noted. "Thanks to each one of our Lundy's
and North Carolina Farms employees, we are able to extend our support
to these counties. Surely, the impact of this year's United Way
campaign at our organization will be far-reaching and our employees are
due all of the credit."
--Gordon Becton, Premium Standard Farms