 The Toledo Blade By Jim Provance The state has decided to again gamble that troubled Buckeye Egg Farms will correct water-pollution problems at its facilities in Licking County. Attorney General Betty Montgomery has reached a consent agreement with the egg producer, despite having already filed contempt-of-court charges against the company for its alleged failure to keep prior promises. "If Buckeye Egg is going to remain a vital part of the agricultural community and economy in Licking County, the state needs to have the confidence that they have the will and the ability to conduct their business in accordance with Ohio environmental laws," said Montgomery spokesman Todd Boyer. Meanwhile, tests conducted of the operation's high-rise barns in Hardin and Wyandot counties by the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency suggest that the firm has failed to meet a court-imposed deadline to sufficiently reduce the moisture content of its barns. The high water content of the manure had created perfect conditions for fly infestation that has plagued neighbors of the facilities. Bill Glass, the company's chief executive officer, could not be reached for comment yesterday. Buckeye Egg produces nearly 2.5 billion eggs a year, about 4 per cent of the U.S. market. The consent accord, affecting only the Croton facilities in Licking County, northeast of Columbus, includes a onetime fine of $32,000 and potential fines for failure to meet the terms. The state filed contempt charges in March after it maintained that Buckeye Egg had not lived up to terms of a court agreement in December, 1999, to stop frequent manure spills that have reached local streams. Under the new pact, the company has agreed to put in ponds to control any manure, industrial wastes, and wastewater. It also has agreed to install irrigation systems to divert the contents of the pond away from the streams. The work must begin by Aug. 15 of this year and be completed by Sept. 3, 2001. During construction, no water containing more than a minimal amount of ammonia, a by-product of the manure, is permitted to reach local water. After the construction is completed, if any more violations occur, Buckeye Egg must pay fines of $1,500 a day. "What we have been seeking from Buckeye Egg are actions, not promises...," said Ms. Montgomery. "While I'm satisfied that this agreement is good for the environment and for Buckeye Egg's neighbors, we will all be watching closely to see if the company's work is as good as its word." The agreement has no impact on the state's battle with Buckeye Egg over fly-infestation problems at all of its sites in Hardin, Wyandot, and Licking counties. A hearing to determine if the firm has met a court-imposed, 90-day deadline to reduce the moisture content of the manure in its high-rise barns has been delayed until Aug. 21. Tests conducted by EPA suggest that Buckeye Egg has failed to meet that deadline. "The results are showing that a number of their barns at their four facilities in the northwest are in non-compliance," said Heather Lauer, EPA spokeswoman. A civil trial is also set for October on Ms. Montgomery's lawsuit against the company for various pollution allegations. Becky Kibler of Larue, Marion County, who has been battling Buckeye Egg over fly problems at its Goshen site in Hardin County, said she believes the state's trust in Buckeye has been misplaced. "Things might be different for a short period of time, but in the end it comes down to money," she said. Back to Ohio state page
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