Citizens oppose Allen Harim permit
Allen Harim has requested a permit to haul nonhazardous waste from its Dagsboro hatchery to the company’s wastewater treatment plant in Harbeson.
That request was met with resistance from area residents at a Jan. 8 public hearing.
Allen Harim is seeking to haul poultry wash water between plants. Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control spokesman Michael Globetti said poultry wash water comes from water used to wash down incubators, hatchers, and chick-handling areas.
“Poultry wash-down water consists of water, disinfecting chemicals, viscous liquid from eggs and decaying tissue, and possibly eggshells,” he said.
Globetti said at Allen Harim’s hatchery, the wash-down water is discharged to a lagoon for storage prior to being pumped and hauled to the Harbeson plant for treatment.
Kathy Potter, DNREC engineer, said the water can only be taken to authorized facilities, none of the waste can be put into any water sources other than those authorized by DNREC, and all vehicles must be approved to haul nonhazardous liquid waste.
Representatives from Allen Harim were not present.
Citizens at the Jan. 8 hearing raised concerns about Allen Harim’s past environmental record and asked DNREC to deny granting the permit. All five speakers at the public hearing opposed the permit.
Anthony Scarpa, co-founder of citizens group Keep Our Wells Clean, said Allen Harim has not paid fines for past environmental violations. He said new permits should not be granted to the company until these fines are addressed.
Allen Harim and DNREC reached a settlement in November 2018 over environmental violations at the Dagsboro hatchery that occurred in 2016 and 2017. As part of the settlement, Allen Harim was fined $300,000 and was ordered to stop spray irrigation at the Dagsboro site and to connect the Dagsboro hatchery to the Sussex County sewer system.
Scarpa’s wife, Susan, said, “I am appalled at what goes on here in Delaware. We are not protected from any of the contamination that has occurred since we’ve been there. It seems that DNREC is not protecting the people. None of this should be happening.”
Andrea Green, co-founder of Keep Our Wells Clean, said Allen Harim’s hatchery wastewater was found to contain high levels of ammonia. She said she did not understand how the company’s wastewater could be considered nonhazardous. She said the wastewater should not be transported to Harbeson.
Milton resident Keith Steck said Allen Harim’s application lacks details about what is contained within the wastewater and further detail should be provided. Maria Payan of Selbyville also raised concerns about the content of the wastewater.
Hearing officer Lisa Vest said the comments would be made part of the record. There is no timeline for when DNREC Secretary Shawn Garvin will provide a decision.
