Everyone should read Hunter Evans OP-ED article in todays Observer. Here are some short excerpts. I am concerned that the written question format at the hearing can effectively address important questions and concerns of Cumberland County citizens. It makes much more sense to hold a live, uncensored question-and-answer format Local officials quoted recently state that if Sanderson selects Fayetteville, the chicken grow houses will be around the Kinston processing plant. But a Sanderson official suggested in the August edition of National Poultry and Food Distributors Association monthly publication that chicken houses would be built in and around Cumberland County. Wages paid to entry-level employees are not living wages. At a starting wage of $10 an hour, a worker with two dependents will earn $20,800, a wage that is 15 percent below the states poverty level. People in these jobs would qualify for food stamps and Medicaid. This is the type of industry we recruit? Is Sandersons environmental record as clean as our elected officials suggest? Reports from the Environmental Protection Agency databases for compliance and pollution show Sanderson has a history of noncompliance at six of its processing facilities. This project is now being closely scrutinized by municipalities and agencies across the state. Further, the adverse effects of chicken slaughterhouses, grow houses and the lack of meaningful regulation is now a topic of conversation - and action - from the Chesapeake Bay to Texas. It was reported that our county commissioners were initially unsure if a chicken slaughterhouse at a Fayetteville gateway was a good choice. But after getting one side of the story from Sanderson, some changed their minds. Often, it is good to trust your first instinct. But it is always best to hear both sides of the story and look closely at all the facts. From this Facebook page we would add this one important fact: There definitely is a risk to our environment there is no question about that. How great that risk is may be a matter of debate. Wouldn’t it make sense for our elected officials to, at the very least. hear from experts on both sides of the issue? Given the potential long-term impacts it would be irresponsible of the Cumberland County Commissioners to continue forward without studying all aspects of this issue. Sanderson seems to by trying to rush the issue to get permits before the general public is truly aware of all the issues involve. Since this will affect our area in all likelihood for the rest of the lives of anyone reading this post, what valid reason is there NOT to have and independent unbiased firm do a study to see how 50,000,000 chicken a year will affect our water and land over our lives and those of our children. Please, officials, if you are right and there is not risk to our water why not prove it. Protect yourself with an independent environmental impact study. However if you would just rather take Sanderson word and their tax money asap then push it through without and environmental study. In that case if turns out we were right that will be the legacy you are remembered by. This is a serious decision not to be rushed into with incomplete information. fayobserver/opinion/news_columns/evans-give-us-answers-on-sanderson-farms/article_0af6436a-0d7f-5b88-aebb-d7f20881eff4.html?mode=jqm
Posted on: Sun, 31 Aug 2014 16:46:50 +0000
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