County not represented at EPD’s public hearing against Fieldale Farms’ recent request

The Environmental Protection Division held a public hearing Thursday at the Stephens County Historic Courthouse for citizens in Stephens County to ask questions regarding a Fieldale Farms Corporation request to continue using part of its property on Highway 145 in Eastanollee as a spray field.

Roughly 20 citizens attended the hearing; however, no elected officials were present.

WNEG New reached out to Stephens County Board of Commissioners Chairman Dean Scarborough who was unable to attend because of a family emergency.

Stephens County Administrator Phyllis Ayers said the public hearing did not involve the county.

“I’m not involved in it either,” Ayers said. “They only used the courthouse because they needed a facility to hold it. The EPD was here and Fieldale was here. But this was not a government public hearing so we were not here [Thursday], they were only use our facility.”

Fieldale Farms is asking to have their Land Treatment System Permit renewed in order to apply effluent from the rendering and hatchery on their property.

According to the EPD, Fieldale is asking to be allowed to spray 250,000 gallons a day of pre-treated rendered poultry effluent.

In December, former District 28 State House Representative Dan Gasaway expressed concerns to WNEG regarding the activity taking place at the rendering plant; more so, his successor Rep. Chris Erwin, who did not attend the public hearing, took a similar stance.

Erwin told WNEG News that he was unaware of the hearing but he does not support a company negatively impacting the environment.

“I know very little about it,” Erwin said. “I will tell you that obviously I would be concerned about any business that would have any effect on our environment. I would definitely be one who would  be concerned and watching that, and seeing if I could assist the leaders there in Stephens County with controlling that.”

WNEG News will continue to follow this story as additional information is released.