This news item expired on Wednesday, February 28, 2018 so the information below could be outdated or incorrect.
In the course of the Buncombe County Soil and Water Conservation District’s mission to conserve the soil, water, and related natural resources of Buncombe County, they sometimes have to help local land owners address serious issues.
“Violations of water quality rules by farmers in our county don’t happen that often, but when they do, the state regulatory agencies usually call on us to provide the services necessary to remedy the situation,” said Gary Higgins, Buncombe SWCD Director. “Usually the violation is minor and might just involve updating a farmer’s waste utilization plan or helping them with record keeping.”
In the case of serious incidents such as the violation of water quality standards by Crowell Farms, Buncombe SWCD often steps in to mitigate risk and future problems.
In late 2015, animal waste was diverted into Hominy Creek at Crowell Farms for which the land owner was cited and fined. Buncombe SWCD recognized the seriousness of the violation of water quality standards, and at the same time saw the potential for more serious issues if the waste holding ponds were not closed out properly. They contacted several partner agencies then worked with engineers to draw up a plan and design that met current state and federal standards.
Staff assisted with development of that plan and provided construction inspection. Prior to construction, Buncombe SWCD applied for and received a grant from the Foundation for Soil and Water Conservation to pay 75% of the close out costs. The rest is paid for by the land owner.
The purpose of the program is to work with local soil and water conservation districts to close inactive animal waste lagoons across the state to prevent any potential for damage to the environment.
Financial help comes from over $5 million in funding from the North Carolina Environmental Enhancement Grants Program through the July 2000 NC Attorney General’s Agreement with Smithfield Foods Inc. “This project enabled Crowell Farms and the Buncombe SWCD to remove over 700,000 gallons of animal waste from two waste holding ponds in an environmentally safe manner, eliminating the possibility of future damages to water quality,” said Higgins.