Cold Spring Egg Farm egg laying operation and fertilizer plant is looking to increase to 6,000,000 birds--almost double the chickens and twice the tons of manure. The parcels are located on State Road 59, Town of Palmyra. They are within approximately two miles of the Scuppernong River, Mud Creek, and Steel Brook, and are located in the Lower Rock River Basin.
Is this expansion a good idea? There are a number of wildlife and human health concerns with this number of birds in such close proximity to one another, and in one spot.
A major concern is the increased risk of bird flu this high-density avian living situation poses. New strains of the avian virus have emerged since the bird flu last hit Jefferson County in April 2015 and resulted in the death of about 2,000,000 birds. In recent months, strains more pathogenic to birds and humans have spread to Asia, Europe, and Africa. Of particular concern is the growing number of human deaths that have been reported in China over the past two or three months.
When it comes to fertilizer production plants, we need to look at the amount of particulate matter they release into the air. Particulate matter pollution has known adverse effects when it gets into the air and becomes wind-bound, and then gets into the waterways.
For reasons which are not clear, Jefferson County’s average daily particulate matter count (PM 2.5) last year was 12.2 micrograms per cubic meter. Only five of Wisconsin’s 72 counties had higher levels; Milwaukee County’s level was 12.3. (www.countyhealthrankings.org)
2014 test results on the Cold Spring operation measured emissions of 4.8 lbs. per hour of fine particulate matter. The air quality standard for this pollutant is 0.65 pounds per hour.
To address odors and air emissions, some years back the company made a major investment putting in a biofiltration system.
So why have particulate matter, ammonia, and acetaldehyde levels gone up in recent years? Has the fertilizer production process changed, releasing more chemicals into the air? Does equipment used in making fertilizer from manure need to be serviced, upgraded, or replaced?
Some farming facilities under the Clean Air Act are required to notify state and local emergency response officials if they emit 100 pounds of ammonia or more from their operations during any 24- hour period. The facility emissions summary from Cold Spring Egg Farm shows the company released more than 10x that amount of ammonia per day in 2015.
Would it be better for Cold Spring Egg Farm to withdraw its conditional use application for expansion--and try to get its current air emissions down? The facility’s wastewater permit expired Sept. 30, 2016, too, and needs to be renewed.
Jefferson County Zoning Committee could take action on the proposed expansion Feb. 27. If you have concerns, contact Cold Spring Egg Farm’s Production Manager Dave Hill at 262-495-6234 (dhill@sreggfarm.com) , or a voting committee member by Feb. 26. Here is a partial committee list:
Greg David (920-988-5629) gregd@jeffersoncountywi.gov
Donald Reese (920-699-2143) donaldr@jeffersoncountywi.gov
Amy Rinard (920-262-0892) amyr@jeffersoncountywi.gov
This blog was written by Anita J. Martin. Feel free to contact her with any questions: (920) 648-4720