An environmental group called “Protecting Our Indian River” has asked the Sussex County Superior Court to overturn a county board ruling that would allow Allen Harim Foods to convert a Millsboro, Del. pickle plant into a poultry processing facility. The board vote 4-0 on November 5th to issue a permit to Harim.
"Sussex County erroneously approved a permit to the detriment of the public health and safety of this community and the environment," said Cindy Wilton, member of Protecting Our Indian River. She claims discharges from plant would foul the Indian River.
The group is also opposed to the year-round operation the chicken plant, compared to the former Vlassic pickle plant which was only operated seasonally, reports Newsworks.org.
Allen Harim announced plans to move into the plant earlier this year, investing $100 million in the facility and hiring up to 700 workers for a state-of-the-art poultry processing cut-up and cooking operation. The company has chicken processing facilities in Harbeson, Del. And Cordova, Md.
The Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control had originally scheduled a public hearing on the facility for Wednesday evening. That hearing has been rescheduled for December 17 at 6 p.m. at the Millsboro Town Hall. The hearing will focus on DNREC's plans for Harim to remediate the brownfield site.
Harim has entered into a brownfields development agreement with DNREC which sets forth the scope of work and remedial activities to be done during development of the site.
Source: Newsworks
