Statement on Grants to Convert NC Hog Lagoons

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
 
CONTACT:
Dr. Joe Rudek, 919-881-2913
Georgette Shepherd, 919-880-8033
 
(Raleigh, NC - June 4, 2008) The NC Department of Environment and Natural Resources today announced that three hog farm operations in Sampson County will receive funding to install innovative waste treatment technologies, the first cost share grants to be awarded under the NC Lagoon Conversion Program established by the 2007 General Assembly. The following statement may be attributed to Dr. Joe Rudek, senior scientist with Environmental Defense Fund. Rudek helped document the air and water pollution associated with the traditional lagoon and sprayfield system and helped shape state legislation that permanently bans open air lagoons for treating hog waste.
 
“The hog farmers receiving the first grants are innovators. They deserve a salute for their commitment to finding ways to treat swine waste that will protect the state’s air and water quality and the health of communities.
 
“The technologies selected for funding will use a centralized system large enough to treat nearly 60,000 hogs. This is a great beginning for the state’s push to convert all open air lagoons to modern systems.
 
“The Lagoon Conversion Program was designed to help farmers make the switch to better systems, and its success over the coming year should spur legislators to provide additional funding in the state budget.”
 
 

With more than 3 million members, Environmental Defense Fund creates transformational solutions to the most serious environmental problems. To do so, EDF links science, economics, law, and innovative private-sector partnerships to turn solutions into action. edf.org