30-05-2025
Hearing on wastewater permits for animal feeding operations
PIERCE CITY, Mo. — A public hearing is held for residents to voice their concerns about several new poultry feeding operations looking to operate in Newton and Lawrence Counties.
The meeting in Pierce City was held by the Missouri Department of Natural Resources, and centers on whether to grant wastewater operating permits for seven proposed concentrated animal feeding operation facilities or 'CAFOs.'
'Neighbors and stakeholders, they have a right to have their voice heard on how they feel about these types of facilities. So, this kind of engagement is really important for us to be able to hear what they have to say and consider those comments either for this permit or for future permitting decisions,' said MO DNR Operating Permit Section Chief, Ashley Grupe.
According to the applications, most of those operations would be in Lawrence County, near Wentworth and Verona.
Lawrence County Resident, Jenny Anger says she's concerned about groundwater contamination.
'To have such a high concentration of CAFOs in such a small area is greatly concerning to myself and my husband, my kids, and my grandkids,' said Anger.
Robert Brundage, environmental attorney and general counsel to the Missouri Cattleman's Association, says he supports issuing the permits.
'These facilities here are dry poultry manure. Just the facility itself is dry poultry manure, under a roof where it's not rained on or it's coming in and taken off site. So, the CAFO itself is not going to be polluting any waters of the state,' said Brundage.
The DNR says each comment will be taken into consideration.
'We'll review the comments, see what we can do within our authority under the Missouri Clean Water Law, and then we will render a decision to either issue the permit or deny the permit application,' said Grupe.
No date has been set for making a final decision.
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