In a first, Virginia regulators approve Accomack poultry farms

Virginia environmental regulators have approved stormwater permits for three Accomack County poultry operations over the protests of environmental advocates.

The State Water Control Board voted 5-0 on Thursday, April 12, to sign off on first-of-their-kind permits to farms in Withams, Atlantic and New Church.

"These permits specify the requirements for operating the farms in a way that protects the public health and the environment," said Virginia Department of Environmental Quality spokeswoman Ann Regn. "The applicants have been responsive to making changes resulting from inspections, and we expect them to comply with these additional requirements for environmental management."

The permits require farmers to conduct "visual monitoring" of stormwater discharges at each point where it leaves the properties and share the results with the state. But environmental advocates contend that such "self-monitoring" lacks the regulatory teeth to ensure good water quality.

The vote comes against a backdrop of rising concern among some Accomack residents about the environmental effects of the poultry industry's expansion. The Accomack County Board of Supervisors unanimously agreed last summer to prohibit commercial poultry operations in residential or general business zoning districts.

The newly approved stormwater permits apply to the following operations: FPNA Farms, a six broiler house facility that eventually discharges into Bullbegger Creek; the Brady Farm, whose three broiler house operation eventually discharges into Assawoman Creek; and Horsey Poultry Farm, whose operation of six broiler houses eventually discharges into Pitts Creek.

The move signals the first time that Virginia has approved stormwater permits for individual poultry farms. Chicken-raising facilities historically have been covered under a statewide permit.

More: Chicken farmers, opponents pack permit hearing, dispute impact of poultry farms

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency inspected the farms in 2010, finding violations to the federal Clean Water Act. That led to administrative orders requiring the farms to obtain a Virginia Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permit.

In January, more than 100 people attended a public hearing at Nandua High School in Onley about the then-proposed pollution discharge permits.

The Chesapeake Bay Foundation, one of several environmental groups that has strongly opposed the permits, decried Thursday's vote, saying the stipulations won't go far enough to protect the bay's fragile health.

"These precedent-setting permits fail to require monitoring of runoff flowing from these three poultry operations, which are potential sources of direct pollution to waterways," the group said in a statement. "Without meaningful monitoring there is no way to know how much these operations are polluting local creeks, rivers, and the Chesapeake Bay.”

More: Accomack faces revenue hit as real estate values fall

410-845-4630

On Twitter @Jeremy_Cox