FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. -- Arkansas is counting its chickens and tracking chicken litter in response to an Oklahoma lawsuit that accuses several poultry companies of polluting the Illinois River watershed.
The Arkansas Natural Resources Commission and county conservation districts compile data for the statewide poultry registry. All chicken farmers with at least 2,500 confined birds are required to register their birds each year.
The effort began in 2004 after Oklahoma officials questioned Arkansas environmental workers about chicken litter removal methods.
"We didn't have any data at that point about disposal," said Patrick Fisk of the Arkansas Natural Resources Commission.
The following year, Oklahoma Attorney General Drew Edmondson sued 14 Arkansas-based poultry companies. Edmondson alleged the chicken litter was polluting the Illinois River watershed, and he asked the court to stop the application of litter on land in the region. The case is pending in federal court.
The Arkansas registry keeps track of the type and number of poultry produced in the state. It also documents how chicken litter is disposed of in Arkansas.
Gene Pharr, chairman of the county's conservation district, owns five chicken houses near Lincoln. He said the registry shows the litter is being exported rather than leaching into the region's water supply.
"Registering is not something people want to do, but it basically gives the state some idea of how much litter is being used," Pharr said.
Washington County Judge Jerry Hunton is a poultry farmer and president of Poultry Partners, a defendant in the federal lawsuit. He maintains eight chicken houses. Hunton said registering his chickens has become part of doing business.
"Now you've got to account for every pound of chicken litter," he said. "You've got to be half-lawyer, half-tax accountant."
This year, registration began Jan. 1 and continues until March 31. The first failing-to-register offense is punishable by a written notice. The second can lead to a fine of $50 and the third offense can result in a fine of $500.
No comments:
Post a Comment