Group challenges egg facility planned expansion in Codorus Township

(York) — A major egg producer’s plans for expansion in Codorus Township might be more challenging, should a proposed local health ordinance be passed.

Friends of York County Family Farms, which advocates the ordinance, was formed in mid-April by a group of residents concerned by the size of the proposed egg operation — with about 3 million laying hens with current and proposed operations combined — and the health and other effects that might impose on the community.

The ordinance — which proposes sweeping changes, including required filters for exhaust fans, fees to go into escrow accounts to fund facility inspection, spacing distances for operations and fines for violations — was discussed at Wednesday’s meeting of the Codorus Township Board of Supervisors.

The board decided to make some changes to the ordinance — primarily to make the readings more clear — then advertise it for public comment and then pass it before the deadline for Hillandale Farms, Inc., proposed site plan filing.

Despite repeated attempts, Hillandale officials could not be reached.

CAFO REQUIREMENTS>> The site is what is known as a concentrated animal feeding operation, or a CAFO.

The ordinance and state law define CAFOs by the density and size of the operation, determined by animal equivalent units. Those units equal “one thousand pounds live weight of livestock or poultry animals, regardless of the actual number of individuals comprising the unit.”

A Class I CAFO is one that has a capacity of 2,000 or more AEUs. The document defines CAFOs to Class IV, which is a capacity of between 301 to 999 AEUs.

The Pennsylvania State Code shares the same definition for AEU and defines a CAFO as a concentrated animal operation of more than 300 AEUs or any agricultural operation with more than 1,000 AEUs.

Any CAFO operating in Codorus Township would be required to get a Township Health permit, which would be valid for five years. To get the permit the operation must comply with the ordinance. The operation would also be subject to inspection by a designated health inspector.

CONCERNS >> The ordinance exists to combat airborne pathogens and ground and water contamination from centralized animal waste. There has also been attention on Hillandale’s past practices.

On June 9, the Humane Society of the United States released undercover footage of one of the barns at the company’s Gettysburg operation. The video showed:

• Mummified chicken remains pancaked to the bottom of the wire cages occupied by living hens

• Broken eggs on the floor of the barn that had collected flies

• Feather-bare wings and chickens displaying other unhealthy conditions

News media outlets followed up the release with their own investigations into the farm, including ABC News for its “Nightline” program, which aired the video.

COMPANY RESPONSE >> The company responded in a public letter the same day the footage was released. Highlights of its response include:

• The person shooting the video was responsible for cleaning the barns, addressing equipment issues and removing “mortality” on a daily basis. “It appears clear that he disregarded required operational procedures and then videotaped the barn and flock with the intent to misrepresent Hillandale Farms.”

• The company provided ABC with audits that report excellent results.

• A single incident shouldn’t be cause for customer concern.

CHALLENGES TO ORDINANCE >> William Cluck, the attorney retained by the group, said the ordinance is “unprecedented” in Pennsylvania.

Agricultural operations are largely protected from municipal rules and laws by the state ACRE law, or the Agriculture, Communities and the Rural Environment Act.

The only other similar ordinance on the books in the state is one in Northampton County’s Lehigh Township. But that law, Cluck said, has not been enforced or even challenged.

Related

Proposed poultry plan may bring more harm than good, neighbors say

Poultry farm, feed mill proposed in Codorus Township

Costco responds to undercover footage taken at Gettysburg-area farm

Hillandale: Activist secretly films Gettysburg-area poultry operation

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This article comes to us through a partnership between York Daily Record and WITF.