Source: NCDENR, 9/11/15

State officials will host a public hearing Sept. 17 in St. Pauls to gather comments on an environmental permit Sanderson Farms will need to operate a chicken processing plant the company is proposing to open in Robeson County.

The 7 p.m. hearing will be held to gather comments on the proposed issuance of a non-discharge, land application permit for the proposed facility. The hearing will be hosted by the N.C. Division of Water Resources and held in the R.E. Hooks Center, 176 North 3rd St., Saint Pauls. Registration for speakers starts at 6:30 p.m. A written copy of oral comments exceeding three minutes is requested.

Those who wish to present written comments may do so at the meeting, or may send them to Nathaniel Thornburg, N.C. Division of Water Resources, Non-Discharge Permitting Unit, 1617 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, North Carolina 27699-1617. Comments will be accepted until Oct. 2.

Sanderson Farms has proposed operating a facility at 2026 N.C. Highway 20 in St. Pauls, about two miles northwest of Interstate 95.

Staff members with N.C. Division of Water Resources are requesting that people make comments related to water quality and water resource impacts resulting from the proposed facility. Comments, statements, data and other information may be submitted in writing, or presented orally at the meeting.

People should indicate their intention to speak during registration before the public hearing starts. Lengthy statements may be limited at the discretion of the hearing officer. Cross-examination of people presenting testimony will not be allowed. However, the hearing officer may ask questions for clarification.

The draft wastewater irrigation permit and a fact sheet are available online at: http://portal.ncdenr.org/web/wq/aps/lau. The application and other information are on file at the division’s Raleigh headquarters at 512 North Salisbury St., and at the division’s Fayetteville Regional Office at 225 Green St., Suite 714. All documents may be inspected at those offices during normal office hours. Copies of the information on file are available upon request and payment of the costs of reproduction is required. All comments and requests regarding this matter should make reference to application number WQ0037772.

Other environmental permits may be necessary before Sanderson Farms can begin operations in Robeson County.