1. IMPACT ON WATER March 14, 2018 Andrea G. Green
Artesian northern Sussex regional wastewater recharge facility (ansrwrf) & allen harim poultry processing
IMPACT ON WATER
March 14, 2018
Andrea G. Green

3. History of ansrwrf
2006 North Milton Development Group II granted conditional use permit by Sussex County Planning & Zoning for its acre lot on Route 30.
2006 Harry Isaacs, Jr. granted conditional use permit by Sussex County Planning & Zoning for several lots totaling approximately 1,740 acres.
Plans were for a regional sewage treatment plant and spray fields designed to serve a large multi-use residential and commercial development to be built at the crossroads of Routes 30 and 16 in Milton.
Real estate market collapsed and the project never got off the ground.

4. History of allen harim
Allen Family Foods was a Delaware poultry processing company that filed bankruptcy in 2011 and was purchased by a Korean company, becoming Allen Harim.
Allen Harim operates a poultry processing facility in Harbeson, Delaware, on Route 5, close to the intersection with Route 9.
Allen Harim has been, for several years, a serious problem for the residents of Harbeson who have complained about the plant and the foul odors.
Allen Harim has accumulated over 90 violations for discharge of severely polluted effluent into Beaverdam Creek as noted in a DNREC Notice of Violation in November 2016.

5. History, continued
Artesian, which acquired the ANSRWRF property for the proposed sewage treatment facility, is unable to find a user for its proposed facility. Without a user, and if they are unable to begin construction, their permit will expire.
Allen Harim, meanwhile, applies to the State of Delaware for low interest loans from the Clean Water State Revolving Fund
$8,044,000 to improve and expand the capacity of its wastewater treatment facility; and
$3,200,000 to construct a re-use system to enable the plant to recycle and reuse processing wastewater.

6. Artesian/allen harim
Allen Harim completes the first phase of its project at a cost of $6,563,360
Allen Harim abandons its green project
Allen Harim and Artesian propose instead to build an 8 mile pipeline from Allen Harim in Harbeson up Route 5 to Route 9, then up Route 9 to Route 30 to the 74.6 acre Artesian property outside Milton
Artesian will construct a 90 million gallon lagoon for storage of the poultry wastewater
When weather and ground conditions permit, Artesian will spray the wastewater on the 1,740 acres (although primarily spraying on the lot at the intersection of Routes 16 & 30)

9. Current status
DNREC granted Artesian’s application to proceed with its plans
That permit approval is currently on appeal with the Environmental Appeals Board (Hearing May 22, 2018 in Dover)
Pipeline is nearly complete
Artesian has now submitted an Amended Site Plan
Includes a second 60+ million gallon lagoon plus smaller lagoons and drying beds as well as full sewage treatment facility

10. Current status Concerns remain: Impact on local wells
Pre-existing contamination
Inability of the ground to accept additional nitrates without negative consequences
Other local facilities impacting the area
Recent listing of 136 acres on Route 16 for high density development
Permit application for hauling sludge and wastewater from the former Pinnacle property in Millsboro (where Allen Harim plans to begin deboning operation)
Problem with water is county-wide

11. recommendations Knowledge is Power Learn about your water source
Learn and re-check the levels of chemicals in your water
Talk to neighbors
Talk to friends
Keep abreast of developments in your area that might impact water safety
Learn about the Clean Water Act
Express concerns about fact that there is no requirement under Delaware law that sales of real estate include provision requiring potable water
Voice opinion to local legislators