Hog plant dissidents have gathered 2,200 signatures on a petition demanding a full environmental impact assessment of a proposed pork processing facility in Lethbridge, Alta.
However attempts by local protesters may have run into a bureaucratic wall.
The petition submitted to the provincial environment department calls for an assessment of the plant to be built by the Taiwanese company Yuan Yi Agricultural and Livestock Enterprise Co. But Alan Pentney, an engineer with Alberta Environment, said the petition may not go far unless it offers new information to warrant more investigation.
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Meat and vegetable processing plants are generally excluded from an impact assessment because there is already a set of rules in place for reviewing such applications.
“This is an excluded activity and there would have to be quite a few extenuating circumstances to move it into the EIA (environmental impact assessment) area,” Pentney said.
If there is information to show the Lethbridge project differs from the standard meat packing plant, an assessment might be warranted.
“We haven’t seen that to date,” said Pentney. “We don’t have to get into cultural or socio-economic effects on a plant site.”
The petition wants an environmental impact assessment because of community concerns over possible increased water and air pollution, odors, emissions, increased animal diseases, increased vehicle traffic and health issues associated with the plant, as well as the implications of more hog barns springing up to supply the plant.
Telephone calls to Yuan Yi’s legal representatives in Lethbridge were returned.
A review could be ordered by the local director of the environment department. The director may also refer the application to the director of environmental assessment. At that level, the decision could be passed on to the minister of the environment.
The minister may get involved in exceptional circumstances but he won’t likely overrule a decision from lower levels, said Pentney.
The department is in the middle of the approval process for the plant’s building permits. This standard study involves evaluating water supply, emissions or other environmental problems. So far, it believes the plant meets the directions in the bylaws of the City of Lethbridge.
The department advertised the plant was being built and received 17 letters of concern from individuals.
“It would appear only a couple read the application and the remainder is a form letter,” said Pentney.
Part of the outcry is linked to concerns over the effects more hog barns will have on the area, which is a different issue, he said.
Petitioners like retired university professor Jim Penton say the entire issue is of concern and his group feels it has widespread community support.
Penton said the response has shown they are not a small group of malcontents opposed to progress. He said they have support from five political parties and people from all backgrounds in the community.
“They tried to say it’s mostly the retirees in the community who are opposed to the hog plant,” said Penton.
“There’s been some pretty nasty comments to the effect that it’s the ‘hardening of the arteries club.’ “
