PONOKA Alta. – A Ponoka hog farmer has cleared the first hurdle in his bid to build a 5,000 head feeder pig operation.
However, efforts to stop the development will continue leaving Hylko and Hillie Feitsma pondering their next move. They currently have about 350 feeder hogs.
The proposed piggery on 1,450 acres near Ponoka in central Alberta, drew complaints from neighbors in January. They fear odor and contamination of their water supply once the farm is operating at full capacity.
The development had received prior approval from the municipality and from the local health authority.
Read Also
Calf hormone implants can give environmental, financial wins
Hormone implants can lead to bigger calves — reducing greenhouse gas intensity, land use intensity and giving the beef farmer more profit, Manitoba-based model suggests.
The first of four challenges to the farm included a two-day hearing in Ponoka April 20-21 before the provincially appointed public health advisory board.
The board upheld the David Thompson Health Regional Authority’s approval.
However, added conditions designed to protect the environment were attached to the approval. A written decision will be delivered within the next week.
In an interview from his farm, Feitsma said the additional conditions from the provincial board are reasonable. They include designing a manure lagoon approved by a professional engineer with a copy of the plan provided to the local health unit. Manure cannot be spread on grassland.
Among various environmental safeguards, the proposed lagoon will have a 45 centimetre clay liner and the liquid manure will be spread on Feitsma’s property no more than twice a year and worked in within 48 hours.
“There are elements within the public health department that feel that they should have a far greater role in this,” said Keith Wilson. He assisted Feitsma’s lawyer William Russell during the health board hearing.
But he said the authority lies with the local municipality and Alberta Agriculture.
Wilson said the public health issues are one of four attacks as a group of eight neighbors attempt to stonewall the piggery.
The first challenge was to the local public health authority saying the manure management plan wasn’t adequate and could endanger public health. To build a facility of this type a detailed waste disposal plan must be in place.
The second attack focuses on quashing the development permit. The permit went before the local development appeal board which upheld the original decision to allow the operation. A motion has been filed with the Alberta Court of Appeal.
Another challenge will be against Feitsma’s application for a water licence. The last test will be to request a full environmental impact assessment under the Alberta Environmental Protection Act.
“In my view, it’s not about health, it’s not about environment, it’s about people who do not want an intensive facility in their neighborhood,” said Wilson.
