Citizens packed two public hearings in Danville last night (Monday) on two livestock management facilities being proposed near Fithian. Warren Goetsch, Deputy Director of the Illinois Department of Agriculture, said each would be capable of holding 8,400 swine and would have to meet certain requirements. ‘’The design capacity of the proposed facility requires compliance with a residential set-back distance of not less than 1,760 feet, and a populated area set-back distance of not less than 3,520 feet.’’
Lawrence Parks, President of Parks Companies, says his company understands the community has concerns and questions about the hog farms. And Parks says he wants to ensure everyone that his company will meet and exceed all of the requirements of the Livestock Management Facilities Act and be good neighbors and stewards of the environment.
Stan Johnson lives directly between the two sites and is concerned about air quality and how that might affect some area schools. ‘’The gas that’s created from this manure – you’ve got to remember it’s not manure because of the process it goes through. They’re sliding it through a loophole in the law. Any other industry this would be a highly regulated toxic gas,’’ says Johnson.
Parks says the new hog farms would be adding approximately $20-million dollars into the local community and would generate more than $40-thousand dollars in new tax revenues to Vermilion County. In addition, he says the pigs would consume more than 350,000 bushels of corn and 30,000 bushels of soybeans each year, helping support local grain farmers.
There are now 30 days for public comments. A final decision on the permit is expected by April.
