Union County Ohio Voters Should Blame Stivers for the Chicken Farm

If you live in Union County Ohio, let me remind you of something I wrote about Republican candidate Steve Stivers and the chicken farm you are now opposing: (I've highlighted a few points.)

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May 20, 2008
The good people at Buckeye State Blog have some interesting information about Republican candidate for Congress, Steve Stivers, and his support for factory farms. Stivers, a former bank lobbyist, is running for Ohio's 15th congressional district. Here are some excerpts from the Buckeye State Blog:

...In 2003, Steve Stivers was a co-sponsor of House Bill 152, which limited localities right to challenge factory farms in their townships by placing all permitting authority with the state. The bill also further reduced the EPA's power to regulate factory farms, stating that the EPA had to be able to prove the CAFO (called Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations or CAFOs in bureaucratic parlance) is polluting ground water before it can regulate it. This bill was passed and eventually signed into law by Gov. Taft.

CAFOs are of particular interest to Columbus because two are planned in Madison and Union counties, which would place the city downwind of the pollution they generate. Orleton Farms wants to build a factory farm housing 5,428 cattle in the watershed of Little Darby Creek in Madison County. Since factory farms can produce up to 500 million tons of animal waste each year, there is a high risk that this farm could contaminate the ecologically sensitive Little Darby Creek.

Similarly, Hi-Q Egg Farms wants to build a factory farm with 4 million chickens on 473 acres in Union County....

According to the Buckeye State Blog, Stivers says he is against both projects. Keep in mind, he co-sponsored the bill that took away the rights of communities to fight these factory farms.

By the way, part of Union County is in the 15th district. I wonder if the resulting flies and smells could reach the lovely golf courses in Dublin? Just asking.

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Now Channel 4 is reporting this:

Hi-Q Egg Products wants to build the farm on 473 acres of land off of Davis road. The company could potentially bring 6 million chickens into the area. Hi-Q says it will bring 75 new jobs to the area, provide revenue by buying corn from local farmers, and the chicken waste will be sold as a cheaper option for fertilizer. But residents are concerned about the environment, and aren't reassured by the company's promise of high sanitation measures.....

Wait until these neighbors off Davis Road see the resulting flies! Enjoy your last summer picnics without thousands of flies attacking you and your children.

Did you notice the original article I quoted said there would be 4 million chickens? Now it is up to 6 million chickens! If you are having difficulty stopping this farm with 6 million chickens, blame Republican candidate for Congress, Steve Stivers. He co-sponsored the bill that took away your rights.