(Fulton County) — Fulton County residents have challenged state approvals for what would be the largest pig farm in the county.

Bivouac Sow Farm, 15197 Great Cove Road, Big Cove Tannery, would house 8,722 swine in three buildings.

People objecting to the farm claim it would be located in a flood-prone area and threaten a popular fishing spot on Big Cove Creek as well as private wells. More than 60 attended a public hearing on Oct. 22.

“All DEP permits have been issued to CFC Fulton Properties for this project,” said John Repetz, a spokesman for the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection. “Appeals have been filed by a third party. Because of the pending litigation, we are unable to provide further comment at this time.”

Hatfield Quality Meats has the same address as CFC Fulton Properties LLC — 2700 Clemens Drive, Hatfield. The Pennsylvania Department of State has another address for CFC Fulton — 433 Market St. in Williamsport, which is also the address of the law firm McNerney, Page, Vanderlin & Hall.

Those opposing the proposed confined animal operation worry about their businesses and their water quality, according to appeal documents.

“We have appealed to the Environmental Hearing Board,” said Marjorie Palmer Hudson, a spokeswoman for those making the appeals. “The residents and local business owners continue to stand up and speak out against this factory operation. As proposed, the project simply does not belong at this location. The land is severely sloped and the whole site would need to be completely cut-and-filled to try to make this facility fit where it doesn’t belong.”

Hudson’s property borders the proposed farm. She’s lived 36 years in the community.

She and other neighbors — Lorne Swope, David Lippert and Delores Steiner — appealed DEP’s permit to CFC Fulton for operating a confined animal feeding operation. The appeal was posted publicly on July 25.

Hudson, Steiner, Linda Harr, David H. Bivens and Richard Hopkins previously appealed the DEP-approved sewage planning module for the pig farm to the hearing board. They also have appealed the nutrient management plan approved by the Fulton County Conservation District.

Residents claim that the operation will produce about 11.4 million gallons of manure and 50 tons of dead swine for composting.

“The property contains and is surrounded by fragile water resources that other property owners depend on for their existence,” Hudson said. “Neither Pennsylvania DEP nor the township have met their obligations to protect the community, our land, our air and our water. We are taking all appropriate and available action to hold our government accountable.”

Hudson and others sued Ayr Township supervisors in October in county court for approving a land development plan for the hog farm.

Country View Family Farms, 1301 Fulling Mill Road, Suite 3000, Middletown, would be operating the facility, but is not a co-permittee — a violation of state law, according to Hudson’s appeal documents.

You can follow the Environmental Hearing Board appeal process at http://ehb.courtapps.com/public/commonsearch_ehb.php. The case numbers are 2014037 (nutrient management plan,) 2015015 (sewage planning) and 2015096 (CAFO permit).

Petitions to intervene in the appeal may be filed with the board located on the Second Floor, Rachel Carson State Office Building, 400 Market Street, P. O. Box 8457, Harrisburg, PA 17105-8457.

Jim Hoook can be reached at 717-262-4759.

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This article comes to us through a partnership between Public Opinion Online and WITF.