Alabama shuts down poultry waste sludge operation north of Birmingham

Alabama’s environmental regulator has ordered an out-of-state company to stop spreading poultry processing waste as fertilizer at an old coal mine north of Birmingham.

The Alabama Department of Environmental Management issued a cease and desist order Wednesday night to Arkansas-based Denali Water Solutions, requiring the company to stop depositing poultry waste at the old Knob No. 1 mine site off Mt. Olive Road in northern Jefferson County.

Nearby residents complained of offensive odors coming from the site, and environmental groups were concerned about the waste reaching the Locust Fork of the Black Warrior River as reported previously by AL.com.

Spreading wastewater sludge as fertilizer is legal in Alabama, though it often generates complaints. But the department says in this case, Denali did not file the required paperwork before beginning its operations, and did not employ best practices in spreading the material at the site.

“These are very serious violations, and we certainly empathize with residents in the nearby communities,” ADEM Director Lance LeFleur said in a news release. “We ordered the company to cease its operations after our inspectors visited the site and our investigation determined the company was not operating in compliance with regulations.”

ADEM said inspectors visited the site twice last week and found multiple violations, including applying the sludge via spraying at the surface (as seen in video below). ADEM said the company’s operations plan was that the residuals be “spliced into the ground at a depth of 6-12 inches.”

ADEM said it found “no evidence that any of the poultry byproducts contaminated nearby streams.”

“This could have been avoided had the company submitted its plans to ADEM for review as required and took the necessary steps to control odors and lessen the chance of other potential environmental harms,” LeFleur said.

ADEM said the order means Denali must stop applying the byproduct material to land “until the company has approval from ADEM of a corrective plan that addresses the violations.”

Black Warrior Riverkeeper Nelson Brooke -- who said he received multiple complaints about the site and visited it last week -- said the cease and desist was good news for nearby residents, though not a permanent solution.

“That is an unexpected move by ADEM, but certainly a welcome one for all affected,” Brooke said Wednesday night. “Unfortunately, this is just an interim measure until Denali submits updated paperwork, so it is likely they could resume poultry wastewater sludge application there.”

ADEM said the order is a preliminary measure that does not include penalties, but that its investigation in the matter is ongoing.

Alabama enacted a new set of regulations last year on the use of materials like the solid waste from sewage treatment plants or industrial wastewater plants as fertilizer rather than sending it to a landfill, but nearby residents have often complained when neighbors apply these odorous materials on fields.

Denali distributes such wastes at numerous locations throughout Alabama, mostly in the northern part of the state. Before this cease and desist order, Denali had already been issued a warning letter and two notices of violations for its sludge operations in Marshall, Lawrence and Colbert Counties, according to ADEM records.

“ADEM is keenly aware that the improper application of some materials from agricultural and byproduct processing operations can have a significant adverse effect on the quality of life for those nearby who are subjected to the offensive odors,” LeFleur said. “It was with that in mind that ADEM adopted regulations to obtain regulatory authority over such applications, which previously was solely under the control of the EPA.”

If you purchase a product or register for an account through a link on our site, we may receive compensation. By using this site, you consent to our User Agreement and agree that your clicks, interactions, and personal information may be collected, recorded, and/or stored by us and social media and other third-party partners in accordance with our Privacy Policy.