Waste lagoons hog political spotlight

In a recent campaign ad, Lt. Gov. Dennis Wicker stands against the backdrop of a sludge-filled hog-waste lagoon and declares, "It smells bad."

Upon seeing the commercial, Perry Smith, owner of Smith Farms, is quick to clarify: "If the lagoon smells, then something's wrong," he said. "If the lagoons are properly managed, the smell won't be coming from them, it will be coming from the sheds."

North Carolina's Democratic gubernatorial primary is knee-deep in the muck of a controversy over the environmental soundness of hog lagoons. Wicker and his opponent Attorney General Mike Easley have launched campaigns to eliminate the more than 4,000 hog waste lagoons that scatter the state. After Hurricane Floyd wiped out 26 hog farms and emptied millions of tons of sewage into rivers, the issue captured national attention.

"The publicity we've gotten makes everyone think we're sitting in the middle of a sewer. You'd think we were wading around in the stuff," said Don Ledford, an agricultural statistician at the N.C. Department of Agriculture. "In reality, you can barely smell it as you drive through town."

The negative press has involved more than just farmers and politicians. Concerns about hog lagoons have seeped into the state's tourism industry. Officials worry that all of the media focus on hog lagoons may be detrimental to the state's second largest source of revenue, which brings in more than $10 billion a year.

"Our industry is dependent on voluntary decisions [usually] based on clean air, clean water and scenic beauty," said Gerry Hancock, general counsel for the North Carolina travel and tourism coalition. "It's the widespread view in the industry that persistent stench will not attract tourists."

As they operate now, waste lagoons and sprayfield systems are the primary means of hog waste treatment, said Jim Barker, extension specialist and professor of biology and agricultural engineering at North Carolina State University. The lagoons hold nearly two tons of waste per hog-leaving 18.8 million tons of waste to be disposed of each year. The sprayfield system allows for some of that waste to be used as fertilizer on surrounding fields, Barker said.

Both farmers and politicians recognize that the current waste management system has its flaws. Gov. Jim Hunt has recently strengthened his opposition to lagoons, and both Democratic candidates appear eager to continue his legacy. However, the severity of the situation appears to be a matter of opinion. The three Republican candidates have barely addressed the issue.

If the lagoons leak, they severely threaten surface water, ground water and air quality, said Ernie Seneca, a spokesperson for the N.C. Division of Water Quality.

Despite the problems, scientists' general consensus is that there are no viable alternatives to the hog lagoon system.

"The dilemma is there are very few, if any, alternatives to completely replace the system," said Barker. "There is a lot of effort going into trying to find an environmentally friendly, affordable alternative. But right now, I don't see a replacement for lagoons."

Barker said farmers are expected to follow strict environmental guidelines, and most do a conscientious job of figuring out how many nutrients a crop can utilize, which minimizes problems with sprayfield run-off.

"The public is ignorant of the stringent regulations we have to follow," said Smith, whose 6,000-hog farm is located in Turkey, N.C. "Farmers are very concerned about making sure they're in compliance with the regulations. No one wants to jeopardize their livelihood."

North Carolina is not the only state facing the lagoon controversy. Iowa, the nation's largest hog producer, primarily uses lagoons and has addressed similar issues in trying to minimize its environmental impact, said Ken Choquette, chief of Iowa's Environmental Health Department.

Mike Williams, director of the Animal and Poultry Waste Management Center at NCSU, said more than two dozen alternate technologies are currently undergoing testing.

One with promise involves the aeration of waste in the presence of naturally occurring bacteria that break down odor and reduce ammonia volatility. The problem, however, is that its cost is reportedly three times that of the current system, Williams said.

"The data we have supports several technologies that address our current concerns," he said. "But they're not doing it in as cost-effective a way."

As the search for a better technology continues, support for finding a viable option grows on all sides. "If there was a better alternative, I would be all for it," Smith said. But the absence of such an alternative concerns farmers when they hear the candidates' proposals.

"They're doing it for political expediency, especially Wicker," said Butler. "His outfit has done polling and seen that there are votes to be gained by the position he's taking. He doesn't understand the complexities of the industry. If he does understand, he hides it well."

Wicker defends his stance as well-researched and comprehensive. "I don't plan to just shut down hog lagoons the day I am in office," he said. "We first must set standards, then we will review the many different kinds of alternatives that are being used now.... Once we know the alternatives available that meet with standards, we can determine which is best and least expensive."

Both candidates propose eliminating the lagoons within five years, although they both say they believe the phase-out can happen sooner.

"I would like to see some type of technology mediation board that can look at the various conversion systems available and make a determination of which ones work and set a realistic timetable to make sure that we convert quickly but do it right," Easley said.

Butler says he is a little less skeptical of Easley's plan than he is of Wicker's. "Easley's statements over the past few weeks seem a little different. It's as though he's taken the time to investigate," he said. "He understands that what we've got now isn't fatally flawed if managed properly."

The bottom line for many concerned is that hog lagoons are not the only cause of pollution in the state.

"We are not against the hog industry, we just don't want any one industry to infringe upon and make another industry impossible," said Hancock. "We believe everyone should bear the burden of environmental responsibility equally."