WASHBURN, Mo. —
Authorities are investigating the dumping of several hundred dead chickens into Flat Creek northeast of Washburn.
Mick Epperly, sheriff of Barry County, said Thursday that the county and the Missouri Department of Natural Resources are investigating the incident, which was discovered Saturday by a passer-by.
Also looking into the case is the Missouri Department of Agriculture.
The chickens, numbering 600 to 700, were removed Saturday from the creek by a cleanup crew from the George’s Inc. poultry processing plant north of Cassville. The crew carried the birds by hand from the creek because the site was too steep for the use of a backhoe.
Larry Archer, spokesman for the DNR, said it is unclear whether the chickens were being produced under contract for George’s or some other poultry business.
“We are expecting some input from the processor (George’s) to direct our investigation,” he said.
That information could identify a contract grower who is short 600 to 700 chickens when delivery is expected.
Archer said the dumping of the chickens caused no long-term environmental damage to the area and was reported to the DNR via the agency’s emergency spill hot line.
“This violates the Clean Water Act,” Archer said. “The person responsible for this could face stiff penalties if we can identify them. They have something to account for. This is very much an ongoing investigation.”
The chickens were dumped near a bridge on Farm Road No. 1085, south of Farm Road No. 2212, Epperly said.
“There were hundreds of them,” Archer said. “Dumping into a creek bed is definitely a no-no.”
Epperly said Dave Compton, emergency management coordinator for Barry County, was notified. Compton contacted the cleanup crew at George’s.
“They were out that weekend,” Epperly said. “It was a matter of hours before they got it all cleaned up. They started the cleanup as soon as the phone calls were made.”
Epperly said George’s is working to determine if the chickens came from one of its contract growers in the area.
Glen Balch, spokesman for George’s Inc., in Springdale, Ark., did not respond to a Globe telephone inquiry Thursday.
“It’s a matter of determining which grower will come up short on their count,” Epperly said.
Disposal
Dave Compton, emergency management coordinator for Barry County, said the chickens were removed from the creek and taken to a composting area for appropriate disposal.
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