The Joplin Globe, Joplin, MO

Local News

January 4, 2008

<img src="http://www.joplinglobeonline.com/images/zope/new.gif" border=0> 1:19 p.m. Hearing postponed in Roaring River CAFO case

A hearing to challenge the construction permit that was issued to the Ozbun Farm CAFO near Roaring River State Park has been continued.

The week-long hearing was slated to begin Monday in Jefferson City.

Opponents of the poultry operation, members of the Roaring River Parks Alliance, filed a motion for a continuance on Dec. 26 with Missouri’s Administrative Hearing Commission. The opponents asked for more time because they recently have retained a lawyer and contacted two expert witnesses. They also have submitted a request to the Missouri Department of Natural Resources to obtain the Ozbun files. The DNR granted the permit to the Ozbuns.

The opponents said they needed more time to review the files, and work with their lawyer and the expert witnesses to prepare for the hearing.

The opponents have hired John Price, an environmental lawyer in Springfield, to represent them.

A motion objecting to the continuance was filed by Rodney and Michelle Ozbun, the owners of the confined-animal feeding operation that will house up to 65,600 chickens for the George’s processing plant, north of Cassville. The Ozbuns argued that the opponents had months to prepare their case and failed to do so.

The commission granted the continuance. The week-long hearing is now scheduled to begin on March 10 at Jefferson City.

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