
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SUNDAY, June 25, 1995                   TAG: 9506260122
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL                    PAGE: A-7   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE: RICHLANDS, N.C.                                LENGTH: Short

HOG-WASTE SPILL FOULS NEW RIVER

A 25 million-gallon plume of hog waste began dissipating in the New River on Saturday, three days after a dike collapsed and sent the sewage gushing into streams and over fields.

About 1,500 fish have been reported killed since the dike surrounding the 8-acre lagoon at Oceanview Farms collapsed Wednesday, pouring the waste into the river's tributaries.

The 12-foot-deep lagoon held waste from 10,000 hogs.

The plume of wastewater made its way at least 8 miles down the New River from the Onslow County hog farm. Black, foul-smelling water stood in pools Saturday near houses surrounding the farm, several miles from Richlands in the southeast part of the state. The area had a dank, swamplike odor.

Bill Johnson, vice president of Coastal Ag-Development Inc., which manages Oceanview Farms Ltd. Partnership, said the company had not violated any regulations at the farm.

State officials will order the company to clean up all remaining solids from the spill, said Don Reuter, a spokesman for the state Department of Environment, Health and Natural Resources.

- Associated Press

by CNB