ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Saturday, August 31, 1996 TAG: 9609030051
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-4 EDITION: METRO
DATELINE: ISLE OF WIGHT
SOURCE: Associated Press
The state filed a lawsuit Friday against Smithfield Foods Inc., alleging that the company dumped waste from its swine processing operations into the Pagan River.
The suit, filed in Isle of Wight County Circuit Court, alleges that Smithfield Foods periodically has violated permit limitations for fecal coliform bacteria, suspended solids, oil and grease.
The state is seeking $25,000 for each alleged violation, which will total in the ``three-quarters of a million to $2 million range,'' said Michael McKenna, director of policy and planning for the Department of Environmental Quality.
``This action will send a clear message that Virginia continues to enforce environmental laws aggressively,'' said Thomas L. Hopkins, director of the DEQ.
Smithfield Foods said in a statement that the alleged violations are all prior to 1995.
``When these matters arose and came to the attention of Smithfield Foods' officials, steps were taken promptly to put an end to the violations,'' the statement said.
Hopkins said the suit underlines the state's commitment ``to our aggressive enforcement of the consent order requiring Smithfield to hook up to Hampton Roads Sanitation District, which will be accelerated by this action.''
The State Water Control Board estimates that the connection will occur in the spring of 1997.
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