The Rationale
On or about May 15, 2019 neighbors on Porter Mill Road
became aware of plans to construct a chicken and other waste storage tank on
the property at the corner of Porter Mill and Riggin roads. At this point other
people were contacted and the group decided to meet to find out more about the
construction and how it would impact the community.
The Petition
At the first meeting it was decided that a petition would be
circulated to engage the community beyond the initial members. There was an urgency
due to the fact that the person responsible for the tank had applied for a
building permit and that the permit was near approval. On May 19 the petition
was circulated to residents on Porter Mill Road, Riggin Road, Deerfield Road, Jarret
Drive, Braggs Lane, Bevin Lane, Barbara Ann Lane and Main Street. The petition's text follows.
The construction of a 3-million-gallon
open storage tank for the use of poultry and Valley Protein, Inc by-products
will greatly impact the quality of life in our neighborhood. The proposed storage
tank will be constructed on property at the corner of Riggin Rd. and Porter
Mill Rd. We are very concerned about the following: traffic and safety, health
and environmental, property values.
We, the undersigned, petition the
Wicomico County Council to reviews the situation prior to approving the permit
to build the tank. We ask that you consider the issues which have already been
communicated to you be email as well as determining whether this is strictly an
agricultural venture or is actually industrial operating as a storage and distribution
hub.
The Response
Eighty-one residents signed the petition. As the petition was circulated, the responsible group found
that residents had similar concerns about the slurry/sludge already being
applied to the fields near their homes and had notified the council, and the
Maryland Department of Agriculture.
