| The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced today that Barefoot Farms, Inc., a large hog farm located in Four Oaks, Johnson County, North Carolina, is cooperating with an Emergency Administrative Order issued to it last week.
The order was issued by EPA, in accordance with Section 1431 of the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA), to address nitrate contamination of the private wells of two adjacent residences. The contamination may present an imminent and substantial threat to human health and the environment. Nitrate contamination in the ground water at the facility and vicinity will continue to threaten human health until the source of contamination is removed and the site is remediated or until a permanent alternative source of water is provided.
The order requires Barefoot Farms, Inc. to: provide alternate water to residences with contaminated wells immediately; conduct additional sampling of nearby wells to determine potential impacts from the facility (extent of plume, other contaminated wells) and provide a long term permanent remedy, as appropriate.
Barefoot Farms, Inc. is located on Highway 701 South in Four Oaks on approximately 10 acres. The swine facility has been operating since at least 1993 and was incorporated under the current owner in 1996. During this time, the facility has operated a waste lagoon and spray irrigation disposal system for the purpose of disposal of wastes generated by swine.
Drinking water with high concentrations of nitrates can cause serious illness and death in infants under six months of age from a condition known as "blue baby syndrome." For adults and children, too much nitrate reduces the capacity of blood to carry oxygen, turning skin blue, causing shortness of breath, and depriving the brain of oxygen, which impairs metabolism, thinking and other bodily functions. These symptoms can develop rapidly in infants. |
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