VIII. ENVIRONMENTAL ASPECTS

The environment influences all human activities, which in turn have an effect on the environment; the greater the concentration of humans the greater the impact on the environment. One of the underlying themes of several presentations to the Commission was the fact that the environmental effects of small-scale hog production and processing are controllable, whereas large-scale operations produce large quantities of waste at a few locations and environmental impacts are difficult to avoid.

Hog Production

The major environmental concerns with respect to hog barns are related to their unpleasant and unhealthy aerial emissions, the production and disposal of large quantities of waste, and their large water consumption.

Emissions: The odours associated with hog barns are well known and well documented. Perception of odours depends on concentration, wind direction and speed, distance from the source, and the acuteness of an individual’s sense of smell. These odours are associated with airborne particulates (hog dust) which include endotoxins. Recent research has established that physical and mental health problems are directly related to these emissions and industry and regulators need to develop and install corrective measures (Section IV; Transcript. Hessel).

Waste and Waste Disposal: The large quantities of waste produced by large-scale hog barns are difficult to dispose of without damage to the environment. Commonly, the waste is stored in lagoons and then spread on crop land. Contamination from lagoons can occur through loss of nitrogen from the surface to the atmosphere (deposited downwind in rain); through loss of nutrients from the bottom and sides to the soil and water table; by exit from a breach of the lagoon caused by heavy rains or floods; and by the residues and contaminated soil when the lagoon is decommissioned (Transcript. Hargrove). Some spectacular, weather-related lagoon failures and severe ground-and surface-water contamination in North Carolina (Mallin 2000), and recent studies in Missouri and Virginia (Transcript. Dye.), suggest that current guidelines for lagoon construction and decommissioning do not adequately address differences in drainage, soil type, sub-surface geology, water table levels, and susceptibility to floods and other hazards.

Nutrients from manure from lagoons can be recycled only up to the agronomic requirements of the crop; beyond that they pollute surface and ground waters. When manure is dug in, pathogens may survive in the soil, particularly in cold climates. When manure is sprayed, some pathogens survive in the atmosphere and may be carried several kilometres down wind (Transcript. Pip.). Excess applications can contaminate streams by surface runoff, or ground water by percolation, especially if the water table is close to the surface.

Studies of waste disposal problems at the Prairie Science Centre in Saskatoon include the evaluation of earthen manure storage structures, and the impact on surface water quality of the spreading of slurry on cropland (Transcript. Patience).

Currently, Manitoba controls animal production through the “Livestock Manure and Mortalities Regulation” under The Environment Act (Manitoba Gazette 1998). These regulations are progressive, but they do not address phosphates or airborne pollution. They should be examined for coherence, completeness, and to reflect recent information on the effects of soil types, water table, susceptibility to natural disasters, and the problems of decommissioning lagoons.

Odour complaints are handled by the Farm Practices Protection Board, which does not cover potential airborne health risks (Transcript. Brown). At issue during the hearing was whether these regulations should be regarded as “guidelines” or “rules,” an indication, perhaps, of the need for clarity and certainty in their operation.

Water Consumption: Large-scale hog barns that use well water can lower water tables, affecting wells, ponds, and the vegetation in low-lying areas in the vicinity. More hog barns means increased water demand. An understanding of local water availability is imperative before each new barn is established. Water availability is one of many parameters, including aquifer protection and soil characteristics, which should be examined in municipal and regional planning.

Hog Processing

Many of the presentations and other documents were from the U.S., where such plants have been established over the past 20 years. What has happened there could happen here. The principal environmental impacts were: use of large quantities of water; production and disposal of liquid and solid wastes; and emission of odours.

Water Demand: Hog processing plants are exceedingly water greedy, using from 700- 1025 L per hog to process. For example, the proposed Yonyee plant at Lethbridge, processing 8000 hogs a day, may use about 8 million litres of water per day (Transcript. Bradley). The MLM plant in Brandon gets its water from the Brandon Water Treatment Plant which takes water from the Assiniboine River. The MLM facility will require about 4.5 million litres per day per shift (Collinge 1998). Initially there will be one shift but a second shift is planned for 2003/2004. The increased demand for water for the plant and for the projected population increases in Brandon will require increased treatment capacity sometime between 2002 and 2007 (City of Brandon 1999). This will reduce the volume available downstream, for domestic use, agriculture, industry, and in-stream requirements for the preservation of a healthy river - the stated aim of the Assiniboine River Management Advisory Board (Dickson 1998).

Odour: As with hog barns, odour is a problem, particularly for people living downwind of the processing plants. The MLM plant is located in the eastern part of Brandon, east of the main built up area. Fortunately for Brandon’s citizens the prevailing wind at Brandon is from the west. However, during the spring (April-May) east and northeast winds occur on average 29 percent of the time (McGinn 1988).

Liquid Waste: The disposal of the large quantities of liquid waste produced by processing plants involves several steps. The liquid is processed in lagoons and then released to a nearby water body. Contamination will occur if the lagoons leak into the ground water or if the discharge water is not sufficiently clean. The MLM plant is at the western edge of the Assiniboine Delta and is underlain by porous sands and gravels. The possible contamination of ground water at the site was examined during the provincial approval process. To ensure that any leakage from the operation of the wastewater treatment facility would be detected, a ground water monitoring program was mandated (Transcript. Strachan). MLM operate a pre-treatment plant at its facility, but the wastewater treatment plant was designed and constructed by the City of Brandon. It discharges directly through a UV disinfection unit into the Assiniboine River (Lawrence and Bernhardt 1998). Considerable discussion revolved around the issue of potential pollution of the river. A model was used to predict the results of adding discharge from the MLM facility to existing discharges from the City of Brandon, Simplot, Manitoba Hydro, and Ayerst. The model’s predictions in terms of major pollutants were that the fecal coliform count, the levels of ammonia (with some concern in the mixing zone), suspended solids, and chlorides would be within Manitoba Surface Water Quality Objectives (MSWQO). The level of dissolved oxygen would be exceeded in February and March, but the objective for overall maximum dissolved oxygen would not be exceeded. An increase in the level of plant nutrients (nitrogen and phosphorous) was projected, which could exacerbate existing algae bloom problems (Transcript. Strachan). Questions about this approach and the results obtained are:

• Did sufficient data exist to run the model, given that there was insufficient available data to justify a CEC hearing?

• No common standard for ammonia exists, so what requirement is not being exceeded?

• If the dissolved oxygen requirement is exceeded part of the time, it will have an adverse effect even though the over-all maximum is not exceeded. This is recognized by the clause in the MLM license requiring production to cease if dissolved oxygen levels are exceeded at times of low flow (Transcript. Williamson).

• If algae blooms are generated, the assimilative capacity of the river has already been exceeded.

• A license was issued for the first shift at MLM with no phosphorous control, but the issue will be “revisited” before a second shift is implemented. This issue caused much discussion because high phosphorous levels encourage the growth of blue-green algae which have an adverse effect on fish and restrict uses of Assiniboine water. Prairie rivers have a high natural phosphorous content which makes it difficult to determine what is natural and what is added by human activities. As the MSWQO for phosphorous is exceeded almost 100% of the time as the Assiniboine enters Manitoba, what justification is there for adding more? However, despite the current abundance of phosphorous “we are not seeing the normal sort of algal growth that we would predict if we were in a clear flowing stream, or a lake situation” (Transcript. Williamson). Phosphorous is not covered in the MLM license because “we are not convinced that if we remove phosphorous from the effluent that it would have any effect on the Assiniboine River” (Transcript. Williamson). The commissioners found this discussion confusing and narrow in scope.

Solid waste will be dumped in the Brandon landfill which is on permeable sand and gravels. The site has a geotexile liner to guard against ground water contamination. The site is adequate at present, and should have sufficient capacity to handle the solid waste needs of the community at least until 2007 (City of Brandon 1999). In Manitoba, landfills are regulated under The Environment Act.

Downstream Concerns: Increased use and possible increased pollution of the Assiniboine River are the main environmental issues associated with the MLM plant in Brandon. The basin has to be considered as a whole—anything that happens in Brandon can affect all downstream users and potential users of the river (Agriculture Canada 1988). These include the McCain potato processing plant at Portage la Prairie, the MLM plant in Brandon, the water supply to Portage La Prairie and the Dakota Tipi First Nation, irrigation of crops, principally in the Portage area, and the nutrient level in Lake Winnipeg. Any deterioration of water quality will require increased treatment of the Portage water supply. Also, evidence exists that crops irrigated by water containing blue green algae have a reduced level of photosynthesis. A plan to divert water from the Assiniboine to the Rat River will be hindered if water quality deteriorates. This plan calls for water to be stored in lagoons, and, although algae growth has not been a problem in the river, it might become so in stagnant water (Transcript. Tait).

People of the Long Plain First Nation and the Dakota Plains First Nation have a long-standing interest in and dependence on the Assiniboine River—for transport, water supply, fishing and recreation (Transcript. Scribe). Even now, swimming in the river is not advised and the water cannot be drunk. The Dakota Tipi First Nation receives piped water from Portage La Prairie and the Long Plain First Nation gets water from wells close to the river. These wells are vulnerable to flooding and contamination by the Assiniboine. These First Nations insist that the MLM plant not further restrict their use of the river and hope for protection by the federal government, which has a fiduciary responsibility for them.

It is worth noting that if legal action is taken by downstream users of the Assiniboine as a result of pollution by MLM, the action would be against the City of Brandon which owns and operates the treatment plant.

Recommendations

The Government of Manitoba, which has the major responsibility in these areas, should:

• Review recent research on the effects of hog barn emissions on human health, both physical and mental, and change legislation and regulations to reflect these results.

• Require a description of existing ground water quality and quantity at the location of proposed new hog barns and a prediction of their impacts on these waters before any proposal is accepted.

• Institute a policy of systematic and continuous testing of ground water levels and quality in areas surrounding existing and new major hog producing operations.

• Institute a policy of systematic and continuous testing of surface water quality in those parts of the province in which major hog producing operations exist.

• Commission a detailed study of the phosphorous content of the Assiniboine River to obtain a definitive statement about the connection between “background” phosphorous content, additions by the MLM plant in Brandon, and the growth of algae. This study should be completed before a second shift is started at this plant.