Wastewater

Town in Habersham County, Field Farms Clean Up Toxic Discharges
Chronic permit violations at the city of Cornelia’s sewage plant had rendered a Chattahoochee tributary toxic for aquatic life by the mid-1990s, when UCR filed a 60-day notice of intent to sue, and ultimately a complaint, against the municipality. We also administratively challenged a consent order issued by EPD, at least the ninth such order over as many years, and took action against Fieldale Farms.

Significant amounts of ammonia were being discharged into Habersham County’s Mud Creek from Cornelia’s treatment plant, largely due to problems with the influent which included “pre-treated” flow from Fieldale Farms’ chicken processing operation. In 1997, UCR won this case and the judge required Cornelia to upgrade its facilities, which were completed in 1999 at a cost of $4 million. Fieldale Farms was also required to improve its pre-treatment process. Subsequent water quality studies showed downstream improvements.

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