DENR Solicits Buyout Applications from Hog Growers in the 100-year Floodplain

Contact: David Williams, 919/715-6103
Date: January 7, 2000
DENR Solicits Buyout Applications from Hog Growers in the 100-year Floodplain

RALEIGH - Owners of hog operations flooded following Hurricanes Dennis, Floyd, and Irene may have a new alternative to resuming production in flood prone areas - sell their swine production rights.

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) today announced it has begun accepting offers from pork producers with operations in the 100-year floodplain who are interested in selling their permit to operate a feedlot. The solicitation is part of DENR's Program to Acquire Conservation Easements on Swine Operations Within the 100-Year Floodplain, a program funded through a $5.7 million grant from the Clean Water Management Trust Fund.

Through the program DENR hopes to acquire conservation easements on up to 15 operations located in the 100-year floodplain. Eligible producers will be invited to submit a bid on the dollar amount they will agree to accept in exchange for allowing a conservation easement on the portion of their property that is within the 100-year floodplain. Selected participants will retain the ability to engage in low-intensity agriculture, such as grazing beef cattle on the site, but the conservation easement will prohibit operation of a confined feedlot within the easement area. Participants also must agree to implement a soil and water conservation plan covering the easement area and to establish a forested riparian buffer adjacent to all streams within the easement area. Cost share funds will be available for establishing streamside buffers and necessary conservation practices. DENR will contract for closing all waste lagoons on the site.

"Governor Hunt supports removing animal waste lagoons from the 100-year floodplain," DENR Secretary Bill Holman said. "This initiative will help achieve that goal and protect water quality from future floods through a voluntary incentive-based approach."

The bids received by DENR will be ranked, and DENR will select bids providing the greatest overall water quality protection value. The ranking will consider the offered price for accepting the easement relative to the size of the operation, the susceptibility of the facility to flooding, the structural condition of the lagoons, damage to structures from recent storms, and downstream water uses. DENR will also confirm that all participating sites are within the 100-year floodplain.

All swine operations believed to be in the 100-year floodplain and those known to have been flooded following the recent hurricanes will be mailed information about the program and an application form. Interested producers who do not receive an application packet can request one by calling (919) 733-2302. Applications must be postmarked by February 18, 2000 to be considered.

DENR, in conjunction with the Pork Council, has scheduled a series of informational meetings to help answer questions from interested farmers. The meetings are January 14 in New Bern, January 19 in Tarboro, and January 20 in Kenansville. To register for the informational meetings, contact the Pork Council at (919) 781-0361.

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