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ADEM holds public hearing on Tyson Foods Blountsville permit as residents and river groups press for stricter limits
Summary
At an Alabama Department of Environmental Management public hearing on reissuing NPDES permit AL0001449, residents, scientists and river groups urged stronger nutrient and bacteria limits, asked ADEM to investigate alleged unpermitted expansions at the Tyson plant, and sought reclassification of Graves Creek for year‑round swimming.
Anna Wood, the designated hearing officer for the Alabama Department of Environmental Management, opened a public hearing on Feb. 17 for draft NPDES permit AL0001449 for Tyson Foods’ Blountsville poultry plant. "My name is Anna Wood, and I'm the designated hearing officer for these proceedings," she said, and explained the five‑minute oral testimony rule and how written comments will be included in the record.
Muhammad Mehmed, an ADEM environmental engineering specialist, summarized the draft permit and ADEM’s preliminary determination that compliance with the permit would not violate state water quality standards pending review of public comments. "The terms and conditions of the draft NPDES permit have been developed by ADEM in accordance with applicable state and federal regulations," he said.
Most speakers at the hearing urged ADEM to require stronger water‑quality based effluent limits and closer enforcement. Eva Dillard, staff attorney at Black Warrior Riverkeeper, asked ADEM to withdraw the public‑notice permit and "return to the August 2025 version as a starting point," saying the earlier draft contained more protective effluent limits. Several speakers asked that Graves Creek and portions of the Locust Fork be reclassified to reflect year‑round swimming and full‑body contact use so that the permit would include stricter limits on nutrients, bacteria and phosphorus.
The hearing record will remain open for written comments and ADEM said it will consider all testimony before making a final permit decision and posting a response to comments in its e‑file system. The department recorded the hearing and captured a transcript for its review.
