Allen Harim is settling its wastewater violations with the state.
DNREC announced Wednesday it entered into a conciliation order by consentwith the poultry producer.
Allen Harim will be fined $300,000 as well as $7,888 for DNREC’s investigation into violations dating back to 2016. Allen Harim may use up to $150,000 of the penalty to start an Environmental Improvement Project within the Broadkill River Watershed.
Allen Harim is also ordered to cease all spray irrigation activities at its Dagsboro hatchery and connect the hatchery to the Sussex County sewer system.
Annual reports showed that facility to have excessive nitrogen levels in its wastewater violating a spray irrigation permit with the state. The nitrogen was found to have affected area groundwater.
Allen Harim’s Harbeson processing facility also had numerous violations in 2016 for high levels of ammonia, phosphorus, total suspended solids and bacteria in its treated wastewater. DNREC says upgrades are already in place for that facility to continue operating in compliance with its permit.
Allen Harim is currently applying for permits to truck wastewater from its new Millsboro deboning facility to the Harbeson site.
