ROBESON COUNTY, NC (WBTW) – A new chicken processing plant in Robeson County that promised over 1,000 new jobs now has local environment groups claiming those jobs may not be worth the environmental risks.
What first looked like a glimpse of hope for the small town of Saint Pauls has turned into a heated debate about the environment.
To many, the sound of one thousand new jobs to help cut the county’s high unemployment rate is music to their ears.
Especially for life-long members of the community like Terry Collins who says the processing plant would bring new opportunity to the area.
“It would be great. We need the jobs. I’m all for the jobs,” said Collins.
Others like Christine Ellis with the Whinyah Rivers Foundation say it’s what happens in the long run that matters most.
“This plant, it has a huge consequence for future generations, quality of life and also for environmental and health impacts,” said Ellis.
That’s why she and a group of activists gathered Tuesday to make sure the new chicken processing plant will meet all environmental standards.
“Our goal is to raise awareness so that people understand that their quality of life could be severely impacted by this new processing facility,” said Ellis.
Ellis says the group’s main goal is to get Sanderson Farms to acknowledge their concerns and do a comprehensive assessment of the land and the environment before they build.
Mike Cockrell with Sanderson Farms says that’s what the company is doing now. He says they are currently doing soil tests in the area to be sure it is a safe, environmentally friendly project.
“We have a team of experts who come in and do these tests to be sure the project is safe. As with all of our plants, the one in Saint Pauls will be safe for the environment,” said Cockrell.
Some of the groups concerns include truck traffic, water safety, waste disposal, and for members of the community like Collins, the smell.
“It’s my right to breathe clean air, and that’s all I ask,” said Collins.
Cockrell says Sanderson Farms will continue to follow all safety protocol to protect the environment and says the company hopes to start building later this summer.
The group of environmental activists say they plan to continue to meet and watch the company closely to be sure the members of the community and the environment are protected.
