What is the environmental impact of a slaughterhouse?

The most vital concerns are the precious natural resources within Tyler County that will be impacted. Turkey Creek begins approximately 5 miles north of Woodville and passes less than 700 yards from the proposed slaughterhouse property. It then feeds into Village Creek which flows through the Big Thicket National Park. 

The dense thicket bordering Village Creek holds a remarkably wide variety of plant life, much of which is rare or endangered and dependent on over-bank flows from Turkey Creek. An additional concern in Tyler County is the risk for major flooding due to hurricanes. This is a recipe for disaster! How can we possibly risk the pollution of such a beautiful and enduring waterway and the ecosystem it supports? We must do everything within our power to make sure this can NEVER happen. 

Our research shows:

• The permit for this plant will not even have a public hearing by the TCEQ.
• A study by a Texas environmental group and a California think tank reports that Texas industrial facilities rank first nationally in illegal water pollution.

• Multiple reports state that the meat industry is to blame for the largest ever “dead zone” in the Gulf of Mexico.

• Improperly treated or illegally dumped wastewater contributes to nitrate pollution, a major source of water contamination in agricultural communities, a danger to both the environment and the health of the citizens. Nitrogen in waterways can also kill aquatic life, and make it much more difficult for fish, insects and other creatures dependent on the water to survive.

• Groundwater pollution – A city water well, supplying drinking water to the city is located on the property. Slaughterhouses are cleaned using strong chemicals that contribute to pollution.

• Industrial agriculture large-scale feedlots and CAFOs that eventually follow in areas surrounding these facilities will further burden our waterways that are already at risk from a steady flow of treated, approved affluents. How much longer can our waterways sustain this level of “approved pollution”? Lakes Steinhagen and Sam Rayburn currently have fish consumption advisories posted on TDPW website due to mercury and dioxins in the water.

• Water table depletion: meat processing consumes 29% of the total freshwater used by entire Agricultural sector worldwide.