Concerned Millsboro residents filled the Indian River Senior Center on Wednesday, Jan. 17 to air grievances and ask questions concerning the recent discovery of elevated levels of nitrates, among other contaminants, in private wells near Mountaire Farms’ Millsboro-area facility, where wastewater is sprayed on agricultural fields.
Facing the crowd of about 150 area residents, experts and attorneys joined Mountaire representatives in the two-hour meeting which turned emotional at times when some residents raised their voices while telling of health issues in family members that they believe could be related to the contamination.
State officials also attended the meeting, including State Sen. Gerald R. Hocker Jr. and State Rep. Rich Collins, as well as state Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control Secretary Shawn Garvin and state Department of Agriculture Secretary Michael Scuse.
An attorney representing Mountaire, Michael W. Teichman of the law firm Parkowski, Guerke & Swayze, told the crowd as the meeting began that although the panel would take questions, they would be limited in what they would be able to answer in light of threats of lawsuits against the company in recent weeks.
At the conclusion of the meeting, Mountaire executive vice president Michael Tirrell told the crowd that another meeting would be set up in the coming days for residents who are interested in having Mountaire drill deep wells – approximately 200 to 300 feet deep – to address concerns about contaminated water.
Tirrell urged anyone interested in the company’s offer to call (302) 934-3461 as soon as possible so they can be included in preliminary meetings with the company.
For more in-depth coverage of the Jan. 18 meeting and more developments in the developing story, see the Jan. 26 edition of the Coastal Point.
