Allen Harim’s Harbeson plant faces nearly $250,000 in penalties for wastewater violations.
The Secretary’s Order from The Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control calls for a $242,000 penalty and another $7,888 in estimated costs.
The violation covers discharges from the wastewater treatment plant into Beaver Dam Creek and into the Broadkill River.
The discharges took place between March 2012 and November 2016.
Allen Harim has issued a Notice of Violation in November 2016, followed by the Secretary’s Order this year.
Allen Harim issued the following statement:
“Allen Harim has invested more than $8 million on upgrades to our wastewater treatment plant in Harbeson and since that project was completed in late 2016 we have achieved 100 percent compliance with all discharge parameters listed in our NPDES permit. “
The statement continued, “In addition to that perfect record, the company went one step further and voluntarily came up with a plan to remove all discharge to Beaver Dam Creek, which is the best environmental solution for our treated wastewater. Our partnership with Artesian Water Resources reflects our commitment to doing the right thing when it comes to the environment and because of all of these efforts, the company has appealed the penalty assessment because it is considered to be unfair under the circumstances.”
Harim, a Korean poultry company, acquired the assets of long-time Delaware poultry processor Allen Family Foods in 2012.
The company has been in the news for its plans for a new headquarters and deboning plant at the former Vlasic pickle plant in Bridgeville.
Neighbors have claimed the plant will affect groundwater quality and increase wastewater discharges into waterways. Allen Harim officials have denied the claims.
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