Tyson Permit Public Hearing 2026

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Public Hearing on Tyson’s Water Pollution Permit

The Alabama Department of Environmental Management (ADEM) will host a public hearing about Tyson Foods’ permit allowing polluted water discharges into Graves Creek and downstream to the Locust Fork from its Blountsville chicken slaughterhouse. The proposed discharges will occur upstream of popular public recreation areas. Please attend this hearing or mail/email your comments to ADEM to help promote clean water in Graves Creek and the Locust Fork! 

Tyson Blountsville Water Pollution Permit – Public Hearing
Thursday, March 26 at 6pm
J.B. Pennington High School – Auditorium
#1 College Street
Blountsville, AL 35031

Ways you can help:
1. Speak at the public hearing
2. Come to the hearing and show your support for clean water
3. If you cannot attend the hearing, please mail or email your comments to ADEM, who must receive them before the deadline of 5PM on Friday, March 27:

Daphne Y. Lutz, Chief
ADEM-Water Division
PO Box 301463
Montgomery, AL 36130
[email protected]

The new draft wastewater and stormwater discharge permit for Tyson’s Blountsville chicken slaughterhouse is NPDES Permit Number AL0001449. This permit allows the discharge of approximately 1.2 million gallons of wastewater per day (on average) containing bacteria and nutrient pollution to Graves Creek, a tributary of the Locust Fork, and to the Locust Fork, a tributary of the Black Warrior River. It also allows Tyson to discharge polluted stormwater from the plant during and after rain events. The proposed discharges will occur upstream of popular public recreation areas on Graves Creek (Mardis Mill Falls) and the Locust Fork (King’s Bend, the new public access and scenic overlook at Hwy 79/US 231 bridge, the whitewater paddling section, Swann Covered Bridge, and Powell Falls).

Tyson’s Blountsville Processing Plant’s wastewater treatment plant and discharge (top center) discharges to a wetland (bottom left). The wetland then flows into Graves Creek, a tributary to the Locust Fork. Photo by Nelson Brooke. Flight provided by SouthWings.

Black Warrior Riverkeeper’s permit comments ask ADEM to make the following changes in the final permit:

~Better end-of-pipe limits for nutrients, bacteria, and biochemical oxygen demand

~The implementation of current, best available technology to treat pollutants

~Limits on bacteria in plant stormwater

~Consideration of Tyson’s extensive history of permit violations

~Accounting for the effects of Tyson’s massive withdrawals of groundwater on local hydrogeology and base flows in nearby creeks

~Treatment and pollution limits that account for the actual, historical use of Graves Creek and the Locust Fork for Swimming and Other Whole-Body Water Contact Sports (S)

~Treatment and pollution limits that reflect the importance of Graves Creek and the Locust Fork to the community and local economy

~Treatment and pollution limits that protect public health during the use of Graves Creek and the Locust Fork for recreation year round  

~Treatment and pollution limits that reflect the downstream presence of rare, threatened, or endangered species and their federally protected habitat

~Treatment and pollution limits that reflect the downstream presence of impaired streams and intention to reverse their impairments

Tubing on the free-flowing Locust Fork of the Black Warrior River. Photo by Nelson Brooke.

Please mark your calendar and attend the March 26 hearing to relay your use of Graves Creek and the Locust Fork, and the importance of them being cleaned up for recreation, wildlife, and the local economy. If you cannot attend the hearing, please send your comments to be received by ADEM before 5PM on Friday, March 27 by mail or email to ADEM.

Recreation at Graves Creek (Mardis Mill Falls).

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