The Great Smoky Mountain Journal
Source:
Tuesday, January 01, 2019 02:45 PM
Bean Station Slaughterhouse Location At Center Of Illegal Alien Raid Could Threaten Tennessee Water Due To Waste
According to the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC), Southeastern Provision, the subject of an IRS probe that led to a federal immigration raid and 54 people facing deportation, has been placed under review for enforcement, though this isn't the first time.
TDEC officials reported to local news outlets that previous violations at the plant resulted in the decision not to allow any waste to be discharged at the facility; instead, waste has been pumped and sent to Mosheim and Morristown treatment plants in the state.
When asked if Southeastern Provision was following the laws, TDEC spokesperson Michael Atchley said. "They had a failure based on their system it was not designed properly. Based on that failure and through our investigation we had them begin pumping and hauling their waste and while they pump and haul their waste they’re looking for corrective actions to find a new waste water system."
Officials also said that 22 wells at area homes were tested, at the request of the homeowners, for the presence of E.coli bacteria in their water. Of those 22 wells tested, TDEC said five wells tested positive for E.Coli and Coliform. TDEC officials said it's unclear whether runoff from the plant was causing E.Coli in groundwater.
David Seal said his niece got E.Coli last December, and she lived less than half a mile from the plant. Her father, Sam Seal, died last September from stomach cancer at the age of 36. Seal said he can't help but wonder if the E.Coli present in well water contributed to his brother's death.
"I tell you what, to witness someone go through cancer and be there to listen to what they have to say knowing they are dying and nothing they can do, it's heartbreaking," said Seal. "Somebody needs to speak up and get something done down there."
However, Ricky Bibbins, Sam Seal's brother-in-law, said he hasn't definitively made the connection between water contamination and Seal's death.
"I can't make allegations," Bibbins said. "I don't know if well water had anything to do with Sam's death, I'm not a medical professional. But I know he had bouts with cancer at an early age, and yes, he did die a young man, and I hate that."
Michael Atchley with TDEC said the homes that showed presence of E.Coli were notified, and clean bottled water was provided for drinking.
"Some of the wells did have presence of E.Coli in the results," said Atchley said.
David Seal said his brother's house has not been tested--TDEC said it is something they will do upon request.
Apart from environmental investigations involving the plant, affidavits filed on April 2 claimed President and General Manager James Brantley and others failed to report more than $8 million in wages to the IRS from 2013 to 2016 and exploited undocumented immigrants.
One thing Bibbins said for sure has come of the investigation: Southeastern Provision's management has lost credibility in its community. Bibbins said he has been a lifelong friend of Brantley, and he's seen the personal toll these investigations have taken.
"His name, his wife's name, his daughter's name. His business, what his father built, it's been torn down," Bibbins said. "Have we not all made mistakes? If you made a mistake, would you not want somebody to tear your life apart? [...] It's just bad. I don't care how you look at it, it just is. Mistakes have happened. Things have happened. Why don't we pull together as a community, fight this and move on."