Community, Creswell

Chicken plant flying under the radar

CRESWELL – The once prevalent clucking regarding reopening Foster Farms seems to have turned to radio silence.

The plant, once located at 33464 West Lane has not been operating since 2006, but when the plants wastewater permit renewal surfaced in July of this year, residents expressed fear that Foster Farms wanted to resume operation. 

After the wastewater permit renewal was approved, a public hearing was slated for Aug. 29 with the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ). Here, residents could express concerns regarding the plant’s application to renew its wastewater permit. 

On Aug. 26, after much anticipation in the community, the public hearing was canceled due to  Trihn Hansen at the DEQ announcing that they were canceling the public hearing to allow time for the county to determine if the necessary county land use permit is still in effect. 

The permit is under review with Lane County at this time. 

“It really hasn’t come across our desks and nothing has been seen as far as emails or anything,” According to Heather Buch, Lane County commissioner. “Last I heard that it was in the DEQ’s hands and then and then it bounced back to land management.”

Jurisdiction was given to the county because the county land use permit was required prior to DEQ renewal of the wastewater permit.

Harry Esteve, communications manager at DEQ, said he has not heard back from the county. 

At press time, no updates were given by Lane County. “There’s not much going on right now,” said Lindsey Eichner, senior planner for Lane County.  

This leaves many Creswellians wondering.

“I am curious. Clearly, it’s an important issue if indeed, they’re going to continue on with this process,” said Colleen Stewart, resident of Creswell. 

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