Scientists call for change in EPA regulations after Tyson Foods dumping report
SPRINGDALE, Ark. (KNWA/KFTA) — Tyson Foods discharged 371 million pounds of pollutants into waterways in the United States from 2018 to 2022, according to a report by the Union of Concerned Scientists.
The two researchers who dug into the data Tyson Foods was required to report to the Environmental Protection Agency, Dr. Omanjana Goswami and Dr. Stacy Woods, said Tyson Foods was operating within EPA regulations.
However, the scientists are wanting those regulations amended.
“While it is disturbing that we could only capture information for 41 of Tyson’s meat processing plants, it’s not surprising,” Woods said. “That’s because the current regulations only apply to about 300 of the roughly 5,000 meat and poultry processing producers in the United States.”
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There were 30 pollutants that were discharged into waterways during that time. More than 138 million pounds of chloride, 82.5 million pounds of total dissolved solids, 40.2 million pounds of sulfate, 34.2 million pounds of nitrogen and 27.6 million pounds of total suspended solids were among the five most prevalent.
The states that had the most waste dumped into its water were Nebraska, Illinois, Missouri, Michigan and Pennsylvania. Arkansas ranked as the sixth-most-discharged-into state, as 37,740,228.89 pounds — roughly 10% of the total — of waste was dumped in rivers, lakes and other waterways.
Goswami said every pollutant that was measured is naturally occurring, but in much smaller concentrations than what Tyson Foods is discharging. She said this could have health and environmental consequences.
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“Chlorides, in particular, create a foul smell. They create nuisance in the waterways,” Goswami said. “They’re also damaging to water infrastructure. They corrode pipes. Sulfates do a lot of the same. And, in very high concentrations, if ingested by humans, it causes gastrointestinal issues.”
While water treatment plants can potentially clean out the pollutants, Woods said well-water users don’t have the same level of protection.
We requested an interview with a representative at Tyson Foods but, instead, received a statement.
“Tyson Food uses a robust management system to mitigate environmental risks and impact, and we strive to run our operations as responsible stewards of our natural resources,” a Tyson Foods spokesperson said in a statement. “We consistently monitor effluent from our facilities, and we work closely with our federal and state regulators, as well as our local municipalities, as we plan, design, and operate our wastewater systems.
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“This report does not acknowledge our ongoing compliance with EPA regulations and certification by the Water Alliance for our strong water management practices. Our longstanding treatment program protects the environment and the interests of water across our nation, along with ensuring resiliency of the food system.”
Goswami said the EPA is starting to implement some regulatory changes.
“EPA’s actually updating the regulatory limits for nitrogen,” Goswami said. “It’s setting regulatory limits for phosphorous for the first time, as well as updating wastewater treatment technology requirements that plants would need to have before discharging this wastewater into the environment.”
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