ADEQ Investigates Simmons Plant
by January 22, 2001 12:00 am 79 views
The Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality did a surprise inspection on Jan. 17 at one of Simmons Foods Inc.’s Van Buren plants on the Arkansas River. Field inspector Don Morgan of the department’s Springdale office conducted the inquiry.
The inspection found evidence of at least one wrongful spill into the river. There is also a discrepancy on how much water was being taken in compared with the amount being discharged at the plant. Officials at the Simmons plant are conducting an internal investigation to see what is causing the discrepancy.
Doug Szenher, director of public affairs at ADEQ, formerly the Arkansas Department of Pollution Control and Ecology, said “much more investigation and paperwork” would be done on the matter.
Van Buren has two Simmons plants. The one being investigated is the older plant at 5 Main St., where deboning and other processing takes place.
Officials at Simmons Foods’ headquarters in Siloam Springs and at the Van Buren plant did not return phone calls from the Northwest Arkansas Business Journal in time for publication.
Simmons Foods is a private, fully integrated poultry company that had gross revenue of $405 million in 2000.