2019 Mulberry Fork fish kill: Difference between revisions

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The '''2019 Mulberry Fork fish kill''' was an industrial accident and environmental disaster that occurred on [[June 6]], [[2019]] at the Tyson Inc.'s [[River Valley Ingredients]] chicken rendering plant in [[Hanceville]].
The '''2019 Mulberry Fork fish kill''' was an industrial accident and environmental disaster that occurred on [[June 6]], [[2019]] at the Tyson Inc.'s [[River Valley Ingredients]] chicken rendering plant in [[Hanceville]].


A temporary pipe system installed to pump wastewater from one holding pond to another ruptured and spilled more than 200,000 gallons of water contaminated with processed chicken offal which then flowed into the nearby [[Mulberry Fork]], a tributary of the [[Black Warrior River]]. The spill caused bacteria levels in the river to spike. The bacteria consumed a large amount of the oxygen in the water, causing fish and other aquatic life to asphyxiate. The death and decay of smaller fish fed the cycle, which then affected predators and other species dependent on the balance of the immediate ecosystem.
A temporary pipe system installed to pump wastewater from one holding pond to another ruptured and spilled more than 200,000 gallons of water contaminated with processed chicken offal into [[Dave Young Creek]], which then emptied into the nearby [[Mulberry Fork]], a tributary of the [[Black Warrior River]]. The spill caused bacteria levels in the river to spike. The bacteria consumed a large amount of the oxygen in the water, causing fish and other aquatic life to asphyxiate. The death and decay of smaller fish fed the cycle, which then affected predators and other species dependent on the balance of the immediate ecosystem.


Although difficult to quantify, the most common estimate of the number of fish killed by the spill has been reported as 175,000.
Although difficult to quantify, the most common estimate of the number of fish killed by the spill has been reported as ranging from 175,000 to more than 200,000. The spill rendered a 50-mile stretch of the river "unusable" for recreation, fishing or as a source of drinking water.  


In April [[2020]] the State of Alabama filed a lawsuit against Tyson Farms in [[Walker County Circuit Court]], alleging that the company, "engaged in negligent and wanton conduct by causing a public nuisance, committing a trespass to State land, and by committing a trespass to chattel, resulting in the death of various species of fish and other wildlife."
In April [[2020]] the State of Alabama filed a lawsuit against Tyson Farms in [[Walker County Circuit Court]], alleging that the company, "engaged in negligent and wanton conduct by causing a public nuisance, committing a trespass to State land, and by committing a trespass to chattel, resulting in the death of various species of fish and other wildlife."
The [[Alabama Department of Environmental Management]] surveyed the condition of the river and joined with the [[Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources]] and [[Attorney General of Alabama|Attorney General]] [[Steve Marshall]] in a civil suit against Tyson. The case was settled in August [[2021]] with an agreement for Tyson to pay $1.5 million in restitution to the state and to create a separate $1.5 million fund for projects to benefit [[Walker County|Walker]] and [[Cullman County]].


==References==
==References==
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* Pillion, Dennis (September 25, 2019) "'Like a death’: Alabama still investigating fish kill near Tyson plant." {{BN}}
* Pillion, Dennis (September 25, 2019) "'Like a death’: Alabama still investigating fish kill near Tyson plant." {{BN}}
* Pillion, Dennis (April 30, 2020) "Alabama sues Tyson Farms over 2019 wastewater spill, resulting fish kill." {{BN}}
* Pillion, Dennis (April 30, 2020) "Alabama sues Tyson Farms over 2019 wastewater spill, resulting fish kill." {{BN}}
* Reich, Nicholas Tyler (Spring 2021) "[https://doi.org/10.5282/rcc/9294 Tyson Kills the Mulberry Fork]" Environment & Society Portal. ''Arcadia'', No. 16
* "[https://www.outdooralabama.com/articles/conservation-department-announces-resolution-tyson-farms-mulberry-fork-river-fish-kill Conservation Department Announces Resolution of Tyson Farms Mulberry Fork River Fish Kill]" (August 11, 2021) ''Outdoor Alabama'' (Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources)


==External links==
==External links==

Revision as of 10:55, 21 August 2021

The 2019 Mulberry Fork fish kill was an industrial accident and environmental disaster that occurred on June 6, 2019 at the Tyson Inc.'s River Valley Ingredients chicken rendering plant in Hanceville.

A temporary pipe system installed to pump wastewater from one holding pond to another ruptured and spilled more than 200,000 gallons of water contaminated with processed chicken offal into Dave Young Creek, which then emptied into the nearby Mulberry Fork, a tributary of the Black Warrior River. The spill caused bacteria levels in the river to spike. The bacteria consumed a large amount of the oxygen in the water, causing fish and other aquatic life to asphyxiate. The death and decay of smaller fish fed the cycle, which then affected predators and other species dependent on the balance of the immediate ecosystem.

Although difficult to quantify, the most common estimate of the number of fish killed by the spill has been reported as ranging from 175,000 to more than 200,000. The spill rendered a 50-mile stretch of the river "unusable" for recreation, fishing or as a source of drinking water.

In April 2020 the State of Alabama filed a lawsuit against Tyson Farms in Walker County Circuit Court, alleging that the company, "engaged in negligent and wanton conduct by causing a public nuisance, committing a trespass to State land, and by committing a trespass to chattel, resulting in the death of various species of fish and other wildlife."

The Alabama Department of Environmental Management surveyed the condition of the river and joined with the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources and Attorney General Steve Marshall in a civil suit against Tyson. The case was settled in August 2021 with an agreement for Tyson to pay $1.5 million in restitution to the state and to create a separate $1.5 million fund for projects to benefit Walker and Cullman County.

References

External links

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