DHEC grants permit for Darlington County turkey farm

The S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control has issued a permit for Scott Haselden's proposed turkey farm in Darlington County, DHEC spokesman Thom Berry said.

Haselden has said he owns about 200 acres off Pocket Road and told Darlington County Council in September the proposed turkey facility will occupy about 12 acres of it. The facility will operate with eight houses that will house about 6,000 turkeys each.

DHEC held a public meeting July 24 regarding Haselden’s proposed turkey farm, which would be located on Penn Road about four miles outside Darlington city limits.

“We’ve issued a permit,” Berry said. “But it is now going though the 15-day appeal process.”

But, Berry said, just because a permit was issued does not mean the battle is over.

“A permit is not final until the opportunity is provided for those who wish to appeal the agencies decision,” he said.

Permits aren’t required if a small-scale processor raises poultry on his or her own farm and slaughters no more than 250 turkeys or 1,000 other poultry per calendar year. The processor can’t buy or sell poultry products other than those produced on their own farm, and the distribution of the poultry products cannot occur outside South Carolina, according to DHEC.

Haselden told Darlington County Council in September he plans to build the family home within 1,800 feet of the facility, which would make his home the closest to the facility.

He said he is just trying to find a way to make farming work for him. since it seems to be getting harder to be a farmer with each passing year.

“Farmers in today’s society, we’re getting pushed around,” he said during the Sept. 15 council meeting. “I’m just standing my ground for what’s right.”

Haselden could not be reached for comment Tuesday.

During that same council meeting, council voted not to impose a moratorium on Haselden’s factory-type turkey farm after the county attorney told members council had no legal authority to implement a moratorium.

Opponents of the facility in the Pocket Road community had asked council earlier that month to impose a moratorium on such facilities until the county adopts a comprehensive zoning plan. But County Attorney Jim Cox told council that with no such zoning ordinance pending before council, a moratorium would violate state law. The county has no zoning ordinance on its books.

Berry said the people living in the surrounding areas will have the next 15 days to appeal the permit. After that, DHEC will take 60 days to review the information and make a final determination on the turkey farm. Berry said the process would be the same regardless of the type of poultry to be raised on the farm.

“(The process applies to) any agricultural facility that is going to have a substantial number of birds, because of the potential for the pollution from the waste from the animals has to be permitted by the agency,” he said.

Haselden represents one of three families in the process of attaining and keeping permits for separate proposed turkey farms in Darlington County.

On June 12, DHEC issued a permit for Ward Poultry Farm just outside Lamar town limits June 12.

Wil Ward and his wife, Chasidy, applied for the permit more than a year ago. Residents near their poultry farm site appealed to DHEC, but DHEC’s board decided July 24 not to hear their appeal.

The Wards’ farm would consist of four turkey houses that would hold 6,500 birds in each. Those who are appealing the Wards’ permit have not indicated whether they will appeal to the S.C. Administrative Law Court.

On April 4, DHEC issued a permit for Charles Stewart that was appealed to the DHEC board, but the board upheld DHEC’s decision. That permit wasn’t appealed to the S.C. Administrative Law Court.