South Jersey slaughterhouse discharges bloody wastewater into creek, according to the EPA – WHYY

Report on Environmental Violations and Sustainable Development Goal Implications at Burlington Beef Facility

1.0 Incident Overview

A formal investigation by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has found that the Burlington Beef slaughterhouse in Monroeville, New Jersey, violated the Clean Water Act. The facility discharged untreated wastewater containing blood and other fluids into a local tributary. This incident represents a significant failure to adhere to environmental regulations and undermines progress toward several key United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly those concerning water, health, and responsible production.

2.0 Violation of SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation

The core of the violation is the direct contamination of a public waterway, a clear contravention of SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation. The goal, specifically Target 6.3, calls for improving water quality by reducing pollution and eliminating the dumping of hazardous materials.

• A resident’s report of crimson-colored water with a strong odor prompted the EPA investigation.
• The discharge flowed from an improperly maintained sprayfield into an unnamed tributary of the Maurice River.
• Regulators suggest the contamination may have been occurring for as long as one year, indicating a prolonged breach of environmental stewardship.

3.0 Failure in Responsible Production and Waste Management (SDG 12)

The operational failures at the slaughterhouse highlight a disregard for SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production, which advocates for the environmentally sound management of waste throughout its life cycle (Target 12.4).

1. The facility is permitted to discharge wastewater onto a vegetated sprayfield for natural irrigation and filtration.
2. The EPA found that this field lacked vegetation and was not properly maintained, leading directly to the contaminated runoff.
3. This incident was preceded by a Notice of Violation in March 2024, when the facility discharged pollutants into groundwater without a valid permit, indicating a pattern of non-compliance.

4.0 Impacts on Ecosystems and Community Well-being

4.1 Threat to Life on Land and Water (SDG 15 & SDG 3)

The pollution poses a direct threat to local ecosystems and public health, challenging the objectives of SDG 15: Life on Land and SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being.

• The contaminated tributary flows into the Maurice River, jeopardizing freshwater ecosystems, which SDG 15 aims to protect and restore.
• Downstream agricultural operations use the waterway for crop irrigation and providing drinking water to livestock.
• While the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) reports no immediate impact on human drinking water, the contamination of water used in food production poses a potential risk to food safety and public health, conflicting with the aims of SDG 3.

4.2 Institutional Response and Corrective Actions (SDG 16)

The response from regulatory bodies demonstrates the critical role of strong institutions, a cornerstone of SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions, in enforcing environmental law and protecting public resources.

1. The EPA issued a Clean Water Act order to immediately halt the discharge.
2. The NJDEP secured an agreement with Burlington Beef for remediation.
3. Initial corrective measures have been implemented by the facility, including:
   • Installation of a 3-foot berm to contain the sprayfield.
   • Commitment to use a frac tank for storage when the sprayfield is unusable.
   • A proposal to treat wastewater before underground discharge.

The EPA has noted the facility’s cooperation in remediation efforts. The investigation by the NJDEP remains ongoing to ensure a permanent solution is implemented, aligning future operations with national environmental laws and global sustainability standards.

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation

• The core issue of the article is the contamination of a waterway with untreated wastewater and blood from a slaughterhouse. This directly contravenes the goal of ensuring clean water. The article states, “A South Jersey slaughterhouse violated Clean Water Act standards when it discharged wastewater and fluids containing blood, before making its way into a nearby tributary.”

SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production

• The incident highlights a failure in responsible industrial waste management. The slaughterhouse did not properly manage its wastewater, leading to environmental pollution. The article notes the facility was permitted to use a sprayfield, but “the field where the waste was disposed of did not have vegetation and was not maintained properly,” which is a failure of sustainable and responsible production practices.

SDG 15: Life on Land

• The pollution directly impacts a freshwater ecosystem. The article specifies that the discharge went “downstream until it reached an unnamed tributary of Muddy Run, which runs into the Maurice River.” This degradation of an inland waterway harms local biodiversity and ecosystem health, which is a key concern of SDG 15.

SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

• The article describes the response of governmental bodies to the pollution event. The involvement of the “U.S. Environmental Protection Agency” and the “New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection” in investigating, issuing orders, and reaching agreements demonstrates the role of effective institutions in upholding environmental laws like the Clean Water Act. The EPA’s statement, “swift federal enforcement can stop pollution in its tracks,” exemplifies the function of these institutions.

SDG 2: Zero Hunger

• The polluted waterway is linked to local agriculture. The article mentions, “The waterway is used for agricultural purposes downstream such as for watering crops and providing drinking water to livestock.” Contaminating this water source threatens the sustainability of local food production systems, which is relevant to ensuring sustainable agriculture under SDG 2.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

1. SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation

   • Target 6.3: By 2030, improve water quality by reducing pollution, eliminating dumping and minimizing release of hazardous chemicals and materials, halving the proportion of untreated wastewater. The article’s focus on the discharge of “wastewater and fluids containing blood” directly relates to the need to reduce pollution and increase the treatment of industrial wastewater.

2. SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production

   • Target 12.4: By 2020, achieve the environmentally sound management of chemicals and all wastes throughout their life cycle… and significantly reduce their release to air, water and soil. The slaughterhouse’s failure to maintain its sprayfield and its subsequent discharge of pollutants into a stream is a direct example of failing to achieve environmentally sound management of waste.

3. SDG 15: Life on Land

   • Target 15.1: By 2020, ensure the conservation, restoration and sustainable use of terrestrial and inland freshwater ecosystems and their services. The pollution of the tributary of Muddy Run represents a degradation of an inland freshwater ecosystem, making this target highly relevant.

4. SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

   • Target 16.6: Develop effective, accountable and transparent institutions at all levels. The article showcases the actions of the EPA and DEP, which responded to public complaints and enforced environmental regulations. The EPA regional administrator noted, “This is a textbook example of how a community tip, state partnership, and swift federal enforcement can stop pollution,” which speaks to the effectiveness of these institutions.

5. SDG 2: Zero Hunger

   • Target 2.4: By 2030, ensure sustainable food production systems and implement resilient agricultural practices. The contamination of water used for “watering crops and providing drinking water to livestock” threatens the sustainability of local agricultural practices that depend on this natural resource.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

1. For Target 6.3 (Improve water quality):

   • Proportion of untreated wastewater: The article implies that 100% of the discharged wastewater was untreated, leading to the violation. The proposed solution to “treat the wastewater before discharging it” is a direct measure to improve this indicator.
   • Ambient water quality: The article provides qualitative indicators of poor water quality, describing the waterway as “crimson-colored” and emitting an “odor.” Improvement would be measured by the absence of these characteristics.

2. For Target 12.4 (Sound management of waste):

   • Number of environmental violations: The article mentions that the facility “received a Notice of Violation in March 2024” and was issued an “order under the Clean Water Act.” These notices serve as direct indicators of non-compliance with environmentally sound management practices.

3. For Target 15.1 (Health of freshwater ecosystems):

   • Visual and olfactory evidence of pollution: The description of the water as “crimson-colored” is a clear, though non-technical, indicator of severe ecosystem degradation. The remediation of the waterway would be measured by the return of the water to its natural state.

4. For Target 16.6 (Effective institutions):

   • Institutional responsiveness: The article implies this through the statement that the EPA “quickly and efficiently responded to these public complaints.”
   • Enforcement actions: The issuance of a legal order by the EPA and the agreement reached by the DEP are concrete indicators of institutional action and effectiveness.

5. For Target 2.4 (Sustainable food production):

   • Water source viability for agriculture: The article implies this indicator by stating the waterway is used for crops and livestock. The continued usability of this water for agricultural purposes is a measure of progress. The contamination represents a direct threat to this viability.

4. Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: whyy.org