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Plumstead council takes action to enforce controversial slaughterhouse regulations

Posted on by darion

Plumstead Township filed a motion for an injunction Tuesday against Kingdom Equity Partners, LLC and Kingdom Provisions, LLC. The township seeks to force the slaughterhouse to correct ongoing violations, including failing to maintain a conservation easement at 5960 Durham Road in Pipersville, among other violations.

Ephraim Z. Stoltzfus represented the commune as a director of Kingdom Equity Partners, LLC and Kingdom Provisions, LLC.

“Almost immediately after Kingdom Provisions began using the property, the Township began receiving complaints of an unpleasant odor associated with the composting of remains of animals slaughtered by Kingdom Provisions,” the complaint states.

Community complaints about strong odors were attributed in part to the disposal of animal carcasses, viscera and blood in the open, uncovered area.

According to court documents, Stoltzfus repeatedly assured the municipal authorities that he would remedy the situation, but he did not follow through on these assurances.

The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (PA-DEP) issued a citation to the company for unauthorized discharge of industrial waste (slaughterhouse effluent) into the commonwealth’s waters in violation of the Clean Streams Act.

TO READ: Crying bull has throat slit at local slaughterhouse; PETA demands criminal investigation

PA-DEP suggested that Kingdom Provisions dispose of its slaughterhouse waste elsewhere, but an employee told the inspector it would be too costly.

The Bucks County Environmental Protection District, which oversees the maintenance of easements intended to preserve open spaces, also conducted inspections and found violations.

The municipality’s equity action seeks to force Stoltzfus to submit plans to remedy numerous violations, including a public nuisance, related to the disposal of slaughterhouse waste, and requests the court to issue an injunction to stay the application of the Kingdom’s provisions from:

Slaughter of animals on premises without an approved Conservation Plan;

composting of animals unless done in accordance with a Conservation Plan approved by all appropriate regulatory authorities;

discharge of sewage into the surface waters of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

It also calls on the court to:

require the submission of a Stormwater Management Plan to account for regulated activities undertaken without a permit;

award compensation for violation of the terms of the municipality’s land conservation easement;

award Plumstead Township reimbursement of costs and expenses of the lawsuit, including attorneys’ fees;

impose fines for violations of the Plumstead Borough Code in the amount of $500 per day and such other remedies as the court deems equitable.

Kingdom Provisions’ attorney did not appear and the court has not yet set a hearing date.

The complaint was filed on behalf of the borough by William D. Oetinger, attorney for Grim, Biehn and Thatcher, and reviewed by Steven Hicks, Plumstead Borough Zoning Officer.

Read Plumstead Township’s complaint filed 7/09/24