Arizona’s environmental regulators have confirmed that Hickman’s Family Farms is responsible for installing new monitoring wells, conducting proactive testing and preventing any contamination from spreading to safeguard the greater Tonopah and Buckeye Valley area, following concerns about groundwater pollution raised by its controversial mass poultry burial.
Hickman’s burials were carried out as an emergency response to a bird flu outbreak that reportedly led to the culling of approximately 6 million chickens. The action drew criticism from nearby residents and some lawmakers in June, who said the 2.75 million buried chickens could leak dangerous contaminants into the aquifer.
Arizona Department of Environmental Quality Director Karen Lee Peters acknowledged at a state confirmation hearing that, ideally, a liner should have been placed under the burial site. She also said the aquifer may need to be pumped and treated if testing shows contaminants moving toward nearby water sources.
ADEQ informed InBuckeye that it had contacted Buckeye-based Hickman’s Family Farms during the June 13 emergency response and issued the company a Temporary Emergency Waiver, according to an ADEQ spokesperson.
The burial trench was 12 feet deep and 12 feet wide, according to the waiver. Under USDA guidance and supervision, Hickman’s ensured the buried chickens were covered by at least three feet of soil. The waiver also noted that recent soundings estimated the depth to groundwater at Hickman’s nearby wells 55-802[1]30 and 55-802131 to be 193.65 feet and 171.07 feet, respectively.
Peters ordered the installation of additional monitoring wells to help ensure nearby groundwater remains safe. The emergency waiver requires proactive measures to protect the community and environment before any need arises to pump out and treat water, according to ADEQ.
Under the state order, Hickman’s Family Farms must:
- Prevent rainwater from spreading pollution by building a dirt cover and other controls at the burial site.
- Test nearby wells to determine current water quality and monitor changes.
- Study how groundwater moves in the area and whether the burial could affect it.
- Install monitoring wells to support ongoing testing.
- Report results regularly to ADEQ so the agency can ensure compliance.
- Take immediate action to protect the aquifer if problems are found.
Once the new monitoring wells are in place, Hickman’s must test the groundwater monthly for E. coli, nitrogen compounds, dissolved solids and other chemicals. The tests will also check oxygen levels, pH and other indicators that could signal contamination.
Regional context
Agricultural areas around Tonopah, Buckeye and Arlington — all part of the greater Buckeye Valley region — include parts of Maricopa County that are outside any city limits.
There is no imminent threat at Hickman’s Family Farms’ site near 335th Avenue and Dobbins in Tonopah, according to the ADEQ spokesperson. If any potential risks are identified, ADEQ says it will require additional measures to protect groundwater quality.
“ADEQ is committed to protecting the health of the community and the environment,” ADEQ spokesperson Taylor Fareri said. “We are ensuring that Arizona’s environmental rules and regulations are followed and that groundwater in the area continues to be protected from any discharges.”
How the burial was approved
The U.S. Department of Agriculture, ADEQ, Arizona Department of Agriculture and Hickman’s Family Farms worked together to approve and carry out the burial to help stop the spread of the virus. According to Fareri, the responding agencies and their roles were:
- USDA: Oversight of the emergency response and final disposition of the chicken carcasses
- Arizona Department of Agriculture: Emergency command structure and agricultural regulation
- ADEQ: Oversight of carcass disposal
- Arizona Department of Health Services: Monitoring of human health impacts
- Arizona Department of Emergency Management: Emergency response support
- Arizona Fire & Medical Authority: Safety officer and support
- Arizona Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory: Testing of Tonopah samples
- Maricopa County Department of Emergency Management: Local emergency support
- Maricopa County Department of Public Health: Local public health support
- Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office: Site security
- National Veterinary Services Laboratory: Avian influenza confirmation
InBuckeye reached out to Hickman’s Family Farms multiple times for comment or an interview, but the company has not responded.
A copy of the waiver can be found here.
Michael McDaniel can be reached at [email protected]. We invite our readers to submit their civil comments or opinions on this or any issue. Email [email protected].
