Ohio Fresh Eggs will fight to keep permits

OHIO - Ohio Fresh Eggs, the former Buckeye Egg Farm, will fight to keep its operation permits before a hearing officer at the Ohio Department of Agriculture starting June 6.

The action is part of the appeal process that stems from ODA Director Fred L. Dailey's action last September to revoke all permits issued to Ohio Fresh Eggs for its 12 permitted farms in Licking, Hardin and Wyandot counties. That revocation, Dailey said, was because of false or misleading information on the farm's permit applications.

"We have investigated this matter thoroughly," Dailey said at the time. "The consequences of this proposed action are very serious. If it is determined these permits were based on false or misleading information, Ohio law makes it very clear they must be revoked. This poultry farm deserves owners and operators that conduct themselves with integrity and honesty, and are committed to being good neighbors."

Specifically, Ohio Fresh Eggs was required to identify those people who control management of the farm on their permit applications. The farm's owners are listed as Fresh Eggs Manager, LLC Donald C. Hershey and Hillandale Farms' Orland Bethel. ODA officials contend Ohio Fresh Eggs management failed to disclose the involvement of Austin "Jack" DeCoster in the operation of the farms. If DeCoster's identity had been disclosed, according to ODA officials, an investigation would have indicated a substantial history of noncompliance since, in the past, DeCoster was labeled a "habitual violator" of Iowa's environmental laws.

Source: The Advocate

15 May 2006