Judging by the letter of Ronald F. Davis of Hay Bay Genetics Inc. (Picton Gazette May 01/02), it would appear that he has a chip of a certain type on his shoulder. His gross distortion of the facts demand an answer: 600 humans do not produce waste equal to 23,400 feeder hogs. In fact, evidence recently produced in an Ontario Court by the Coalition of Concerned Citizens of Huron-Kinloss (CCCH-K) proved that 6,000 feeder hogs produce raw liquid manure equivalent to 20,000 to 30,000 people! The fact that CCCH-K won its case against the construction of two pig barns to house 4,000 pigs (generating 1.75 million gallons of liquid hog manure to be spread around the township) speaks for itself.

In another part of Ontario a Chatham-Kent councillor said just two weeks ago, " I don't believe in economic development at the expense of the environment". He was reacting to an update on a spill of 20,000 gallons of liquid pig manure spilled into Lake Erie two years ago for which the Ministry of the Environment issued an order which has yet to be complied with. Because of accidents like that we would be very wise indeed to keep an eye on our local intensive pig farm operation and that includes inspections by County staff who have the responsibility under the Nutrient Management Bylaw to properly administer the regulations.

Davis claims that he has seen algae blooms in Prinyer's Cove relating to nutrient leaking into the Cove and strongly suggests that it came from homes and cottages there. What an incredible coincidence! I have coloured slides, taken from the air just two weeks ago, showing green slime (algae?) which appears to be spilling out from Mr. Davis's pig farm manure tank, all leaking into the canals leading into the supposedly environmentally protected Cressy Marsh. Of algae in the waters of Prinyer's Cove there appeared to be no sign. I will be showing these slides at the next meeting of the County Regional Environmental Evaluation Koalition (CREEK) and I would like to thank that responsible group for making me very aware of the world-wide serious problems connected with Intensive Livestock Operations.

John Wimbs
North Marysburgh