Seneca Poultry well drilled; operations begin

TIFFIN — Concerns about the impact of a concentrated animal feeding operation in Seneca County continue to linger among residents as Seneca Poultry begins its first year of operation. While not yet operating at full capacity, the facility is located along County Road 90 and is permitted to house approximately 130,000 egg-laying hens. Recent concerns however are in regards to the site's proximity to the former CR 90 landfill that closed in the early 1970s. The facility has been the subject of public concern and regulatory review for over a year now, with residents previously raising questions and concerns about manure management, water quality and its proximity to the Sandusky River. Sandy Bihn, Lake Erie Waterkeeper, shared that while reviewing a series of records pertaining to the facility she discovered a water well was drilled within close proximity to the closed landfill, prompting concerns about groundwater safety and compliance with both state and local setback requirements. "Wells located near former landfill sites can pose a risk of drawing contaminants into groundwater supplies, depending on geology and historical waste practices," said Bihn. Seneca County Health Commissioner Julie Richards recently raised some concerns about the facility as well, stating in an email to the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency that she was unaware of a well being drilled as it was not included in the facility's Form 513. According to the Ohio EPA's website, a Form 513 must be submitted and approved before any work proposed inside the known limits or within 300 feet of a solid waste or hazardous waste facility can begin, under OAC 3745-513. "My concerns include the distance of the agricultural well that was drilled within 300 feet of the closed landfill," wrote Richards. "Our residents deserve answers, and to know that everything is being done to protect their health." Previous reporting by The A-T has documented a series of public meetings, permit reviews and appeals related to the project, and construction was temporarily halted before the company was ultimately permitted operate in late September 2025. A previous statement from Aqua Ohio of Tiffin noted their opposition to the project: "We encourage others to join in opposition because of the threat it could pose to the Sandusky River and Lake Erie's western basin." it read. Appeals related to the project's permits are pending, with residents and county agencies calling for additional review of the site before it becomes fully operational.