Plumstead Township filed for an injunction against Kingdom Equity Partners, LLC, and Kingdom Provisions, LLC on Tuesday. The township seeks to compel the slaughterhouse to remedy ongoing violations, including failure to maintain a conservation easement at 5960 Durham Road in Pipersville, among other issues.
Ephraim Z. Stoltzfus represented himself to the township as a principal for Kingdom Equity Partners, LLC, and Kingdom Provisions, LLC.
“Almost immediately after Kingdom Provisions began using the property, the township began receiving odor complaints related to composting of the remains of animals slaughtered by Kingdom Provisions,” reads the complaint.
Community complaints about strong odors have been attributed, in part, to the disposal of animal remains, entrails, and blood in an open field that were exposed and not covered.
Stoltzfus provided assurances to the township on a variety of dates to remedy the situation but failed to follow through, according to court documents.
The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (PA-DEP) cited the business for the unpermitted discharge of industrial waste, discharge from slaughterhouse wastewater, to the waters of the Commonwealth as a violation of the Clean Streams Law.
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The PA-DEP had suggested Kingdom Provisions dispose of slaughterhouse waste elsewhere, but an employee told the inspector that would be too costly.
The Bucks County Conservation District, which oversees the maintenance of easements designed to preserve open space, also conducted inspections and found violations.
The township’s action in equity is designed to compel Stoltzfus to provide plans to correct the many violations, including that of a being public nuisance, related to the disposal of slaughterhouse waste, and asks the court to enjoin Kingdom Provisions from:
The slaughtering of animals at the property without an approved Conservation Plan;
the composting of animals unless done in compliance with a Conservation Plan approved by all applicable regulatory agencies;
discharging wastewater into the surface waters of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
It also asks the court to:
order submission of a Storm Management Plan to account for the regulated activities it has undertaken without a permit;
award damages for the violations of the terms of the Township Conservation Easement;
award Plumstead Township costs and expenses of suit including attorneys’ fees;
award fines for the violations of the terms of the Plumstead Township Code at an amount of $500 per day, and any other relief deemed equitable by the court.
Counsel for Kingdom Provisions has not entered an appearance, and the court has not yet set a hearing date.
The complaint was filed on behalf of the township by William D. Oetinger, Esq. of Grim, Biehn and Thatcher, and verified by Steven Hicks, Plumstead Township Zoning Officer.
Read the Plumstead Towsnship Complaint, Filed 7/09/24
