Names In the News

Factory Farm Phase Out

Flanked by representatives of statewide environmental groups, agricultural leaders and North Carolina State University (NCSU) Chancellor Marye Anne Fox, North Carolina Attorney General Mike Easley in August announced what he called "a major agreement" between his office and Smithfield Foods, Inc., that will "set the stage for phasing out open-air hog lagoons and sprayfields in North Carolina."

The agreement places NCSU in the pivotal role of coordinating the development and identification of environmentally superior technology for waste disposal.

Smithfield Foods, Inc. and its subsidiaries, the largest hog producing and pork processing companies in the world, agreed to a legally binding agreement to develop and implement new technology that will protect the environment and the economy.

Under the terms of the agreement, the companies will be required to pay $15 million to NCSU for the development of new technologies and $50 million toward environmental improvements and compliance monitoring. Violations of the agreement will be enforceable through the courts.

"What happened in North Carolina today may have major national implications down the road," said Ed Hopkins, a Sierra Club spokesperson. "We look forward to an industry-wide switch to improved technology which will result in cleaner air and water in North Carolina and around the country."

Although the hundreds of hog farmers who produce hogs for Smithfield companies under contract are not covered by the agreement, Smithfield has agreed to provide its contract growers with financial and technical assistance to enable them to convert to alternative systems.

Polluting the Future

Releases into the U.S. environment of developmental and neurological toxins amount to about 24 billion pounds a year - enough toxic chemicals to fill railroad tanker cars stretching from New York to Albuquerque, New Mexico - according to a September report issued by the National Environmental Trust.

"Polluting Our Future: Chemical Pollution in the U.S. that Affects Child Development and Learning," reveals that U.S. industries reported only 5 percent of estimated total emissions of developmental and neurological toxins - 1.2 billion pounds - to the Environmental Protection Agency.

According to industry-reported data, Louisiana and Texas are the two states that emit the most developmental and neurological toxins to air and water. Tennessee, Ohio, Illinois, Georgia, Virginia, Michigan, Pennsylvania and Florida are also major emitters.

Based on recent estimates by the National Academy of Sciences, "Polluting Our Future" concludes that more than 360,000 U.S. children - more than one in every 200 - suffer from developmental or neurological disabilities caused by a range of toxic exposures including developmental and neurological toxins.

"Now we know what we have suspected for years, that toxic chemicals are bringing anguish to thousands of families in this country," says Larry B. Silver, M.D., president of the Learning Disabilities Association of America and clinical professor of psychiatry at Georgetown University Medical Center.

As suggested by two National Academy of Sciences reports on the subject over the last three months, there is a growing consensus among scientists that developmental and neurological toxins contribute to a range of physical and mental effects in children.

The report reveals that African American populations suffer from the highest rates of exposure to developmental toxins.

Boeing is Going to Pay

The Boeing Company will pay the United States up to $54 million to settle two lawsuits that allege the Seattle-based manufacturer placed defective gears in CH-47D "Chinook" helicopters sold to the U.S. Army.

The CH-47D, which can carry 33 combat-ready soldiers in addition to its four-person flight crew, is the Army's medium-lift helicopter used to move troops and equipment.

Boeing used two subcontractors, Litton Precision Gear of Bedford Park, Illinois and SPECO Corporation of Springfield, Ohio, to manufacture the flight-critical transmission gears for the helicopter. One of the gears manufactured by Litton, failed in flight, causing an Army Chinook helicopter to crash and burn while on a mission in Honduras in 1988. Five servicemen aboard were killed.

Two of the gears manufactured by SPECO failed in flight in Chinook helicopters. One craft was totally destroyed. Two individuals aboard were injured.

Since January 2000, the Army's Chinook fleet has been partially grounded due to additional defects found in SPECO transmission gears, which are currently being replaced. In 1997, SPECO, which had filed for bankruptcy, settled the allegations against it by agreeing to pay the United States $7.5 million.

The two lawsuits were filed by Brett Roby, a former SPECO quality engineer. Roby filed the suits under the False Claims Act, which permits private citizens to sue on behalf of the government to recover federal funds that were obtained by false or fraudulent claims. In accordance with the False Claims Act, Roby will be paid $10.5 million from the Boeing settlement with the balance of $43.5 million going to the federal government.

- Russell Mokhiber