Halifax County supervisors and citizens learned Wednesday night that North Carolina is establishing odor emissions rules, is debating phasing out confined animal lagoons in the future and is investigating new technologies in swine production and waste management.
Dr. Charles M. Williams, director for the North Carolina State University Animal and Poultry Waste Management Center and guest speaker at the Board of Supervisors' session Wednesday night, discussed a wide range of swine issues in his state.
He told the crowd that North Carolina has enacted temporary rules to control odor emissions, rules which go into effect on March 1. Regulations are to become permanent in September of 2000.
Dr. Williams said there had been much discussion that there will be an effort to mandate a phase-out of lagoons. He described it as "a major point of debate" and also noted there are "3,000 plus" lagoons in North Carolina.
Asked who would be responsible for the cost if there is a mandated lagoon phase-out, Dr. Williams responded 10 percent for the producer and 90 percent for the taxpayer.
At the NCSU Animal and Poultry Waste Management Center, among other research, Dr. Williams and his associates study environmental issues impacting the swine industry and search for solutions. They also evaluate technologies to address the issues, some of which are developed by private sources and others by universities.
In tracing excess nitrogen in the Neuse River Basin - where there have been fish kills - Dr. Williams said it is now possible to determine nitrogen sources, whether they are from swine, municipal waste systems, commercial sources or fertilizer. He described the process as "a beautiful piece of science."
In the Neuse River Basin, which extends 240 miles to the Atlantic, he said they have measured and looked for signatures. He said that in low flow municipal sewage plants were identified and in high flow commercial fertilizer identified as most polluting.
Ammonia is also an environmental factor with it known ammonia, comes off lagoons, but Dr. Williams said the amount is unknown. Also whether it comes down close by or far away is under study with experts hoping isotope study will help determine these factors. Too much ammonia can be harmful in sensitive river systems causing damage.
Although he noted there is seepage in lagoons, particularly in porous soils, he was optimistic about lagoons since the increased strengthening of lagoon liners since 1993 in the state.
Dr. Williams also said lagoon management is important, including the applying of effluent at the right time, not in access and in proper weather conditions. He also advocated riparian buffers to control off site migration.
He also described lagoons as reducers of nitrogen and odor.
Also under in investigation in technology development is animal genetics, diet and manure (treatment/ storage/utilization).
Through animal genetics and diet less nitrogen, copper and zinc excretion is sought. There is concern about copper and zinc in animal waste because once it builds up it doesn't migrate, it was explained. Also, there is focus on recycling of manure with two dozen different technologies work in progress, according to Dr. Williams
In odor reduction, Dr. Williams described windbreak walls which divert airflow up and away - and capture dust - as one option. He also described evaporative pads in the building which reduce dust and odor.
There are technologies available to address many swine odor and waste issues but the cost remains a factor for farmers and the industry, said Dr. Williams, with "some clearly not cost effective."
The economic impact for farmers is crucial, and Dr. Williams said that factor is examined for technologies studied. Costs may range from less than a dollar up to $200 per finished animal.
In response to a question about dry operations rather than lagoons, Dr. Williams said that he thought two dry technologies would make the cut for study but that he had no idea of the cost for the lagoonless dry system.
Dr. Williams also agreed with Supervisor Dickie Abbott's observation that there is still " a lot you don't know" and are trying to find out.
The NCSU center pursues research at its site, in conjunction with other universities and evaluates private initiatives.

County planning commissioners voted Tuesday night to recommend the addition of a certified plat requirement to confined animal feeding operation ordinance recommendations sent to the Halifax County Board of Supervisors earlier this month.
Commissioners sent recommendations for revised setbacks and regulations to the Board of Supervisors on February 1.
Supervisors may accept, amend or reject Commission recommendations.
The new proposal calls on the owner to submit a plat or similar documentation showing the entire parcel or parcels on which the facility is located, one also showing the specific location of all structures and waste disposal areas for facility operations, prepared and signed by a surveyor or engineer licensed by the Commonwealth.
In the proposed document the owners will show the direction and distance to nearest existing dwelling, property lines, public roads, platted residential subdivision, mobile/manufactured home park, school, church, community facility (community center, recreation area, public building), town, public water supply (well, intake): and shall certify, sworn and subscribed to by notary public, that the facility meets all applicable Ordinance requirements and that all submitted information is true and accurate to the best of the owner's knowledge and belief.
The Halifax County Planning Commission -with E.G. Graves and J.B. Elliott absent - unanimously approved the certified plat recommendation.
A public hearing on an application from George W. and Brenda Stevens for a conditional use permit for a diesel repair and state inspection station on the south side of Route 659 (River Road) approximately 0.5 mile east of the Pittsylvania County Line was held. Commissioners approved and attached five conditions.
Next, supervisors will hold a public hearing on the request and take action.
The commission also recommended to supervisors that public hearings be authorized for a rezoning application from Seymour and Fannie Barnes for commercial activities such as a convenience/fast food store or similar use at the corner of Route 501 and Route 360 in Halifax. Part of the land falls within the Town of Halifax and part in the county.
In other business, the planning commission rescheduled its regular March 23 meeting to Tuesday, March 30.

Dam the Dan?
That's sort of what's taking place just upstream from the Watkins Bridge and railroad trestle.
Specifically it's a sandbar dam.
"We're damming the sand, not the water," explained Bill Padgett, superintendent for the project that is being built for the Town of South Boston by S.P. Cahill of Ashland, the general contractor.
Why dam the Dan?
South Boston's raw water intake line was about 4.5 feet below the surface of the river last week which flowed at 302.50 feet above sea level. During extremely dry conditions such as those that existed last summer, the intake pipe was no more than a couple of feet below the surface.
The raw water intake line was no doubt installed in the channel of the Dan which once existed on the south embankment. But sedimentation over the years has all but eliminated a channel and instead, created a sandbar that spans the entire river.
An estimated 2,800 tons of stone, some individual stones weighing as much as 150 lbs. each, will be used to form the dam that functions by maintaining a constant depth across the river. As opposed to a conventional dam that would span from one enbankment to the other, this one stops short before reaching either.
Water will rise to the top and flow over and around each end.
Once completed, a new and more reliable raw water source will assure water customers in and around South Boston of ample supplies even during the driest periods.
Oddly enough, Hurricane Fran and severe flooding of the Dan River three years ago helped South Boston land a $1,094,000 Economic Development Grant (EDA) grant.
The town provided a 25 percent match of those funds in order to replace the raw water intake line and install a standby emergency electrical power supply at the pump station, something which heretofore has not existed. Cost of this portion of the project will be $896,160.
A second phase of the project involves flood protection walls at the wastewater treatment plant located near Ferry Street. These walls will protect the wastewater treatment plant from damage during times of flooding.
The J.E. Burton Construction Co. Inc. of South Boston just completed the work at a cost of $197,830.

NEW YORK (AP) - Sued vigorously and taxed heavily, the tobacco industry has come under attack by yet another opponent: labor unions trying to recover billions of dollars in medical costs for sick smokers.
The first of more than a dozen federal lawsuits went to trial this week in Akron, Ohio, with 114 Ohio union health funds demanding $2 billion and contending Big Tobacco used images like Joe Camel and the Marlboro Man specifically to sell cigarettes to blue-collar workers.
Coming two weeks after a $51.5 million verdict against Philip Morris in California and several months after $246 billion in settlements with the 50 states, it raises the question: How much can cigarette makers take before the gouges leave permanent damage?
Nobody suggests the industry is ready to crumble. While cigarette company stocks are down, the two biggest players, Philip Morris and RJR Nabisco, are involved in many more businesses than just tobacco.
''They don't call it Big Tobacco for nothing. It's not on its knees yet,'' said Carl Bogus, a product-liability expert at Roger Williams University.
Nonetheless, the trust funds in the class-action suit, led by Iron Workers Local Union No. 17 Insurance Fund, join a litigant list that is spreading beyond smokers to health plans seeking damages for smoking's costs.
The Ohio lawsuit, filed in May 1997, claims documents show tobacco companies targeted vulnerable blue-collar workers through popular advertising images.
''The tobacco industry was aware that people with lower incomes and less education ... are more susceptible to the advertising,'' Mike Withey, an attorney from Seattle representing the plaintiffs, said last week.
Nothing illegal about advertising, the companies contend. However, one defendant, the Liggett Group Inc., an industry maverick, settled and plans to cooperate with the unions' case.
Plaintiffs suing cigarette manufacturers have run the gamut: flight attendants; the nations of Guatemala, Panama and Bolivia; a pediatrician with emphysema who is a lead plaintiff in a $200 billion class-action suit filed on behalf of Florida smokers.
Now President Clinton has threatened to sue tobacco companies to recover smoking-related Medicare expenses. And on Wednesday, Philip Morris announced it was shutting a Louisville, Ky., plant, eliminating 1,400 jobs. It said the settlement with the states was a factor.
''This industry is under siege,'' Paul Patton, governor of the tobacco-growing state of Kentucky, said last month. ''There's a limit to what this product can bear, and we're coming close to that limit.''
Union plans like Ohio's, and any suits on Medicare's behalf, form a new ring of plaintiffs that some call ''secondhand entities'' - organizations or governments that claim financial damage, as opposed to individual smokers claiming cigarettes made them sick.
So far, however, the union cases have been largely unsuccessful. Nine have been thrown out, with some judges saying the unions had no legal standing unless they filed separate lawsuits on behalf of every smoker.
''These claims are too remote. They've been a resounding failure,'' said Steven Rissman, assistant general counsel for Philip Morris. ''Akron is certainly an aberration. We're not concerned about floodgates.''
Nonetheless, a victory in Ohio ''would clearly break new ground,'' said Richard Daynard, chairman of the anti-cigarette Tobacco Products Liability Project at Northeastern University in Boston.
Because last year's settlement with the states immunized companies from individual states' lawsuits, he said, many believed the industry ''would be basically home free.''
''It's now apparent that they're far from it,'' Daynard said.
''If they settle this, they're in very bad shape,'' because ''presumably you have other health-care providers in the wings. If they lose, they're in even worse shape because they've proven to people there's no reason these suits can't win.''
Lawsuits alleging financial damage are more about economics than justice, says Uwe Reinhardt, a Princeton University health economist. He calls the union suits ''a profitable roulette game'' that won't last.
''At some point, the judicial system is probably going to put a stop to it. Because they'll say they're killing an industry,'' Reinhardt said.
The litigation has helped push some tobacco stocks down sharply. Philip Morris sold for $40.56 1/4 as of close Wednesday, down 19 percent from its 52-week high; Loew's Corp., owner of Lorillard, sold for $78.87 1/2, down more than 26 percent. Others have dropped less drastically.
Martin Feldman, a tobacco analyst at Solomon Smith Barney, acknowledges the high-profile cases - and the sensitive internal industry documents they've dislodged - can scare investors. But he's hardly staying away.
''Big settlements encourage the plaintiff bar to seek further ways of profiting from the tobacco pot,'' Feldman said. ''But at the end of the day, they face an industry that's well-funded and substantially has the law on its side.''

If felt like Christmas in February at law enforcement offices throughout Halifax County as officers examined hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of "new" equipment obtained through the Department of Defense.
Halifax Police Chief Shawn Sweeney smiled continuously as he displayed box after box of radio, office and computer equipment. A "new" 1986 Chevrolet Blazer 4X4 and a 1986 4X4 pick-up truck sat right outside the door.
It was a similar scenario at the South Boston Police Department, and the Halifax County Sheriff's Department also received items.
But the best part of all was that all of this equipment, vehicles included, was free.
South Boston Police Chief Jim Hall explained that all the items were surplus goods being distributed to police departments around the nation as a result of military downsizing.
"It's like Christmas. We've got all kinds of goodies," Hall said as he pointed out two ultra-sonic weapon cleaners, a couple night-vision scopes worth about $10,000 each, two laptop computers, boxes of walkie talkies and other communications equipment, thousands of dollars worth of tools, and an assortment of other items.
Hall said the Police Department received two 4X4 1986 Chevrolet Blazers, which were already on the road Thursday, and a heavy duty 1986 4X4 Chevrolet pick-up truck that used to be a troop carrier.
"These heavy duty vehicles will really come in handy when it floods or we have other bad weather or the task force needs something in the field," Hall said. "We have a use for everything we've gotten."
Hall explained that as a result of numerous military bases closing around the country, such as Fort Belvoir near Washington, D.C., this surplus equipment was being made available to law enforcement agencies on a first come, first serve basis.
Working together, the South Boston and Halifax police departments and the Halifax County Sheriff's Department went to the Defense Reutilization and Marketing Office and secured various items and then submitted their requests through the State Police, who then forwarded the paperwork to the Department of Defense.
"The only cost involved was the trips there and back," Hall said.
The Halifax and South Boston police departments both received body armor, global positioning systems, Xerox machines, and a large supply of antifreeze. Sweeney also pointed out the cameras, portable water filtration systems, office furniture, vehicle light bars and fax machine the department secured through this military surplus program.
"These are all things that would be nice to have, but they are not considered essential. Now we have all this high tech equipment, and at no cost to the towns or the county," Sweeney said. "Some of it's a little dusty, but all of it is easy to clean up and it gives us added capability."
Lt. Steve Cassada with the Halifax Sheriff's Department said so far they have received a number of items, such as field jackets, that will be used by the tactical team members in the field.
"We're still waiting to hear if we're going to get the body armor and various radio equipment," Cassada said. "This is really a good program. So many of these items are just so expensive, so anything we can get for the department through this program saves the county a lot of money."

The light dusting of snow that fell in Halifax County earlier this week was blamed for two minor accidents, according to reports from the State Police.
Late Tuesday night around 11:45 p.m., Tommie Lee Tucker Jr., 23, of Halifax, lost control of his car when he hit an icy patch along Route 501 just north of Alchie Lane (Route 795).
Tucker's vehicle, a 1996 Ford, sustained an estimated $1,000 in damages when it ran off the right side of the roadway.
Investigating Trooper D.J. Cline charged Tucker, who was not injured, with reckless driving.
The following morning at 10:15 a.m., Kenneth S. Dixon, 35, of Halifax, lost control of his vehicle when he hit an isolated patch of ice on Thompson Store Road (Route 676) about 50 feet west of Nunnleys Bridge Road (Route 665).
Sgt. J.L. Hopkins indicated in his report that after it hit the ice, Dixon's 1994 Jeep Wrangler ran off the right side of the road, struck an embankment, and overturned onto its side.
Damage to the vehicle was estimated at $2,000.
No charges were filed.
Earlier in the week, Roger T. Carrington, 49, of Scottsburg, was charged with reckless driving after he wrecked his car on Howard P. Anderson Road.
Reports indicated that Monday at 5:30 a.m. Carrington was traveling on Howard P. Anderson Road (Route 626) approximately one mile north of Route 360 when he ran off the left side of the roadway and overturned down an embankment.
Investigating State Trooper R.T. Ridgeway estimated that Carrington's vehicle sustained approximately $2,500 in damages.
No injuries were reported.

Ethel Dunaway Perkins of 5023 Bill Tuck Highway, South Boston died February 24, 1999 at Halifax Regional Hospital. She was 88 years of age at the time of her death.
Mrs. Perkins was born in Halifax County on July 18, 1910 the daughter of Samuel Nelson Dunaway and Mary Laura Motley Dunaway. She was a member of Mount Cana United Methodist Church.
Survivors include three sons, Robert W. Perkins and Earl A. Perkins, both of South Boston and Steve W. Perkins of Charlottesville; three daughters, Thelma P. Daniel and Mary P. Redd, both of South Boston and Mabel P. Perkins of Halifax; seven grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; one sister, Carrie M. Dunaway of South Boston; and a number of nieces and nephews.
Funeral services for Mrs. Perkins will be held today, February 26 at 2 p.m. at Powell Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Robert Lewis conducting the service. Burial will take place in Mount Cana United Methodist Church Cemetery.
Those wishing to give memorials are asked to consider Mount Cana United Methodist Church Memorial Fund, c/o Frances Perkins, 1048 Sweet Gum Road, South Boston.

Nell Lowery Bowen, 70, of Richmond, formerly of Halifax County, died Saturday, February 20, 1999 at Henrico Doctor's Hospital.
She was born July 24, 1928 the daughter of Evie Lowery and Annie Cole Lowery and was married to Lawrence W. Bowen. She was a member of Emmanuel Baptist Church.
In addition to her husband of 50 years, she is survived by two daughters and their husbands, Shelia and Donald Redman and Donna and John King; five grandchildren, Laura and Aaron Redman, Jason, Justin and Jeffrey King; two sisters, Virginia L. Martin of South Boston and Thelma L. Best of Pensacola, FL; five brothers, Emmet and Lindy Lowery, both of Chester, Chester, Weldon and Aubrey Lowery, all of South Boston.
Funeral services for Mrs. Bowen were held at Bliley's Funeral Chapel in Richmond on Tuesday, February 23 at 11 a.m. Burial was in Greenwood Memorial Gardens.

Those wishing to give memorials are asked to consider the Lakeside Volunteer Rescue Squad, Timberlake Avenue, Richmond, VA 23228.

Calpertie Faulkner Garrett of Queens, NY died Thursday, February 18 at Rockland State Hospital in Rockland County, NY at the age of 81.
She was born in Mecklenburg County on February 5, 1918. Survivors include her husband, Samuel Garrett of Queens; one brother, Calvin Faulkner of Durham, NC.
Funeral services for Mrs. Garrett will be held Saturday, February 27 at 2 p.m. at Mt. Pleasant Baptist Church in Nathalie with Rev. James Traynham officiating.

The family will receive friends at Crawford, Garrett & Burton Funeral Service tonight, February 26 from 7-8:00, and other times at the home of Annie Ragland, 4055 Morton's Ferry Road, Nathalie.

Margaret Virginia Conner of 3226 Ridge Road, Vernon Hill died Wednesday, February 24, 1999 at Halifax Regional Hospital. She was 71 years of age at the time of her death.
Ms. Conner was born in Halifax County on July 11, 1927 the daughter of Thomas Edward Conner and Mary Compton Conner.
Survivors include three daughters, Linda C. Francis of Scottsburg, Mary J. Stuart of Roxboro, NC and Julie C. Elliott of Vernon Hill; two sons, Steve A. Conner of South Boston and Nathaniel Harvey Conner of Virgilina; four sisters, Susie C. Jones and Peggy Conner, both of Halifax, Louise C. Brooks of Climax and Nettie Conner of Vernon Hill; one brother, Hunter Conner of Clover; 12 grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.
Funeral services for Ms. Conner will be held Saturday, February 27 at 2 p.m. at Powell Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Michael Phillips conducting the service. Burial will follow in Pleasant Grove United Church of Christ Cemetery.
The family will receive friends at Powell Funeral Home tonight, February 26 from 7 until 9:00, and other times at the home.

William Holt of 1227 Porter Lane South Boston died Sunday, February 21, 1999 at Halifax Regional Hospital. He was 65 years of age.
He was born in Halifax County on September 19, 1933 and was the son Robert Holt and Viola Easley Holt and was married to Gladys Wood Holt. He was a member of Piney Grove Baptist Church.
Mr. Holt is survived by his wife; two daughters, Deborah Jones of Albany, NY and Felicia Holt of Richmond; two sons, Robert Holt of Raleigh, NC and Major Holt of South Boston; seven grandchildren; his mother; one sister, Mary Darrensbourg of Scottsburg.
Funeral services for Mr. Holt will be held Saturday, February 27 at 2 p.m. at Piney Grove Baptist Church with Elder Emmett H. Jeffress officiating. Burial will follow in the church cemetery.
The family will receive friends at the Chapel of Jeffress Funeral Home this evening, February 26, 6:30 until 8:00, and other times at the home.

Harold Glenn Stephens, of 1200 East Elkhorn Road, Java died Tuesday, February 23 1999 at Halifax Regional Hospital. He was 47 years of age.
He was born in Halifax County on December 19, 1951 and was the son of the late Irvin Stephens and Lucy Tucker Stephens. He was a member of Elkhorn Baptist Church.
Mr. Stephens is survived by two daughters, Chasity and Kadesha; one grandchild; his mother; five sisters Mary Younger of Halifax, Rosa Logan of Washington, DC, Ethel Venable of Scottsburg, Geneva Jones of Nathalie, and Geraldine Norwood of Java; five brothers, Robert Stephens and Roy Stephens, both of Richmond, Ernest Stephens of Halifax, Eddie Stephens of Landover, MD, and McArthur Stephens of Java; five brothers-in-law; four sisters-in-law.
Funeral services for Mr. Stephens will be held Saturday, February 27 at 11:00 a.m. at Elkhorn Baptist Church with Rev. Dr. C. Lewis Motley officiating. Burial will follow in the church cemetery.

The family will receive friends at the home of the deceased, 1200 East Elkhorn Road, Java.