The city of Kennansville, NC and the surrounding Duplin County area is a major hub of hog processing in the form of Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations. Annually, the county processes 2,274,524 hogs. One study found that CAFOs were nine times more likely to be sited in areas with high poverty and a large minority community even controlling for population density. Waste from the CAFOs is stored untreated in large lagoons and then applied to the land. These lagoons of waste contain harmful pathogens, insecticides, antibiotics and other pharmaceuticals as well as nitrogen and phosphorus. The waste leaches into the surrounding ground and overflows during times of heavy rainfall contaminating local watersheds. Pollution and odor also travel through the air in fine particles that coat outside surfaces. Testing in the area has found high levels of hydrogen sulfide, endotoxin, coarse particulate matter, and semi-volatile compounds. Local residents have complained of respiratory problems, irritated skin, and eyes, and nausea.

What recourse dofederal statutes and regulationsoffer the citizens of Duplin County?