Hog Farm Fine Will Go To Protecting Land

The U.S. Attorney's Office is using a hog farm company's violation to send a message on protecting the environment.

Gurnal Scott: The admission by Columbus County-based Freedman Farms to dumping hog waste in a offshoot of the Waccamaw River in 2007 is costing the company dearly, to the tune of a million and a half dollars.

Thomas Walker: We think that this amount of money going back in to help the people of this district is something that's worth celebrating.

Thomas Walker, U.S. Attorney for North Carolina's Eastern District, adds that this is one of several prosecutions aimed at protecting the environment. The state's Coastal Land Trust will benefit most from Freedman Farms' penalty. Executive Director Camilla Herlevich.

Camilla Herlevich: We hope that the conservation work that will begin with this restitution award will serve as a catalyst ant that we can direct even more resources to this special place.

Freedman farms is still in business, but its president will serve prison time and house arrest for the company's actions.