Proposed Changes To Poultry Regs Tabled In Worcester

SNOW HILL – A draft of new poultry regulations was sent back to the drawing board as the Worcester County Commissioners opted not to introduce the bill at this week’s legislative session.

On Tuesday, none of the commissioners offered the support needed to send the proposed regulations on to public hearing. The regulations, put forth in a text amendment developed by Worcester County Development Review and Permitting staff, received a favorable recommendation from the county’s planning commission earlier this month.

Commission President Jim Bunting said the lack of action was due to the fact that more stakeholder meetings were necessary.

“We got a lot of emails from poultry farmers complaining they didn’t have time to digest everything or have any input,” Bunting said.

He said county officials would meet with Ed Tudor, head of the department of development review and permitting, as well as with area farmers and other stakeholders to go over the amendment currently proposed. Bunting believes all interested parties agree that there’s a need for updated regulations as Confined Animal Feeding Operations become more common.

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