Saturday, April 28, 2012

An Offensive Stench Threatens Hallowed Ground


149 years after the Battle of Gettysburg, another war is waging. Our historic town and Hallowed Ground are in a battle to perserve our heritage, our traditional farms, our homes, our scenic views, our amazing fresh country air, our water, and our ability to provide a pleasant vacation to the millions of folks who love to visit Gettysburg.

The invasion: Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations. Nicknames: CAFO   CAO

CAFO's are attempting to reside in our paradise. It is conceivable that the battlefields of Gettysburg could one day be surrounded and boxed in by the offensive stench of animal factories. Acquisition-based, vertically integrated corporations are willfully replacing traditional farming with Industrial-scale Agribusiness factories. Factory CAFO's (Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations) contain millions of animals from conception to death, tightly confined in warehouses. Warehouses can be nearly two football fields in length...or longer.

CAFO's have an Odor Matrix Formula. Thousands upon thousands of animals crammed into confined warehousing creates offensive odors, mountains of manure, cesspool lagoons, flies, rodents, disease, pathogens and serious human health issues.

Homes and traditional farms located within a predetermined radius of a proposed site will each be evaluated and assigned a number. If the numbers plugged into the Odor Matrix equation exceed a score of 100, the CAFO can not be built.


But, what if the number is less than 100? What if the odor matrix result is 97, or 88? It means, traditional farms, established homes, and historic battlefields near the proposed CAFO are treated as if they do not exist. The properties, the residents, and the millions of tourists, are sacrificed.

The proposed CAO scored less than 100.

The Gettysburg National Military Park is 1 mile and 3 tenths from the proposed CAO.
The Peace Light Memorial is 1 mile and 4 tenths from the proposed CAO.

Stench and pathogens from CAO's can travel 5 to 6 miles.
We are all at risk.  We need your help.  We are engaged in battle.  We need more troops.  Will you volunteer?


In one month, 23 May 2012, the fate of millions of tourists who visit Gettysburg, plus the fate of thousands of residents who live in Gettysburg will be decided by five Cumberland Township Supervisors at a Conditional Use Hearing. Aquisition-based Concentrated Animal Operations, funded and backed by state and federal government, have determined that Gettysburg is an ideal location to house industrial animal factories. Gettysburg's Military Park is located in Cumberland Township. The battlefields are surrounded by acres of privately owned open fields.

The threat is a Hillandale backed 60,000 egg laying poultry warehouse, seeking construction at 1714 Mummasburg Road, Gettysburg, PA. Once CAFO's are permitted, historically they expand their operations. Adjacent to 1714 Mummasburg Road, is a 400 acre parcel of land for sale. 400 acres could easily accommodate 5 million+ chickens, turkeys, tens of thousands of hogs, and, or dairy/beef cattle. Using the ACRE Law, the Attorney General's office can exercise the right to threaten legal action against townships if they attempt to block entrance of CAO's. The ACRE Law, Act 32 was established 6 July 2005.

The Pennsylvania State Conservation Commission, The Department of Agriculture, Penn State, The Attorney General, Department of Environmental Protection, to name a few, all work hand in hand.

Gettysburg and her health, safety and welfare are in trouble.

Thank you for your kind consideration of our plight.  For more information and/or to join the battle against CAOs and CAFO in Cumberland Township, contact me at