The County Council has unanimously authorized widespread slaughter throughout much of rural Whatcom County. Check this map. If you live in or near the green or purple, a slaughterhouse can locate within 150 feet of your property. Slaughterhouses are known to demolish neighboring property values and related pests can render food crops unsaleable.

While authorizing an unlimited number of slaughterhouses in many remote areas of the county, the Council failed to provide for any additional staff for monitoring or inspection of water usage or waste disposal. On-site “composting” of animal remains and offal are permitted. Despite well documented risks to human health and the environment, the Council refused to require any competent environmental review.

Council wrapped the ordinance in flowery words, pretending it would help provide quality local meat products for discerning local consumers. But they knew it was really designed to make the annual grinding of more than 15,000 GMO-fed, worn out dairy cows into hamburger more profitable. Why did they know? The Council appointed the principle architect of the measure to the Planning Commission, knowing he had a personal financial interest in the business.

Tip Johnson