HANCEVILLE, Ala. – As it continues to confront lawsuits and other legal issues related to an early June wastewater spill than contaminated miles of the Mulberry Fork and a short portion of the Sipsey Fork, Tyson Foods subsidiary River Valley Ingredients has also had two recent road spills from trucks going to the company’s Hanceville plant.
The first occurred in a remote area, on Hwy 91 at the intersection with CR 509 where the trucks turn off of the highway to go to the plant. The second was much more visible, occurring Thursday morning in the intersection of Hwy. 91 and Hwy. 31 in downtown Hanceville. Tyson officials said that the spilled material poses no health threat.
Tyson spokesman Worth Sparkman told The Tribune, “A valve opened on a truck taking organic inedible material to the River Valley Ingredients plant for rendering on Thursday. We use water, lime and a product called Oil-dri for clean up; the material spilled was not hazardous.”
A separate automobile accident happened at the same intersection in Hanceville a short time later. According to the Hanceville Fire Department, which was on the scene, the auto accident happened around 20 minutes after the spill and was unrelated to the spill.
Investigation into the river spill is ongoing.
