Golden Oval Eggs announced its construction plan to expand the wastewater treatment system at its Thompson, Iowa, egg production and processing site. With site work beginning soon, the estimated $2.5 million construction project, including lagoon modifications, is projected to be in full operation in April 2009.
Since 1999 planning stages for the $85 million Iowa complex, Golden Oval Eggs has worked with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) to build and maintain a facility designed for environmental stewardship. Through start-up and other engineering challenges during rapid growth, the local DNR officials helped monitor and guide the company. In the past year, Golden Oval Eggs has invested more than $0.5 million to protect the local environment, each step approved by the DNR.
In announcing this construction project, President and Chief Executive Officer Dana Persson stated, “The current construction plan for a greatly enhanced wastewater system took nearly two years to complete and meets all Iowa current standards. Our engineers presented different approaches to resolve issues primarily in our influent process in the aerated lagoons and the Department of Natural Resources helped finalize these plans. We anticipate completion next spring with most of this $2.5 million investment spent on local services and contractors in Iowa.”
Nearly 200 employees work at the Thompson, Iowa, complex.