The permit approves AquaBounty to install two mile-long pipelines near Pioneer, one to draw groundwater and another to discharge wastewater into the St. Joseph River
PIONEER, Ohio — A controversial fish farming project in Williams County is back in the spotlight after AquaBounty Farms quietly received state approval for a new water pipeline system — even though construction on its genetically modified salmon facility has been paused for more than a year.
The Ohio Environmental Protection Agency approved a five-year permit allowing AquaBounty to install two mile-long pipelines near Pioneer. One would draw groundwater from a local aquifer, while the other would discharge wastewater into the east branch of the St. Joseph River.
According to the permit, it was officially granted on Sept. 12, with an effective date of Oct. 1. The permit remains valid through Sept. 30, 2030.
Residents who have followed the project closely say they were blindsided by the news. Members of the Williams County Alliance, an environmental advocacy group, said they were told they’d be notified when any new permits were issued. However, the approval was never announced publicly on the Ohio EPA’s website, AquaBounty’s website or the village of Pioneer’s page.
In a statement to WTOL 11, the Ohio EPA acknowledged that no public notice was issued and attributed the lapse to “an internal oversight.”
The EPA's statement:
"Ohio EPA, due to an internal oversight, did not issue a public notice regarding the issuance of AquaBounty’s permit.
It is our practice to release such notices, though not required by law, and we regret that this practice was not followed. We are continuing to look into this matter.
The permit holds the protection of human health and the environment as top priorities."
Sherry Fleming, a leader with the Williams County Alliance, criticized the lack of transparency.
“This lack of a required simple notification to the public by the Ohio EPA illustrates how disconnected the state government is to the communities that will live with the impacts from this project every day,” said Fleming. “We deserve better.”
AquaBounty halted construction of its Pioneer facility in June 2023, citing financial challenges and rising construction costs. The company has not said if or when work on the site will resume.
WTOL 11 has reached out for comment to AquaBounty and are waiting for a response.
The permit remains active through September 2030.