The avian influenza outbreak at Hickman’s Family Farms in Tonopah, Arizona, has intensified local concerns about environmental and health risks, as detailed in a recent investigative report by 12News titled “How will Hickman’s Farms dispose of 6 million dead chickens?”.
The mass burial of millions of euthanized chickens at the Concentrated Animal Feeding Operation (CAFO) has raised alarms about potential groundwater contamination, threatening the well water that Tonopah residents rely on.
At STOPP (Save Tonopah Oppose Poultry Plant), we are amplifying the community’s call for accountability and immediate action to protect our environment.
The 12News investigation reveals the scale of the crisis at Hickman’s 360-acre Tonopah facility, where drone footage captured tractors digging trenches for poultry carcasses.
This follows conflicting statements from state officials, who initially denied burials at the site before confirming them, as we noted in our post “Hickman’s Egg Farm Faces Scrutiny Over Insensitive Cartoon and Lack of Transparency Amid Bird Flu Crisis” (September 13, 2025).
The lack of clear communication and the proximity of homes—some just a quarter mile away—heightens fears of contamination, especially given the region’s reliance on well water.
STOPP has long warned about the environmental dangers posed by Hickman’s operations, from noxious odors to ammonia emissions and volatile organic compounds (VOCs), as highlighted in our post “Protecting Tonopah’s Well Water: Understanding the Risks of Mass Poultry Burial” (June 3, 2025).
The 12News report underscores the urgency of adhering to federal and state guidelines for preventing groundwater contamination, a concern echoed by local residents and business owners like Michael Wirth, who has previously sued Hickman’s over pollution issues.
The community is demanding a town hall with Hickman’s and state officials to address these risks and ensure transparent cleanup efforts.
As the 12News investigation notes, while other Hickman’s sites are transporting carcasses to landfills, the Tonopah facility’s on-site burials remain a critical issue.
STOPP stands with residents in pushing for rigorous environmental studies and accountability to safeguard Tonopah’s water and air quality.
We encourage the community to stay informed and support our advocacy efforts.
Read the full 12News investigative report here for more details, and visit https://tonopahstopp.com/ to learn how you can help protect Tonopah by donating or joining our cause.
