River Valley Ingredients issued a statement Wednesday that the Mulberry Fork and Sipsey Fork near Hanceville are available for recreation, nearly a week after partially treated effluent spilled into the water from the plant.

The environmental organization Black Warrior Riverkeeper is contradicting River Valley with a posting on Facebook about the results of testing in the water.

The spillage is blamed for the death of an untold number of fish and other wildlife, dating to late last week.

The company’s statement read:

“River Valley Ingredients would like for the public to know that as of today, June 12, 2019, the Mulberry Fork and the Sipsey Fork near Hanceville, Alabama, are available for recreation. Oxygen levels in the water have returned to normal, which are appropriate for area wildlife. 

Again, we deeply regret the incident and appreciate the coordination of efforts and help we received from the Alabama Department of Environmental Management and Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. We will be seeking guidance from both agencies on our longer-term remediation efforts and will communicate those to the community once we’ve decided on the course of action.”

Black Warrior Riverkeeper posted Wednesday:

“Tyson fish kill update: water samples taken on Monday afternoon (6/10/2019) by Black Warrior Riverkeeper at the confluence of the Sipsey and Mulberry Forks, approximately 28 miles downstream of the spill at the rendering facility owned by Tyson in Hanceville returned results for E. coli of nearly 600 col./100mL, double the maximum amount allowed by the state of Alabama in surface waters during the summer recreation season. We continue to recommend that people and their pets avoid swimming, fishing, drinking, or otherwise coming into contact with the water in the Mulberry Fork for the time being. Please join us in encouraging anyone concerned to file complaints with ADEM and DCNR, and encourage them to levy stiff penalties for Tyson’s massive fish kill. Also write elected officials to complain about Tyson and ADEM: blackwarriorriver.org/governmental-agencies/

The organization also pointed out the company was at fault in 2016 for a similar incident that killed thousands of fish.