A site near Wolford, N.D., may be home to Hexagon 2, a 6,000 sow farrowing center.

Larry and Carlan Slaubaugh of Wolford are seeking a building permit from the county. Cando, N.D., Mayor Jim Gibbens, who owns Dakota Country Swine and Hexagon 1 hog operations in the Cando area, has applied for the health department permit, according an Associated Press report

The Pierce County Planning and Zoning Commission and the state Health Department held public hearings on the proposal recently. Supporters testified about the environmental safeguards built into the design and strategies to minimize odors. They said the hog operation would create $600,000 to $725,000 in wages and produce manure that would be use to fertilize area crops. Opponents expressed concerns about odor, ground water contamination risks and the impact on surrounding property values and other issues.