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

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