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EPA orders Indiana dairy to comply with discharge permit

Release Date: 01/05/2007
Contact Information: Phillippa Cannon, (312) 353-6218, [email protected]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
No. 07 - OPA001

(CHICAGO - Jan. 5, 2007) - U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Region 5 has ordered Vreba-Hoff Dairy Development LLC Wauseon, Ohio, and De Jong Dairy LLC Fremont, Ind. to stop all unauthorized discharges and meet all the requirements of the dairy's state-issued discharge permit. De Jong Dairy is a large concentrated animal feeding operation (CAFO) with approximately 900 mature dairy cows. The dairy has submitted an application to the Indiana Department of Environmental Management for a construction permit to expand the operation to 1,800 cows.

The dairy is required to install and maintain markers on all manure and wastewater storage structures, at all times maintain a minimum of two feet between the stored manure and the top of storage structures, conduct weekly inspections of waste storage structures to see whether they are in good working order, keep records and report to permitting agencies, submit plans that demonstrate that the dairy has enough storage to prevent discharge, perform best management practices, and develop and implement a nutrient management plan.

The facility is owned by Vreba-Hoff Dairy Development and leased by the De Jong dairy. Storm water run-off discharged from CAFOs typically contains very high levels of nutrients and pathogens that can pose a threat to public health and harm aquatic life. The Clean Water Act requires CAFOs to comply with their permits.