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EPA Issues Ilegal Discharge Complaint to Another Dairy in Klamath Falls

Release Date: 4/15/1999
Contact Information: The Office of Water
[email protected]
(206) 553-1669

99-18 - - - - - - - - - - April 15, 1999


Manure Found in Drainage Ditch
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

For the second time in six weeks, a dairy in southern Oregon’s Klamath County has been issued a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency complaint seeking civil penalties because agency inspectors discovered manure-laden dairy wastes entering drainage ditches that connect to the Lost River.
The new complaint was issued to Paul Boersma and Jeff Boersma of Bonanza, about 25 miles east of Klamath Falls, according to an announcement today by Bub Loiselle, manager of the water compliance unit at EPA’s Northwest regional headquarters in Seattle. Loiselle said the allegations in the EPA complaint are based upon observations made by EPA inspectors during a visit to the dairy last November.

"There are definitely more complaints to come," Loiselle said. "EPA is conducting unannounced inspections throughout the state, and the indications are that we will be taking similar actions at dairies in a number of other places in Oregon."

Loiselle explained that inspections are part of ongoing efforts by EPA and the Oregon Department of Agriculture to ensure that dairies and other concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs) are in compliance with the federal Clean Water Act. With more inspections to come, EPA and state personnel have already visited dairies and other CAFOs in the Klamath Basin, in Douglas County and in the Portland area. Reports made by the inspectors are under evaluation by EPA.

The Clean Water Act requires all CAFOs to prevent discharges of wastes that can pollute surface waters. Dairy waste typically contains large amounts of nutrients and other organic material that can degrade water quality and harm wildlife. The wastes also contain E. coli bacteria and other microorganisms that can seriously affect human health.

The complaint to the Boersma dairy proposes a penalty totaling $22,000 for two violations of the no-discharge requirement, said Loiselle. The Boersmas have 20 days from the date they received the complaint to challenge the penalty and to contest the EPA allegations.

The Boersma dairy (at 7122 Langell Valley Road) is near the Bonanza View Dairy which early last month received an EPA complaint proposing a total penalty of $33,000 for three alleged violations of the Clean Water Act. Like the discharges from the Boersma dairy, the discharges from Bonanza View were said by EPA to have entered drainage ditches that connect to the Lost River, a river that runs across the state line into Klamath County from California and flows back again into the Tulelake Wildlife Refuge.

According to information available to EPA, the Lost River receives loadings of nutrients from local agricultural activities, including contributions from dairies and other livestock operations. EPA regards the impacts of animal wastes on water quality as severe.