Minnesota Pollution Control Agency

Contact: Forrest Peterson, 320-214-3789 St. Paul, Minn. -- A large dairy north of Cottonwood has paid a $11,212 penalty for alleged violations involving a 23-million gallon manure storage basin and other operating requirements. During an August 2006 inspection of the Lone Tree Dairy, Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) staff observed the basin in danger of overflowing and other violations of the dairy's operating permit. Manure and wastewater from the 1,400-cow dairy had filled the basin to within inches of the top. Extra dirt had been piled at one corner in an attempt to prevent an overflow. Some of the permit violations included failure to conduct weekly inspections, lack of plans for on-site emergencies and dead animal disposal, unprotected waste feed and bedding piles, inadequate records of manure land application, and failure to follow the operation and maintenance plans. Lone Tree Dairy has completed much of the work required in the agreement. Enough manure has been removed from the basin to lower the level. A consultant has been hired to develop a plan to improve the basin, which must be completed by the end of 2008. The MPCA regulates the collection, transportation, storage, processing and disposal of animal manure, and provides assistance to counties and the livestock industry. More information about feedlot regulation and assistance is available on the MPCA Web site at www.pca.state.mn.us. A stipulation agreement such as this is one of the tools used to achieve compliance with environmental laws. When calculating penalties, the MPCA takes into account how seriously the violation affected the environment, whether it is a first time or repeat violation, and how promptly the violation was reported to appropriate authorities. It also attempts to recover the calculated economic benefit gained by failure to comply with environmental laws in a timely manner. For a comprehensive list of enforcement actions by the MPCA, go to the agency Web site at www.pca.state.mn.us/newscenter/enforcement.html.