Minnesota Pollution Control Agency

Contact: Stephen Mikkelson, 218-855-5001 Toll-free: 1-800-657-3864 Brainerd, Minn. -- Dairyridge Inc., of Long Prairie has paid $15,000 for alleged feedlot violations, according to the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA). The violations stem from a July 2005 discharge of liquid manure due to a faulty irrigation system. The faulty system caused the liquid manure to flow through nearby wetlands and drainage ditches, eventually ending up in Lake Charlotte. This led to the temporary closing of the Long Prairie city beach. The company also did not submit adequate reports of the incident to the MPCA. In addition to paying the $15,000 civil penalty, the company has also paid the University of Minnesota an additional $7,000 to fund a supplemental environmental project. The University plans to use the money to conduct a study on how to reduce odor emissions from dairy manure irrigation onto cropland. The study is scheduled to be complete by the end of this year. 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. 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, refer to the agency Web site at www.pca.state.mn.us/newscenter/enforcement.html.