Contact: Stephen Mikkelson, 218-316-3887
Brainerd, Minn. -- Crow Wing Feeders LLC, and the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) have reached an agreement that requires the company to pay $15,000 for alleged feedlot violations at its cattle feedlot in Cass County, Minn.
MPCA staff inspections in December of 2009 revealed several violations relating to an unpermitted construction and expansion, discharges, and failure to obtain required permits. According to inspection reports, the company expanded its feedlot to nearly 2,700 head of cattle without obtaining a required National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permit. NPDES permits are required when a feedlot exceeds 1,000 cattle. The company also used unpermitted and uncertified liquid manure storage areas for manure and manure-contaminated runoff. These areas were not engineered or designed in accordance with Minnesota statutes, and the company failed to submit a permit application, and plans and specifications prior to constructing them.
In addition to paying the $15,000 civil penalty, the company was required to empty and close the manure storage areas and land apply the manure and contaminated soils. They must also limit the amount of cattle on the feedlot to their current registered number of 840.
The MPCA regulates the collection, transportation, storage, processing and disposal of animal manure. It also provides outreach and training for feedlot operators. More information about feedlot regulations 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.
