Meadowvale Dairy, Clean Water Act Violations, Iowa 2023
ROCK VALLEY, Iowa - In a major victory for environmental justice, Meadowvale Dairy, LLC, has agreed to pay a civil penalty and take actions to prevent illegal discharges to Iowa streams in compliance with the Clean Water Act. Officials from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Justice Environment and Natural Resources Division announced the settlement today.
Since 2002, the Iowa Department of Natural Resources has identified multiple violations of the dairy’s two National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permits. The violations included fish kills in tributaries that lead to the Big Sioux River in 2004 and 2009. State and EPA inspections discovered evidence of additional unauthorized discharges of stormwater runoff into the tributaries in 2013 and 2014.
Meadowvale Dairy operates multiple concentrated animal feeding operations in Rock Valley, Iowa. The operation includes four locations – North Site and South Site (both permitted), a calf barn/hut, and a satellite concrete manure storage structure. The company will be required to implement injunctive relief that includes short-term and long-term corrective measures to prevent unpermitted discharges of pollutants into tributaries.
The proposed consent decree lodged today in U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Iowa requires Meadowvale Dairy to implement the following measures:
1. Retain an independent third party to develop and perform an audit, verifying compliance with the requirements of the proposed consent decree.
2. Comply with all requirements of its National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permits, including adherence to its Nutrient Management Plan.
3. Ensure all production areas are designed, constructed and operated to prevent unpermitted discharges with an exclusion for a 25-year, 24-hour storm event.
EPA estimates that changes made by Meadowvale required by this proposed settlement will result in a reduction of approximately 200,000 pounds of pollutants discharged annually. The reductions will help to protect aquatic ecosystems, decrease sedimentation and improve overall water quality. The settlement also requires Meadowvale Dairy to pay $160,000 in civil penalties for alleged violations of the Clean Water Act related to mismanagement of animal wastes.
The U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Iowa, Kevin Techau, said, “The scope of the injunctive relief and the size of the civil penalty are a clear signal to Iowa’s CAFOs about the importance of compliance.” Mark Hague, EPA Region 7 regional administrator, added, “The settlement today helps ensure a level playing field for all operators by holding those who violate environmental regulations accountable.
The proposed consent decree is the result of a joint investigation by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Justice Environment and Natural Resources Division into alleged Clean Water Act violations at Meadowvale Dairy. The investigation found that the dairy had failed to comply with the terms of its National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permits and had made unauthorized discharges of stormwater runoff into tributaries.
Meadowvale Dairy operates two NPDES-permitted large concentrated animal feeding operations, confining approximately 10,000 head of cattle on a combined 185 acres in Rock Valley. The operation includes four locations – North Site and South Site (both permitted), a calf barn/hut, and a satellite concrete manure storage structure.
The proposed consent decree requires Meadowvale Dairy to take corrective measures to prevent future discharges into Iowa streams. The measures include implementing a Nutrient Management Plan, ensuring all production areas are designed to prevent unpermitted discharges, and retaining an independent third party to audit compliance with the proposed consent decree.
Key Facts
- State: Iowa
- Category: Environmental Crimes
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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