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EPA continues to target Iowa feedlots

The federal Environmental Protection Agency recently announced that four Iowa CAFOs—concentrated animal feeding operations—are out of compliance with the Clean Water Act. 

EPA spokesman Chris Whitley says there are several non-compliance issues with the four feedlots.

“Everything from wastewater discharges by unpermitted CAFOs—we have one case that involves discharges by a large CAFO in violation of its approved permit—failure to maintain adequate storage capacity for waste,” Whitley says. “(and) you’ve got a large CAFO that has not done a proper job of tacking its land applications.”

Whitley says most of the operators are working with the EPA to try and get back into compliance and follow the rules.

“The compliance orders are simply a first step of enforcement that EPA has at its disposal,” he says. “They don’t involve fines.  They are simply, as the name implies—it’s an order to put your operation into compliance with laws and regulations.”

Whitley says, for the most part, feedlot operators are willing to do the right thing and follow the rules.  But sometimes there are misunderstandings on what the requirements demand. 

Farmers, Whitley says, are among the best environmental stewards out there. “We all understand the importance of protecting water resources,” says Whitley. “The confusion comes from time to time about what the regulations exactly require of a producer, and how a producer has to go about meeting those requirements.  That’s what we’re here for—as a resource.”

Whitley says the EPA would much rather work proactively with producers to make sure they’re in compliance rather than have to come in with an enforcement action. 

The Iowa CAFOs being issued compliance orders are: Crossroads Cattle Company in Woodbine, Feedlot Services Company in Neola, Harlan Northrup Feedlot in Griswold, and Petersen-Bubke in Mapleton.

Radio Iowa contributed to this report.