May 20, 2010, Yakima, WA – DeRuyter Brothers Dairy Inc., of Outlook, has been fined $22,000 for over-applying liquid manure to a field, causing runoff laden with fecal matter to reach Sulphur Creek and the Yakima River in violation of state water quality standards.
On March 25, 2010, the Washington Department of Ecology (Ecology) received a report that liquid manure had been applied to a field near Scoon Road and was running off the field and entering a nearby drain and being washed into a roadside ditch.
Inspectors from WDE and the Washington Department of Agriculture arrived at the field later that morning and observed and photographed a discharge from the field to a drain, which led to the creek and river.
Results of samples taken over several days showed E-coli bacteria levels in the runoff was 2,400 times greater than allowed under standards designed to protect human health and aquatic life. People who come in contact with manure-contaminated water may be exposed to bacterial illnesses.
The dairy is required to prevent discharges that cause or contribute to water quality violations by complying with regulations outlined in the federal Concentrated Animal Feeding Operation (CAFO) permit and the state Waste Discharge General Permit.
In addition to violating its state and federal discharge permits, the dairy violated conditions of its nutrient management plan by applying liquid manure to lands not specified in the plan.
DeRuyter Brothers Dairy has 30 days to pay the penalty or to file an appeal with the state Pollution Control Hearings Board.
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