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Beef feedlot in IA to pay $10,000 fine

April 24, 2012, Kansas City KS – Petersen-Bubke, LLP, a beef cattle feedlot in Monona County, Iowa, has agreed to pay a $10,000 civil penalty for violations of the federal Clean Water Act related to discharges of pollutants into Rush Creek and its tributaries.

According to an administrative civil consent agreement and final order filed by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in Kansas City, KS, EPA personnel conducted a compliance evaluation and inspection of the facility in March 2011 and observed evidence of discharges of process wastewater and pollutants from the facility into the creek.

Petersen-Bubke was confining approximately 1,050 cattle at the time of the inspection, which made it subject to regulation as a large Concentrated Animal Feeding Operation (CAFO). However, the feedlot did not have a necessary National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit, nor had it applied for one, as required by the Clean Water Act.

EPA Region 7 issued an order to the feedlot in May 2011, directing it to install discharge controls or apply for an NPDES permit. In accordance with the order, Petersen-Bubke has complied with the Clean Water Act by reducing the number of cattle it confines below the regulatory threshold, and by constructing livestock waste controls.

By agreeing to the settlement, Petersen-Bubke has certified that it is in compliance with the Clean Water Act.