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Idaho livestock feedlot receives EPA order


June 21, 2010  by Manure Manager

June 17, 2010, Boise, ID – Jean M. Smith, owner and operator of the
Boise-based Wood Creek Livestock Company, has been issued an EPA
Compliance Order for alleged violations of the federal Clean Water Act.

June 17, 2010, Boise, ID – Jean M. Smith, owner and operator of the Boise-based Wood Creek Livestock Company, has been issued an EPA Compliance Order for alleged violations of the federal Clean Water Act.

The alleged violations occurred at the Wood Creek Feedlot near Grand View, Idaho, which is close to the Snake River and its tributaries.

The Wood Creek Feedlot has a winter-feeding operation that confines more than 1,000 head of cattle. Under the order, the company is ordered to cease all discharges of pollutants to waters of the United States and remove all livestock from areas of direct access to those waters until access to nearby waterways is blocked.

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According to Edward Kowalski, director of EPA’s Office of Compliance and Enforcement in Seattle, WA, protecting water quality means keeping livestock out of feedlot streams, especially during winter-feeding operations.

“Large feedlots that offer livestock direct access to rivers and streams aren’t just environmental health threats … they’re against the law,” said Kowalski. “When confined cows have direct access, Idaho’s waters are being polluted.”

During an EPA inspection, inspectors noted that cattle had direct access to Corder Creek, a tributary to the Snake River. Manure and urine were observed in and along Corder Creek, where cattle have direct access. In addition, samples collected from Corder Creek (in the feedlot) showed extremely high levels of bacteria and nutrients.

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