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PA DEP resolves violations at York County farm

April 13, 2016, Harrisburg, PA – The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has entered into a consent order and agreement with a cattle businesses located in York and Adams counties, to correct various environmental violations of the Clean Streams Law.

As part of the agreement, the owners paid a civil penalty in the amount of $20,000.

The York County facility is an agricultural operation that buys dairy heifers for resale domestically and overseas. Responding to complaints, the York County Conservation District (YCCD) conducted multiple inspections between June 2014 and May 2015. During those inspections, the YCCD discovered that the operation had insufficient erosion and sediment control and manure management plans.

The YCCD also determined that the owners failed to implement and maintain best management practices to minimize the potential for erosion and sedimentation from animal heavy use areas, and documented a discharge of sediment and manure from the farm to an unnamed tributary to Codorus Creek.

The operation also began construction of a new feed line and manure storage facility without first obtaining a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit for stormwater discharges associated with construction activities, and failed to obtain the necessary NPDES permit for the period of time they operated the farm as a concentrated animal feeding operation.

“The violations were extensive and far-reaching in scope,” said Lynn Langer, DEP South-central regional director. “All agricultural operations must be aware of the need to operate within the framework of the specific regulations. Adherence to the regulations helps minimize harmful impacts to the environment, and will protect and improve the local water quality of Codorus Creek and, ultimately, the Chesapeake Bay.”

Within 60 days, the owners are required to file the necessary control plans and begin taking the appropriate actions to bring their facilities into compliance with the regulations.