Department of Environmental Quality Director Steven E. Chester announced today that the DEQ has entered into an Administrative Consent Order with Midland County's Mibelloon Dairy to resolve water quality concerns that arose in the past year.

Mibelloon Dairy is classified as a concentrated animal feeding operation or "CAFO" under both state and federal law as it has approximately 3,300 mature dairy cows at the Jasper Township dairy operation. Sites utilized by Mibelloon Dairy for the land application of waste from the CAFO are located within Midland and Gratiot counties.

DEQ staff documented discharges of manure and other agricultural waste, including nutrients and oxygen-depleting substances, to local drains that discharge into the Little Salt Creek, a tributary of the Pine River on three occasions. In addition, DEQ staff responded to citizen complaints regarding large piles of manure stored on crop fields in April 2007. Although no discharge to surface waters was documented at that time, storage of waste in this manner is a violation of the permit previously issued to Mibelloon due to the substantial risk posed not only to surface water resources, but groundwater quality as well.

"CAFO operators must be aware of the risks their operations can pose to our environment and take every precaution to protect it," said Director Chester. "I appreciate Mibelloon Dairy's commitment to resolving this matter and improving their operations."

As part of the agreement announced today, Mibelloon Dairy has agreed to a number of improvements in the way it handles agricultural wastes produced by the dairy operation and has also agreed to pay a civil fine of $39,800 and will reimburse the DEQ for over $5,000 of the costs expended in pursuing the enforcement action resolved through the entry of the ACO.

Editor's note: DEQ news releases are available on the department's Internet home page at www.michigan.gov/deq.

"Protecting Michigan's Environment, Ensuring Michigan

Revised April 24, 2008 by Pat Watson