March 1, 2005

Today, the Department of Environmental Quality announced that a settlement has been reached with Midwest Veal, LLC, a 1,000-head Concentrated Animal Feeding Operation (CAFO) in northwest Allegan County to resolve violations at their facility of Part 31, Water Resources Protection, of the Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act. As part of the settlement a $25,000 civil penalty and $4,898 in partial cost reimbursements were assessed. The facility is also required to apply for, receive and comply with a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System individual large CAFO permit that prohibits all dry weather discharges from CAFOs to the waters of the state.

The NPDES permit will also require the development and implementation of a Comprehensive Nutrient Management Plan to manage animal waste produced at the facility. The plan will prescribe conditions under which land application is appropriate, based on weather, soil conditions, and crops’ ability to utilize the nutrients in accordance with minimum requirements set forth in the NPDES permit.

Reports of a fish kill in a tributary of the Macatawa River in Overisel Township alerted officials to the problem in April 2004. An estimated 100 fish died. The runoff of agricultural waste and manure from land application and an overflowing waste storage pond on the Midwest Veal property is believed to be the cause of the fish kill.

Midwest Veal was formerly known as Classic Veal. In 1997, the facility allegedly experienced a similar release of agricultural waste and manure that also resulted in a civil settlement with the DEQ. The operation is owned by Midwest Veal based in North Manchester, Indiana.

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

Revised March 1, 2005 by Pat Watson