Waukon dairy fined $1,500 for 2018 manure releases

The Iowa Department of Natural Resources has fined a Waukon dairy farm $1,500 for three manure releases in 2018.

An administrative consent order signed by DNR Director Kayla Lyon March 22 requires Regancrest Holsteins to pay an administrative penalty of $1,500 and implement standard operating procedures to ensure similar discharges do not happen in the future.

The DNR investigated three manure releases at the confinement with 990 dairy cows, 260 head non-dairy heifers and calves and 16 head finishing cattle, the order states.

Regancrest expanded its operation in 2017, adding a new manure-pumping system, the DNR reported. On Feb. 12, 2018, manure flowed from the pumping system into a neighboring field. The owner said the discharge occurred because of a clog in the system caused by improper use by a Regancrest employee, the order states.

Regancrest cleaned up the manure, which was mostly frozen, and it did not get into a tributary of Jones Creek, the DNR reported.

In a Sept. 5, 2018, incident, 50 to 100 gallons of manure flowed from Regancrest over several driveways into a neighbor’s field, the DNR reported. Again, it did not enter the creek and again Regancrest said it was due to a clog of the pumping system caused by improper use by an employee.

Notices of violation were issued for both incidents.

In a third incident, March 3, 2018, manure leaked out of the pumping system, but did not leave Regancrest’s field. This release also was due to employee error, the order states.

“Regancrest failed to properly ensure that employees were properly operating and maintaining the system,” the order states. “This failure was a result of lack of planning, preparation and monitoring, saving Regancrest overhead costs. Some of this benefit is mitigated by the remediation efforts taken by Regancrest.”

The company does not agree or disagree with the DNR’s conclusions but agreed to the settlement, the order states.

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