Two Oregon Dairies Fined for Water Discharge Violations in Tillamook Watershed
Dila Dairy and River End Dairy, LLC, located in Nehalem, were found to be discharging in violation of the Clean Water Act’s National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System and the Oregon Concentrated Animal Feeding Operation permit.
The inspections were part of routine monitoring of the Tillamook Watershed, which drains to Tillamook Bay. EPA’s National Estuary Program includes Tillamook Bay.
According to Ed Kowalski, EPA Director of Compliance and Enforcement in Seattle, EPA’s working partnership with the Oregon Department of Agriculture means better compliance and monitoring of Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations.
“Our partnership with the Oregon Department of Agriculture has meant better water quality protection for Tillamook Bay,” said Kowalski. “Producers need to manage waste and runoff properly and meet all permit requirements to protect water quality.”
River End Dairy was found to be discharging wastewater in violation of their NPDES permit from the Main Barn to the Nehalem River. EPA subsequently signed a settlement with River End Dairy that included a $6,300 penalty.
Dila Dairy was also found to be discharging to the Nehalem River in violation of its NPDES Permit from several locations, including discharges from a dry storage area and two barns. Dila Dairy’s infractions were resolved after they signed a settlement with EPA and paid a $10,000 penalty.