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EPA Orders Two Virginia Farms to Cease Unpermitted Waste Discharges to the Shenandoah River

Release Date: 06/02/2010
Contact Information: David Sternberg 215-814-5548 [email protected]

(PHILADELPHIA – June 2, 2010) The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency today announced that it has ordered two Virginia farms to cease discharging pollutants to a stream without a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit, as required by the Clean Water Act.

On April 14, 2010, EPA conducted a Clean Water Act inspection of Turley Creek Farms in Linville Va., a chicken broiler grower which confines approximately 100,000 chickens. The inspection found that the farm was improperly storing large piles of uncovered chicken manure and evidence that pollutants, including nitrogen and phosphorus, were discharged into Turley Creek, a tributary of the North Fork of the Shenandoah River.

On April 15, 2010, EPA also inspected the farm of Windcrest Associates LLC, in Timberville, Va. which owns and operates a dairy and turkey growing operation confining approximately 250 mature dairy cows, 275 heifers, and 22,800 turkeys. The inspection determined that pollutants, including nitrogen and phosphorus from animal manure were being discharged into an unnamed tributary of the North Fork of the Shenandoah River and the Shenandoah River itself contrary to the requirements of the Clean Water Act.

EPA is ordering the facilities to cease discharging pollutants to the waters until they have applied for and received authorization to discharge via a Clean Water Act Discharge permit. The farmers must also submit a compliance plan to EPA explaining what actions the facilities have taken and will implement in order to comply with the Clean Water Act.

The farms are located in the Chesapeake Bay watershed. These actions are part of the Agency’s efforts to implement the President’s Executive Order for the Chesapeake Bay watershed, and a compliance and enforcement strategy to improve water quality in local waterways and the Bay.

For more information about the Chesapeake Bay watershed compliance and enforcement strategy visit https://www.epa.gov/compliance/civil/initiatives/chesapeakebay.html