WAYSIDE DAIRY FARM, INC. OF BROWN COUNTY ORDERED TO PAY $56,250 FOR VIOLATIONS OF STATE WATER POLLUTION CONTROL LAWS
 

MADISON The Wisconsin Department of Justice has settled a lawsuit against Wayside Dairy Farm, Inc., for violations of state water pollution control laws at Wayside's confined animal feeding operation (CAFO) in Brown County.

According to the complaint, filed at the request of the Department of Natural Resources, Wayside Dairy, which owns approximately 1,400 cows, disposes of the manure and sand bedding from its operations by land spreading the material on farm fields. It violated the limits and restrictions in its wastewater discharge permit when it overapplied the wastes on a number of fields and spread 390 loads of manure/sand bedding on an unapproved field in late 2006. The complaint states that the wastes generated at Wayside's CAFO can, if not properly managed, contaminate groundwater, and that the geology in the vicinity of Wayside's facility is highly sensitive, with drinking water samples showing elevated nitrate levels in recent years.

Under the terms of the settlement agreement, Wayside has agreed to pay penalties and assessments totaling $56,250 for the violations. The settlement agreement also requires that Wayside repair its manure storage lagoon by December 15, 2009, to bring it into compliance with applicable regulations.

Assistant Attorney General Shari Eggleson prosecuted the case. The settlement was approved by Brown County Circuit Court Judge Sue E. Bischel.