Dairies Fined for Manure Discharge Violations

SALEM, Ore. (AP) – The Oregon Department of Agriculture issued four dozen fines, citations and warnings to dairies and other confined animal feeding operations last year, many for unauthorized manure discharges.

The agency regulates manure handling at the state’s 500-plus confined animal feeding operations, including dairies and feedlots. It reports it issues permits, under the federal Clean Water Act, that are supposed to prevent manure and wastewater from contaminating ground and surface water, which can impact recreation and harm fish and marine organisms.

Agency staff members performed 741 inspections at those facilities in 2018, down from 880 in 2017 and 763 in 2016, a review by the Statesman Journal found.