IEPA investigates hog manure spill into Bureau Creek
PRINCETON — A hog manure spill into Bureau Creek has landed a Bureau County man in hot water.
A lawsuit was filed against Dennis Anderson and Doubletree Farm Inc. in Bureau County court Friday by the Illinois Attorney General’s office.
The complaint was in response to a request from the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency. On April 25, IEPA Director Doug Scott announced he had asked the Illinois Attorney General’s office to proceed with an enforcement action against Anderson and Doubletree Farm Inc. for violations of the Illinois Environmental Protection Act. Specifically, the agency alleged substantial danger to the environment and public health from discharge of liquid manure into the waterways in Bureau County.
Anderson operates a total confinement swine facility northeast of Princeton, and according to the IEPA, manure from the confinement buildings was collected in a lagoon and pumped to the boundary of Anderson’s property. The waste eventually flowed into Bureau Creek, causing extensive contamination of the water and killing fish.
The IEPA was made aware of a potential problem by the Bureau County Health Department, which discovered the problem on April 20. Bureau County Health Department Administrator Diana Rawlings declined to comment on the issue, citing an ongoing investigation.
IEPA workers, accompanied by employees of the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, came out to the site and took water samples. The inspection verified significant contamination of the creek, as well as dead fish. The IEPA estimates that about 740,000 gallons of swine waste was pumped from the lagoon on Anderson’s property.
IEPA spokesperson Maggie Carson said that anyone who discharges into the waters of the state must have a discharge permit, setting the limits of the contaminants; Ander-son had no such permit.
After the samples were tested in the lab, the IEPA made the decision to bring in the Attorney General’s office. Carson said many violations are able to be resolved in-house at the IEPA, but the IEPA can also choose to refer the case to another party, such as the Attorney General, to take additional action.
“Our goal is to get them into compliance,” she said.
The IEPA also requested the Attorney General file a complaint seeking a preliminary injunctive relief to compel him to immediately cease any further illegal discharges, if he does not voluntarily comply through an agreed court order.
According to an IEPA press release, the actions were necessary “due to the seriousness of the situation and Anderson’s apparent unwillingness to take the necessary steps to remedy the situation.” On Friday, both Anderson and his attorney, Roger Bolin, denied any unwillingness to cooperate.
On Friday, Anderson said the spill was an accident, and that he was working with the IEPA to take care of the problem. Bolin confirmed that Anderson was being cooperative.
Bolin said he was contacted by Anderson on April 25, and the two men attended a meeting in Chicago Monday with the assistant attorney general in charge of the case and an attorney from the IEPA.
Bolin said the attorneys asked Anderson about an agreed court order, and outlined a timetable.
“In that meeting on Monday, we indicated to them we would be willing to go along with whatever recommendations they had to remedy the problem,” Bolin said.
There was another meeting in Princeton on Friday. Bolin said they reviewed the agreement, and Anderson signed it.
“Certainly, since I’ve been in the case from last Friday, Mr. Anderson has been entirely cooperative with the requests from the Attorney General and the Environmental Protection Agency to cure whatever needs to be cured,” Bolin said.
On Friday, a lawsuit was filed for relief and civil penalties, as well as the agreed upon preliminary injunction and order. A status hearing was set for 1:15 p.m. July 8.
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