Cass Co Feedlot Pays $15K fine

Crow Wing Feeders will pay $15 thousand in fines to the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency for alleged feedlot violations at its cattle feedlot in Cass County.

MPCA staff inspections in December revealed several violations relating to an unpermitted construction and expansion, discharges, and failure to obtain required permits. According to inspection reports, the company expanded its feedlot to nearly 2,700 head of cattle without obtaining a required National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permit. The permits are required when a feedlot exceeds 1,000 cattle. The company also used unpermitted and uncertified liquid manure storage areas for manure and manure-contaminated runoff.

In addition to paying the $15,000 civil penalty, the company was required to empty and close the manure storage areas and land apply the manure and contaminated soils. They must also limit the amount of cattle on the feedlot to their current registered number of 840.