A dairy farm in Enosburg Falls agreed to pay a $40,000 civil penalty on Thursday for rinsing farm equipment in the Bogue Brook, which is a violation of the state’s water quality standards, state officials say.
Three vehicles owned by Leach Farms Inc. drove to the edge of the stream, filled up their manure spreaders with water, and then discharged the manure-laden water into the brook. The state has a video documenting the Nov. 19, 2013 event.
The practice violates the state water quality laws which require a permit to discharge pollution into a waterway, the state says. The farm also violated state agricultural regulations aimed at protecting water quality. All farms are required to follow the state’s Accepted Agricultural Practices.
“The spraying of manure laden rinsate directly into state waters was an egregious and unacceptable violation of state law,” Department of Environmental Commissioner David Mears said in a statement on Thursday.
The Environmental Protection Agency is requiring the state to reduce the amount of phosphorus loading into Lake Champlain by a third. The state estimates about 40 percent of the lake’s phosphorus comes from farm manure runoff. Excessive phosphorus causes algae blooms in the summer.
“This type of conduct degrades the water quality in Vermont’s streams, rivers, ponds and lakes hurting all Vermonters,” Mears said. “If we are to improve our water quality these types of violations must be stopped. We want the message to be crystal clear that the state will pursue significant penalties against those who continue to violate the law in this manner.”
The state this fall focused it resources to inspect other farms in Franklin County, an agricultural region of the state. According to the Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets, the state has made 247 visits to farms in the region this year, up from 211 in 2013.
Agency of Agriculture Secretary Chuck Ross said in a statement these actions and any others like them are totally unacceptable.
“They present a bad image for the many other farmers who are good stewards of our land and water resources,” he said.
