E.P.A. Notifies 4 West Virginia Growers to Obtain Discharge Permits

(PHILADELPHIA - Nov. 30, 2011) The E.P.A. announced today that it has notified 4 poultry growers in West Virginia to cease discharging pollutants from farms to waterways and obtain the necessary permits that are required by the Clean Water Act.

The agency believes that some farmers in the Shenandoah Valley and West Virginia could benefit from more information about the federal requirements to reduce polluted stormwater runoff. E.P.A. and national and state poultry industry associations are in discussions on developing a plan to educate growers on water quality and compliance issues.

"Based on our experience, educating farmers on the requirements of the Clean Water Act goes a long way in helping them to protect and enhance local water quality and increase compliance," said E.P.A. Regional Administrator Shawn M. Garvin. "We've had good results from working closely with integrators and trade associations, making sure farmers know how they can best reduce runoff and meet their regulatory responsibilities."

E.P.A. issued the orders following inspections this past June of 5 chicken and turkey operations in West Virginia. The inspections found that 4 of the 5 operations were concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs) as defined by the Clean Water Act and that they had neither applied for nor obtained the required discharge permits. The 5th grower had already applied for the permit.

Also, at 4 of the facilities inspected, man-made ditches draining stormwater away from the poultry houses and sheds containing manure and compost allowed pollutants to discharge to waterways during rain events.

EPA's actions are part of an ongoing initiative to enhance water quality in local waterways and the Chesapeake Bay. For more information about the Chesapeake Bay watershed compliance and enforcement strategy visit http://www.epa.gov/compliance/civil/initiatives/chesapeakebay.html

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