KDHE ASSESSES $60,000 PENALTY AGAINST GOLDEN BELT FEEDERS

The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) has assessed a $60,000 penalty against Golden Belt Feeders, St. John, for violations of Kansas regulations and the operating permit for the Stafford County confined animal feeding operations facility.

Violations cited by KDHE include long term over-application of agricultural wastes as indicated by high nitrate levels in groundwater monitoring wells, non-permitted expansions of the facility, improper storage of solid wastes, failure to maintain freeboard (distance from the top of the retention structure to the maximum level of wastewater in the structure) requirements in the wastewater retention structures, and numerous operating, reporting and record keeping violations.

In addition to the proposed penalty, the administrative order requires Golden Belt Feeders to provide an updated Manure/Waste Management Plan, conduct extensive soil sampling at the land application site, provide engineering data showing the capacity of each retention structure versus water depth, and report annually the waste generation and disposal/re-use activities at the facility.

Golden Belt Feeders, located about 8 miles north of St. John, KS along U.S. Hwy 281, was issued a Kansas Agricultural and Related Waste Control Permit for a maximum of 26,250 head of beef cattle. The owner has submitted a renewal application with plans to expand the facility. The expansion request was denied because of inadequate pollution controls and the permit has been redrafted to continue the 26,250 head current operations. The draft permit has come off public notice and is in the process of being re-issued.

The order and penalty are subject to appeal to the Secretary of the KDHE.

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