EPA Orders Center Point Dairy to Stop Discharge of Pollutants

Based on citizen complaints about the discharge of pollutants into Big Creek and an unnamed tributary to Schooley Creek in Hopkins County, Texas, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has issued a cease and desist administrative order to Center Point Dairy for violations of the federal Clean Water Act.

The dairy, located about six miles south of Brashear, on the south side of Farm Road 2653, is a Concentrated Animal Feeding Operation. The facility has been ordered to immediately stop all discharges of pollutants from its lagoon and domestic septic systems. The facility has been given seven days to clean up areas where domestic septic waste has pooled, and 14 days to properly remove solid waste from domestic septic tanks and repair septic waste collection systems. The dairy has also been asked to remove sediment buildup in its lagoon and restore the lagoon to proper operating conditions.

“EPA will continue to vigorously enforce our nation’s environmental laws through effective compliance assistance and a strong enforcement program,” said EPA Regional Administrator Richard E. Greene. “This action will significantly reduce discharges that can have serious health effects.”

In July 2007, EPA inspected the facility. Numerous violations were found requiring compliance action. These violations included an unauthorized discharge from the lagoon into Big Creek and unauthorized discharges from the facility’s domestic septic systems into an unnamed tributary to Schooley Creek.

Based on these findings, the owners and operators of Center Point Dairy have been ordered to immediately take action to bring the facility into compliance with the Clean Water Act.