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Testy Public Hearing Over Groundwater Contamination In Adams County

Residents Tell DNR To 'Do Your Job' Before Issuing Another Farm Permit

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Citizens demand cleanup of groundwater contamination at a DNR hearing in Adams County.
Citizens demand cleanup of groundwater contamination at a DNR hearing in Adams County. Photo: Glen Moberg / WPR News

A public hearing for a cattle farm in Adams County drew a crowd of angry residents Tuesday, demanding that groundwater be cleaned up before the Department of Natural Resources issues a new permit.

Brittney Clauson of Coloma was one of about 100 people at the hearing for Burr Oak Heifers, a farm with 3,100 head of cattle in the town of Richfield.

“Do your job, or someone else eventually will,” she said.

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The Environmental Protection Agency maximum for nitrates in groundwater is 10 milligrams per liter. The DNR’s Andrew Craig says the nitrate level is already almost three times that high, but Burr Oak shouldn’t be blamed for it.

“They have no control over what’s coming into their site,” Craig said. “That’s why it’s set at a higher level than 10 mg per liter. The background is 28 mg per liter. They can’t exceed background. That would be 28.”

Craig says the DNR doesn’t have the authority to withhold a permit until the existing contamination is cleaned up: a demand made by many at the hearing, including Frank Grebe of Friendship, who told Craig 28 milligrams is too high.

“Without water, you don’t live. I don’t want to buy an expensive filtration system to drink the water that was good, but now somebody wants to contaminate it? This is my groundwater. It belongs to me! Not them!” Grebe said.

Craig says the DNR is implementing the laws set by the Legislature.

Four years ago, the farm was fined $65,000 for groundwater contamination. The owners are now moving the cattle into concrete enclosures, and making other improvements. The DNR is expected to make a decision within 60 days.