Lamb Farms agreed to pay a $15,000 fine to the Department of Environmental Conservation for liquid manure that seeped into six residential water wells in the Lewiston/Oakfield Batavia Townline roads area of Oakfield in March, according to documents released by the DEC.
The 4,000-cow dairy farm was also given a suspended fine of $44,000 that it can avoid by complying with DEC instructions in what's known as a "consent order."
Word of the contaminated wells spread after the county mistakenly sent -- and quickly retracted -- a boil water alert to all county residents around March 18. The alert was only meant for a small population area around Lewiston Road and Oakfield Batavia Townline Road.
In all, six wells eventually tested positive for E. coli.
The DEC investigated and determined, according to the documents, that Lamb Farms was responsible for manure runoff from Field 367 on March 7 into a tributary of Upper Oak Orchard Creek, and that the manure spread on Field 386 on March 6 and 7 likely contributed to the wells' contamination.
As part of the consent order, Lamb Farms agreed to a number of technical stipulations: developing a new nutrient management plan; creating a plan for dealing with the different soil types of its field; how it handles winter and spring manure spreading; properly designating springs that might be affected by runoff; and providing more details in records for manure spreading.
Attempts to reach Lamb Farms co-owner Jim Veazy, who handled the matter with the DEC, according to the documents, were unsuccessful. It's harvest time and he's been busy in the fields.
the DEC is a government
the DEC is a government agency that is funded by the taxpayers, why do they collect fines? how about dividing the $15,000 fine by 6 and giving it to the well owners who were done wrong by the farmers actions?
Actually David the majority
Actually David the majority of the DEC's funding comes from Liscensing Fees, Permit Fees and Fines collected. 24% comes from NYS taxpayers and 17% from Federal.
Finances: Licensing and permitting fees provide the DEC with the majority of its primary operating revenue, at about 58%. Direct funding from the state contributes another 24% and federal programs and grants make up the remaining 17% difference.
So maybe check your facts yet again instead of making assumptions on what you THINK are facts.
geez kyle, I guess if YOU say
geez kyle, I guess if YOU say so, it must be fact and I will not THINK anymore.
federal
federal programs.....grants.....state contributes........kyle, where does that money come from? a tree?
Read it again David I was
Read it again David I was pretty clear that the majority does not come from the taxpayers. 58% is a majority.
How do they make those owners
How do they make those owners of those 6 wells whole...What is their compensation for money and time that they are out because of this..Seems like Lamb farms got off lightly..
Mark - that's where civil
Mark - that's where civil court comes into play. The 6 parties who's wells were tainted will need to get together and sue Lamb Farms.
My aunt was directly affected
My aunt was directly affected by this..the owners/workers of Lamb's actually brought her jugs of water and apologized to her face for what happened. I understand it caused a lot of trouble, but accidents do happen. And at least they tried to make it better..