EPA fines Pott. Co. cattle farms for pollution violations

A Pottawatomie County farm has been fined for violating federal pollution policies.

The Environmental Protection Agency levied a combined $70,000 fine to Wickstrum Farms Inc. and Wickstrum Cattle LLC.

“Unauthorized pollution discharges threaten the health of our nation’s waters and public use and enjoyment of those waters,” Regional Compliance Director David Cozad said. “This settlement demonstrates EPA’s commitment to protecting watersheds and creating a level playing field for businesses who are complying with the law.”

The EPA says inspectors discovered in 2023 that the cattle farms had allowed unauthorized discharges; that could be manure, feed, or other animal waste; to flow into Pleasant Run Creek. That was in violation of the Clean Water Act.

Under the Clean Water Act, animal feeding operations that contain threshold numbers of livestock are required to obtain permits and follow the requirements outlined in those permits to reduce pollution runoff. Failure to obtain a permit or to follow the requirements of a permit may violate federal law.