About McPherson County, KS

EPA Region 7 announced administrative compliance orders have been issued to seven concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs) and two of those feedlots are in Kansas.

The operations are directing to correct violations of the federal Clean Water Act.

They have been warned regarding waste discharge and the compliance orders were the first step in a potential series of regulatory actions. If the feedlots fail to comply, civil penalties could follow.

The two Kansas feedlots are KM Feeders in Lyons, KS and McPherson County Feeders in Marquette, KS.

The EPA said they both do not have enough storage capacity in its waste lagoons.

Following information is from Kansas Ag Connection article

KM Feeders, Lyons, Kan. - Inspection and file review of the NPDES-permitted feedlot found failures to maintain adequate storage capacity in its lagoons. The order requires the operation to ensure wastewater levels in retention structures are in compliance with its NPDES permit, and provide monthly reports to EPA. Discharges from the feedlot would flow to Dry Creek, which is officially listed by EPA and the State of Kansas as an impaired water because of phosphorous and total suspended solids levels. The feedlot has a permitted capacity of 5,200 cattle and was confining at capacity at the time of the inspection.

McPherson County Feeders, Marquette, Kan. - Inspection and file review of the NPDES-permitted feedlot found failures to maintain adequate storage capacity in its lagoons. The order requires the operation to ensure wastewater levels in retention structures are in compliance with its NPDES permit, install legible staff gauges in its retention structures, and provide monthly reports to EPA. Discharges from the feedlot would flow into Sharps Creek in McPherson County. Sharps Creek is officially listed by EPA and the State of Kansas as an impaired water because of E. coli and total suspended solid levels. The feedlot has a permitted capacity of 13,000 cattle and was confining approximately 8,506 cattle at the time of the inspection.