Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird says a northeast Iowa facility that produces kosher beef, chicken and turkey has agreed to pay a 50-thousand dollar penalty to settle a lawsuit over 60 wastewater violations.
The attorney general says Agri Star Meat and Poultry in Postville is responsible for toxic ammonia concentrations in nearby Hecker Creek and has failed to submit timely reports about wastewater problems. The company has a wastewater treatment system with lagoons that discharge about a million gallons each day into Hecker Creek, which flows to the Yellow River.
The Iowa DNR has cited Agri Star for having excessive amounts of ammonia, as well as chloride, copper and other pollutants in that wastewater.
As part of the settlement, Agri Star has agreed to fully comply with its “National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System” permit by the end of next year.
story courtesy of Radio Iowa