YAKIMA, Wash. (AP) — A federal judge has ordered an Eastern Washington industrial dairy to conduct groundwater monitoring and empty its wastewater lagoons each year after finding the dairy caused or contributed to contamination in the area.
U.S. District Judge Lonny R. Suko issued the order Thursday requiring Nelson Faria Dairy in Royal City to take a number of steps to improve operations.
They included installing wells to monitor groundwater contamination, tracking the application of manure on neighboring fields and emptying and testing lagoons.
The community action group CARE, Community Association for Restoration of the Environment, had claimed the dairy violated the Clean Water Act and other environmental laws and failed to abide by the terms of a deal that was reached with the dairy’s previous owners to improve operations.
