EPA v. Pride Feeders, Inc.

Case summary

Enforcement Sensitive Pride Feeders, Inc. #1 (OKG010046), Hooker, Oklahoma: At all times relevent to this Order, Respondent, Doug Duncan owned or operated a feed operation, located at Rt. 2, Box 67, Hooker, Oklahoma 73945. The facility is an �animal feeding operation� where animals are stabled or confined, and fed or maintained at the facility for a total of 45 days or more in any 12 month period; and, crops, vegetation forage growth, or post-harvest residues are not sustained in the normal growing season over any portion of the lot or facility. The facility stables 43,300 cattle for a total of 45 days or more in any 12 month period. Therefore, this facility constitutes a large �Concentrated Animal Feeding Operation� (CAFO). On September 20/21, 2003, Pride Feeders experienced a catastrophic discharge of animal waste to the Beaver River. Mr. Doug Duncan notified EPA on 9/22/03 that heavy rains caused two consecutive berms from animal waste lagoons to burst resulting in a massive discharge of waste into the Beaver River. The estimated volume waste that spilled is over 1 million gallons of untreated animal sewage. The initial wave of cattle waste was estimated to be 25 feet deep and 60/80 feet wide. The spill was not contained and may result in surface and ground water contamination. State inspector Mr. David Jet with Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food, & Forestry (ODAFF) was notified and inspected the accident on 9/21/03. The ODAFF is continuing field investigations, and is currently coordinating with EPA on corrective steps that should be taken. It is important to note that an information request under the Clean Water Act Section 308 was issued to the facility on March 11, 2003, requesting the facility to provide information concerning certification of the waste lagoons integrity and that there was no hydrologic connection. No response was received from Pride Feedyard. EPA will continue to work with the ODAFF on this case to cleanup the area and initiate enforcement actions, as appropriate.

Defendants (1)

• Pride Feeders, Inc.Named in complaintNamed in settlement

Facilities (1)

• PRIDE FEEDERS LLLP

  ROUTE 2, BOX 67, HOOKER, OK, 73945

  Registry ID: 110018916789

Statutes cited

• CWA 301/402 — NPDES Permit Violations

Enforcement conclusions (1)

• Pride Feeders, Inc.entered 2003-10-20

  Primary law: CWA

Timeline (4 milestones)

• 2003-10-01Enforcement Action Data Entered
• 2003-10-20Final Order Issued
• 2007-03-21Enforcement Action Closed
• 2007-03-21NPDES Closed