« Ind. Law - Governor's action on 2008 bills now complete | Main | Ind. Decisions - "Driver's DWI tossed on appeal" »

Monday, March 24, 2008

Environment - "Huntington County dairy coming under new management"

From a press release issued this afternoon by IDEM:

Under an agreement reached with the Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM), Huntington County dairy owner Johannes DeGroot and DeGroot Dairy, LLC, operating in Indiana since 2001, is barred from operating livestock facilities in the State of Indiana. The Agreed Order, signed by DeGroot Dairy, LLC, and IDEM, resolves all compliance issues currently in litigation and allows for the dairy’s sale and operation in compliance with strict environmental regulations.

“All Indiana livestock operations must meet their environmental responsibilities or face serious consequences,” said Thomas W. Easterly, IDEM commissioner. “We have utilized the courts and worked effectively with all parties, including Johannes DeGroot, area residents, and new operators for the facility, to ensure it is managed in a way that protects area streams and the Salamonie Reservoir.”

Under the agreement, DeGroot will not operate any animal feeding operation, confined feeding operation or concentrated animal feeding operation in Indiana through 2048. In addition, DeGroot agrees to sell the Huntington County dairy operation to Vreba-Hoff and allows Vreba-Hoff to take immediate responsibility for daily operations. Vreba-Hoff immediately assumes responsibility for the farm’s management. A signed purchase agreement between DeGroot and Vreba-Hoff requires the property transfer to be completed by December of 2009. Once the transfer is complete, DeGroot is also barred from ownership of any livestock operations in the State of Indiana.

This agreement resolves several pending legal proceedings involving the dairy. IDEM took legal action against this facility last year to protect state waters.

Here is a list of earlier ILB entries referencing "DeGroot."

Posted by Marcia Oddi on March 24, 2008 05:22 PM
Posted to Environment