Two Yakima Valley Dairies Under Investigation For Handling of Manure

Two Outlook area dairies could face a federal lawsuit for the way their handle cow manure.  SMD LLC and DBD Washington LLC are currently under state investigation for their handling of cow manure.

According to the Yakima Herald, the two were recently notified by CARE, Friends of Toppenish Creek and the Center for Food Safety, of their intent to file a federal lawsuit.  The three environmental groups allege the dairies are polluting groundwater…saying they over apply manure to fields, and use leaky storage ponds.  The groups say both dairies have 90 days to fix the problems, or the suit will be filed.  Neither SMD LLC or DBD Washington LLC have been cited for environmental violations.

Both dairies have declined to comment.

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