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Re: E-M:/ 16 Vreba Hoff Dairies cited
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Enviro-Mich message from "Kathy Melmoth" <melmoth@dmci.net>
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Please note that the article points out that EPA is not planning to fine any
of the dairies. These are million dollar operations. In our experience in
the Hillsdale/Lenawee area of Michigan, CAFOs continue to discharge. See
http://nocafos.org/violations.htm for 116 DEQ documented discharges from
CAFO dairies, many of them Vreba Hoff facilities, which represent a fraction
of the observed discharges by neighbors and do not count ongoing discharges
of several days.
According to the article sited below, Cecilia Conway, of Vreba Hoff, says
the design of Vreba Hoff dairies continues to change as regulations change.
The regulations of Michigan law and the Clean Water Act have not changed.
Water quality standards are established. Water and air pollution result from
the liquid system/ lagoon storage and liquid manure application to tiled
fields. The system of production is the problem. As CAFOs proliferate and
expand with no public oversight or real disincentive to change, the few
fines that have been levied will be seen as the cost of doing business ( a
quote form one of the CAFO owners), and the streams and rivers and
ultimately the Great Lakes will be further compromised. If you are concerned
with the Great Lakes then you cannot ignore this very polluting agricultural
system of production.
On an individual level, I suggest you boycott milk unless the dairy can
prove it raised its cows on grass.
Kathy Melmoth, RN, farmer, volunteer ECCSCM, Member of Michigan Farm Bureau,
Michigan Farmers Union and Ann Arbor Farmers Market Growers Association
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16 Vreba Hoff dairies in Michigan, Ohio and Indiana cited by
EPA for water pollution violations.
http://www.thestarpress.com/articles/6/029949-1096-004.html
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