Guidelines for Livestock Producers

Enforcement

Permit violations

Water pollution violations which cannot be resolved on an informal basis or through normal procedures result in warning letters from the appropriate Ohio EPA district office. If no corrective action is taken, the director of Ohio EPA may order the responsible party to correct the problem. As a last resort, severe violators may be referred to the Ohio Attorney General's Office for prosecution.

Anyone found discharging pollutants without valid permits may be liable for civil and/or criminal penalties.

Spill response

Ohio EPA's emergency response coordinators respond to requests for assistance from the general public and government entities such as the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Division of Wildlife. For example, they may investigate when livestock waste is accidentally or deliberately disposed of in a manner that results in a direct discharge to a stream, causing a fish kill, or a threat to public health. An Ohio EPA investigator would visit the facility to assess the problem and take one of three possible actions:

1. If the discharge was accidental or deliberate and corrective action is still possible to remove the waste from the stream, the farmer is given a written notice of violation (NOV), which specifies necessary corrective action. Depending on the situation, additional enforcement options may be considered.

2. If the discharge is an accident and no cleanup effort is possible, an NOV may be given and the farmer may be referred to the SWCD for assistance in preparing a livestock waste management plan.

3. If the discharge was deliberate but no corrective action is possible to remove waste from the stream, the farmer is issued an NOV and may be referred to the Attorney General for additional legal action.