Contaminated Lost Valley Mega-Dairy site in Oregon decommissioned. How should it be cleaned up? Share your input on the proposed groundwater remediation plan by July 19.
Eastern Oregon’s booming mega-dairy Lost Valley Farm is now quiet and deserted. Originally home to 30,000 dairy cows, the location was well-known for environmental infractions and government inspections. Canyon Farms, the new owner, has asked to have it decommissioned as a Confined Animal Feeding Operation (CAFO). However, the area is still polluted, and agricultural officials are soliciting public comments on the remediation strategy. Lost Valley stopped business in 2017 after over 200 infractions and penalties totaling $187,000. Six years later, increased nitrate levels in groundwater resulting from prior waste mishandling still cause questions. Pollution from industrial farms already makes the drinking water in this region dangerous. Canyon Farms has been instructed by the Oregon Department of Agriculture (ODA) to eliminate all CAFO facilities, including milking parlors, barns, and animal stalls. Regulators ask for public feedback as they create remedial plans to guarantee a complete and efficient cleaning.
Lost Valley Farm: Ambitious Beginnings Overshadowed by Early Environmental Missteps
Once a pillar of Eastern Oregon’s agricultural sector, Lost Valley Farm aspired high with plans to house 30,000 dairy cows. Under Greg te Velde, the farm got a CAFO permit from the Oregon Department of Agriculture and Environmental Quality in 2017. Te Velde started operations before finishing critical infrastructure, including a waste management system. This early start led to many environmental infractions and exposed significant weaknesses in control.
Soon after violating its CAFO permit, the farm was cited many times for environmental problems, including leaky waste storage and overflowing manure lagoons. By 2018, these violations caused the Oregon Department of Agriculture to levy penalties totaling $187,000, creating a concerning precedent for Lost Valley Farm’s activities and drawing close regulatory investigation.
Continued Violations Expose Deep-Rooted Environmental Mismanagement
Environmental problems at Lost Valley Farm started with small fines and soon expanded into more severe waste management systemic concerns. Manure lagoons overflowed, and poor waste disposal practices sometimes polluted nearby water supplies, violating state and federal environmental rules and attracting further government investigation.
Following extensive investigation, the Oregon Department of Agriculture (ODA) found more than two hundred waste mismanagement infractions. Two of the most serious were not finishing a waste management plan and harboring more dairy animals than allowed without authorization. In a region already afflicted by excessive nitrate levels in groundwater, these transgressions upset the local environment and seriously compromised public health.
The financial penalty amounted to almost $187,000 when the rules imposed forceful action. Still, the intangible harm—which compromised public confidence and harmed the community—was much more critical. Rising legal demands drove Lost Valley Farm into bankruptcy in 2018.
The bankruptcy exposed Lost Valley’s operational shortcomings and more general environmental compliance problems in agriculture. The facility passed through many hands until Canyon Farms bought it in 2023, ending a turbulent chapter and starting possible remedial initiatives.
A Timeline of Ownership: Transition, Challenges, and a Road to Rehabilitation
The ownership of this problematic dairy facility has been accompanied by a sequence of changes accompanied by ongoing environmental problems. Initially managed by Greg te Velde at Lost Valley Farm, the property became caught in significant regulatory violations and financial disaster.
Following its collapse and bankruptcy, the farm was temporarily transferred to Easterday Dairy, which battled regulatory compliance and could not solve the facility’s operational and environmental issues. The new owners faced significant financial and operational challenges, further highlighting the complex nature of the farm’s problems.
Managed by Fall Line Capital, Canyon Farms bought the land in 2023 and proactively initiated the decommissioning of the CAFO. This action marks a pivotal change and assures the end of future dairy activities at this site, instilling a sense of hope for the site’s future.
A Rigorous Path to Environmental Rehabilitation: Canyon Farms’ Methodical Decommissioning Efforts
Canyon Farms’ decommissioning approach has been exhaustive and cautious, following careful legal criteria. Coordinated planning for eliminating essential buildings such as milking parlors, barns, and animal stalls came first. Additionally, specialized tools such as waste storage containers and milking machines were methodically eliminated, instilling confidence in the thoroughness of the remediation process.
After structural removal, thorough cleanup campaigns started. Appropriate disposal of site operating-year waste products and residues was done. Soil testing and treatment techniques addressed contamination problems, mainly aiming at high nitrate levels. These initiatives underlined the owner’s will to return the facility to environmental health criteria.
Another essential element was the management of water resources. Elevated nitrate concentration wells were continuously tested and remediated to gradually lower contamination levels. Maintaining neighboring ecosystems and populations depends on the groundwater meeting regulatory background limitations.
Subject to ongoing environmental monitoring, the decommissioning ended with site certification for new, non-dairy agricultural uses or other land purposes. This systematic approach highlights Canyon Farms’ dedication to solving previous environmental problems for Lost Valley Farm, guaranteeing compliance, and establishing a standard for ethical land management, providing a sense of security about the site’s future use.
The Lingering Impact of Lost Valley Farm: Elevated Nitrate Levels and Ongoing Groundwater Concerns
Though Lost Valley Farm was decommissioned as a CAFO, environmental degradation persists. Three monitoring wells still indicate more nitrate than when the farm was running, which is very concerning in the already polluted Lower Umatilla Basin Groundwater Management Area.
The elevated nitrate levels most likely result from prior mismanagement, particularly from manure spills at Lost Valley Farm. Manure lagoons overflow and spill primary nitrogen into the soil, contaminating the groundwater. Canyon Farms has taken steps to decommission, but the ongoing pollution emphasizes the long-lasting effects of inadequate waste management in big dairy plants.
Environmental Advocates Call for Rigorous Cleanup to Address Persistent Contamination at Lost Valley Farm Site
Environmental organizations warn about the ongoing pollution at the abandoned Lost Valley Farm site. Tarah Heinzen, an attorney for Food and Water Watch, emphasized how urgently thorough remediation is needed given high nitrate levels. Heinzen added, “This area is plagued by unsafe drinking water, mostly due to contributions from factory farms and major ag polluters.”
Other supporters, such as Food and Water Watch, contend that lowering nitrate levels to the background is insufficient. Heinzen is adamant on more authoritarian policies: “Nitrate levels should meet a health-based limit of seven milligrams per liter, not just the background levels in the current plan.” For individuals depending on polluted groundwater, these organizations advocate for science-based objectives to guarantee public health.
The state has started a public comment period for the suggested groundwater remediation strategy while the argument goes on. By July 19, community members and interested parties should provide their written comments to guarantee their requests for extensive correction are heard. Your feedback is crucial in shaping Lost Valley Farm’s future and ensuring our environment’s safety and public health.
Oregon Department of Agriculture Implements Stringent Regulatory Requirements to Mitigate Groundwater Contamination
The Oregon Department of Agriculture (ODA) has set strict regulations for Canyon Farms to tackle contamination. The current owner must reduce nitrate levels in three wells that exceed the original “background limits” from before Lost Valley Farm’s CAFO permit. Canyon Farms must bring these nitrate levels back to compliance and report monthly samples to ODA, ensuring accurate tracking and gradual reduction of nitrate levels.
ODA has granted Canyon Farms’ request to decommission the site as a CAFO, but regular monitoring remains critical to address groundwater contamination. The goal is to mitigate Lost Valley Farm’s past environmental violations and ensure nitrate levels are safe for public health. Environmental advocates like Tarah Heinzen from Food and Water Watch push for stricter standards to reduce nitrate levels to seven milligrams per liter.
Despite the plan, ODA has not explained why it isn’t enforcing stricter drinking water standards, leading to ongoing advocacy from environmental groups. This regulatory framework and commitment to thorough monitoring aim to rehabilitate the site and protect the Lower Umatilla Basin Groundwater Management Area.
Empowering Community Voices: How Public Participation Can Shape the Remedial Groundwater Cleanup Plan
Developing an excellent groundwater remediation strategy depends much on public engagement. Emphasizing the need for public knowledge in environmental choices, the Oregon Department of Agriculture (ODA) asks communities to help develop the final strategy. Residents are invited to express their opinions and concerns about the planned procedures to address nitrate poisoning at the old Lost Valley Farm.
To join the public comment process, follow these steps:
- Craft Your Comment: Articulate your views on the cleanup plan, express concerns about nitrate levels, and propose any additional measures. Specific, detailed feedback will help regulators grasp your standpoint.
- Submit Your Comment: Please send your written comments to the Oregon Department of Agriculture, including your name, contact information, and any pertinent affiliations.
- Meet the Deadline: Ensure comments reach ODA by July 19 for decision-making.
Participating in this process helps you to support initiatives to safeguard local water resources from the long-term consequences of industrial agriculture and contribute to better surroundings.
The Bottom Line
A critical first step in tackling the environmental problems mega-dairies cause in Eastern Oregon is decommissioning the Lost Valley Farm facility as a Confined Animal Feeding Operation. Removing dairy infrastructure does not solve nitrate pollution, which emphasizes the requirement of constant control. These past transgressions and corrections significantly affect groundwater quality and public health in the Lower Umatilla Basin Groundwater Management Area. Although Canyon Farms must satisfy drinking water criteria to safeguard the neighborhood genuinely, the Oregon Department of Agriculture’s demand to lower nitrate levels is a significant step. Public engagement is vital right now. The opinions of the residents might significantly change the cleansing strategies. One of the most important chances for community involvement is the present session for input on the planned groundwater cleaning plan. Cooperation among officials, site owners, environmental activists, and the public will determine the course of the Lost Valley Farm site. Group efforts will guarantee that remedial actions satisfy the highest criteria for a better, safer environment. Your voice counts; make sure others hear it.
Key Takeaways:
- Decommissioning of Lost Valley Farm: Canyon Farms, the current owner, has decommissioned the site as a Confined Animal Feeding Operation (CAFO).
- Site Contamination: Elevated nitrate levels remain a concern, likely due to historic manure spills.
- Regulatory Action: ODA has mandated that the owner bring nitrate levels back into compliance and report monthly samples.
- Public Involvement: Regulators are seeking public comments on the proposed groundwater cleanup plan, with a deadline for submissions set for July 19.
- Environmental Advocacy: Groups like Food and Water Watch call for more stringent cleanup efforts to ensure safe drinking water standards.
Summary:
Lost Valley Farm, a former dairy facility in Eastern Oregon, has been plagued by environmental infractions and government inspections. Canyon Farms, the new owner, has requested the decommissioning of the Confined Animal Feeding Operation (CAFO) facility, but the area remains polluted. The farm stopped business in 2017 after over 200 infractions and penalties totaling $187,000. Six years later, increased nitrate levels in groundwater from prior waste mishandling still cause questions. The Oregon Department of Agriculture has instructed Canyon Farms to eliminate all CAFO facilities, including milking parlors, barns, and animal stalls. The farm’s intangible harm, including compromised public confidence and community harm, was more critical. Canyon Farms bought the land in 2023 and initiated the decommissioning of the CAFO, marking a pivotal change and ensuring the end of future dairy activities at the site.
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