Pa. dairy farm to close for failing to manage manure

March 9 -- Operators of a Fulton County, Pa., dairy farm will cease operations following failure to manage the farm´s manure and manure lagoon adequately, the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection said.

The farm´s lagoon discharges into a nearby creek, where there was a fish kill in November.

Under a consent decree with the state, the farmers, Mr. and Mrs. Lamar Hege and Glen Hege will pay 12,920 in penalties and vacate the leased farm near McConellsburg by May 1.

"Given an option, the Heges chose to cease farming operations and vacate the McConnellsburg site rather than perform major upgrades needed to bring the facility into compliance," said DEP South-central Regional Director Rachel Diamond. "As part of the agreement, the Heges developed and must now implement an interim manure management plan for this farm."

Contact Waste & Recycling News senior reporter Jim Johnson at 937-964-1289 or jpjohnson@crain.com

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