The Department of Environmental Quality announced today its decision to deny the application for a permit for a Vreba-Hoff Dairy Development Concentrated Animal Feeding Operation (CAFO), Bustorf Dairy, proposed for Leonidas Township in St. Joseph County. The department's decision follows a period of extensive review by the DEQ of public comments and supporting information to determine whether the proposed 2,260 dairy cow facility met the standards contained within federal and state regulations.

As part of the application process, the applicant was required to provide an antidegradation demonstration to show how the potential lowering of water quality is necessary to support important social and economic development in the area. The DEQ's permit denial is based on rebuttals provided by Leonidas Township, local residents and other organizations to the statements contained in that antidegradation demonstration, which showed that neither the social or economic benefits listed in the antidegradation demonstration would benefit the local community.

One of the assertions in the antidegradation demonstration is that the CAFO will create jobs as a benefit; however, figures provided during the public comment period showed that any jobs provided by the CAFO will lower the median wage level in the township and replace higher paying jobs and family income at smaller farms. Another benefit given is that the CAFO will provide a long-term stable market for local crops and will help preserve rural character, open spaces, and wildlife habitat. This was also disputed by the public comments which demonstrated that hauling the large amount of manure over the township's roads will damage the rural character, and that the presence of the CAFO would result in a decline in property values and be detrimental to the sustainable tourism market in the area.

"The DEQ supports environmentally sound agriculture, but this application failed to demonstrate how the community would receive any benefits that would outweigh the potential risks to water quality and the environment," said DEQ Director Steven E. Chester.

The public participation process included public comment periods and a public hearing in the community. Numerous comments were received and are available via the Internet by clicking on Concentrated Animal Feeding Operation (CAFO) at www.michigan.gov/deqnpdes.

The applicant now has 60 days to appeal the DEQ's decision.

Editor's note: DEQ news releases are available on the department's Internet home page at www.michigan.gov/deq.

"Protecting Michigan's Environment, Ensuring Michigan's Future"

Revised July 1, 2008 by Pat Watson