Overton Cattle Feeding Operation Sentenced for Clean Water Act Violations

United States Attorney Deborah R. Gilg announced that Central Feeders, Inc. a Concentrated Animal Feeding Operation (CAFO) located near Overton in Dawson County, Nebraska, has entered a plea of guilty and has been sentenced for a misdemeanor violation of the Clean Water Act.  The plea and sentencing occurred in the United States District Court in Lincoln, Nebraska.  The Honorable Richard G. Kopf, Senior Judge, accepted the plea and sentenced Central Feeders, Inc. to a 3 year term of probation and imposed a fine of $20,000.  During probation Central Feeders, Inc. will be required to abide by a compliance plan to be monitored by the United States Probation Office and the Environmental Protection Agency to eliminate violations of the Clean Water Act.

Central Feeders, Inc. is a cattle feeding operation.  On at least four separate occasions between April of 2011 and April of 2012 livestock waste was negligently discharged from the feedlot into Mud Creek.  Mud Creek is a tributary of the Platte River, a waterway of the United States.  The discharges did not result in any fish kills and no environmental clean-up costs were noted.  

In addition to the criminal penalty Central Feeders, Inc. has negotiated a civil penalty with the Environmental Protection Agency.  That penalty is subject to publication and final approval.  It is anticipated that the civil penalty will be $38,911.