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EPA Orders Mike McClure Farms to Stop Discharge of Poultry Litter

Release Date: 07/13/2009
Contact Information: Dave Bary or Anthony Suttice at 214-665-2200 or r6press@epa.gov

(Dallas, Texas – July 13, 2009) The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has issued an administrative order to Mike McClure Farms in Hopkins County, Texas, for violating the federal Clean Water Act.

The facility is a Concentrated Animal Feeding Operation (CAFO) and falls under the regulatory authority of the Texas State Soil and Water Conservation Board.

Mike McClure Farms is a poultry broiler facility located approximately 18 miles east of Sulphur Springs, situated on the north side of County Road 3310, in Hopkins County. On May 19 and 29, and June 12, 2009, EPA inspectors observed an unauthorized discharge of chicken litter from the farms’ poultry litter staging area. The unauthorized discharge of pollutants was observed at the eastern end of the northern poultry house which is used for staging litter that is removed from the barns during cleanout. The staging area drains northwest approximately 340 yards to a wetland that is directly connected to Stouts Creek.

Based on these findings and within 45 days, Mike McClure Farms has been ordered to submit to EPA a schedule for construction of a covered shed under which to stage and store poultry litter and prevent future unauthorized discharges of pollutants to Stouts Creek.

More about activities in EPA Region 6: https://www.epa.gov/region6

EPA audio file is available at https://www.epa.gov/region6/6xa/podcast/jul2009.html