Walz Energy agrees to pay fine, comply with permit
Walz Energy LLC has entered into an administrative consent order with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) to address violations at its site east of Monona.
Violations addressed include illegal discharges to a water of the state (Bloody Run Creek), multiple ongoing violations of its stormwater National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit and a violation of its wastewater construction permit.
According to the DNR, Walz Energy has agreed to payment of a $10,000 administrative penalty and to comply with its NPDES stormwater permit.
The DNR issued the consent order to Walz Energy earlier this year. In late May, with the issue still unresolved, the DNR declared its intent to seek judicial enforcement. However, the state’s Environmental Protection Commission, at its July meeting, opted not to refer the case on to the state attorney general’s office.
Construction of the 10,000-head cattle feedlot and biogas operation has been halted since last fall. At the EPC meeting, Walz Energy’s Chief Operating Officer, Jon Haman, said he anticipated construction to begin again soon. He expects the project to be finished by the end of this year.