SYLVESTER - Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources officials are investigating a spill at Emerald Sky Dairy in St. Croix County, which is owned by operators looking to construct a 5,800-cow concentrated animal feeding operation along 127 acres of Green County.
T.J. Tuls, who works for his father, Todd, as operator of Janesville's Rock Prairie Farms, said the 17-year-old facility had fallen into disrepair.
"Immediately we took action," T.J. Tuls said. "The spill didn't go beyond our property limits."
Protocol dictates that any manure spills, regardless of the facility, are reported to the state Department of Natural Resources.
For instance, for the events that followed a recent spill of 3,000 gallons of manure at Larson Acres in Brodhead, DNR officials commended the operation for its swift response in reporting the problem and its work, albeit unsuccessful, to prevent spillage into nearby Allen Creek. Though water samples are still being taken and some fish died at the site of the contamination, DNR officials said the quick response prevented larger problems from occurring.
In Emerald, there was not a fast response. The leak began in December when a cap in an underground transfer line between two holding structures broke, releasing manure. Both the junior and senior Tuls said the failure to report any spill was not intentional, but the manager of the facility neglected to inform the owners. T.J. Tuls added that the manager is no longer employed with Emerald Sky because of his continual failure to follow protocol.
DNR officials discovered the spill when an anonymous report was made.
DNR Section Chief Andrew Savagian, of the Office of Communication, said the incident is still under investigation and could not speak to details while it is ongoing.
However, according to a report included in an email sent by DNR Wastewater Specialist Leah Nicol to a concerned citizen, Kim Dupre of Emerald, the spill was the result of an equipment failure. It was reported on March 29. An underground manure line shattered, resulting in a spill onto unused field owned by Emerald Sky Dairy.
Todd Tuls said the leak would have been noticed in a monthly evaluation a few days after it was reported. The report indicates that the amount of manure leaked from the pipe is unknown. T.J. Tuls said the manure was contained to a stormwater pond at the site.
T.J. Tuls, who works for his father, Todd, as operator of Janesville's Rock Prairie Farms, said the 17-year-old facility had fallen into disrepair.
"Immediately we took action," T.J. Tuls said. "The spill didn't go beyond our property limits."
Protocol dictates that any manure spills, regardless of the facility, are reported to the state Department of Natural Resources.
For instance, for the events that followed a recent spill of 3,000 gallons of manure at Larson Acres in Brodhead, DNR officials commended the operation for its swift response in reporting the problem and its work, albeit unsuccessful, to prevent spillage into nearby Allen Creek. Though water samples are still being taken and some fish died at the site of the contamination, DNR officials said the quick response prevented larger problems from occurring.
In Emerald, there was not a fast response. The leak began in December when a cap in an underground transfer line between two holding structures broke, releasing manure. Both the junior and senior Tuls said the failure to report any spill was not intentional, but the manager of the facility neglected to inform the owners. T.J. Tuls added that the manager is no longer employed with Emerald Sky because of his continual failure to follow protocol.
DNR officials discovered the spill when an anonymous report was made.
DNR Section Chief Andrew Savagian, of the Office of Communication, said the incident is still under investigation and could not speak to details while it is ongoing.
However, according to a report included in an email sent by DNR Wastewater Specialist Leah Nicol to a concerned citizen, Kim Dupre of Emerald, the spill was the result of an equipment failure. It was reported on March 29. An underground manure line shattered, resulting in a spill onto unused field owned by Emerald Sky Dairy.
Todd Tuls said the leak would have been noticed in a monthly evaluation a few days after it was reported. The report indicates that the amount of manure leaked from the pipe is unknown. T.J. Tuls said the manure was contained to a stormwater pond at the site.