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12/3/2025
WT Staff
 Knowledge of an environmental crime? Give us a call at 877-52-WATER (877-529-2837), or email info@wtny.us
Dec 3, 2025 244 pm EST
CrimeBox
Historic Conviction Fiscal Year 2012; Case ID# CR_2272 (North Carolina)
Confined animal feedlot operator locked up, sentenced to $1.5M penalties for discharging untreated hog manure to the environment
"The hog industry is vital to North Carolina. However, we must protect our natural resources that affect other vital interests in our beautiful state. In order to assure the well-being of all, we must ensure that everyone takes care of these precious and finite resources.
U.S. Attorney George E.B. Holding
"Large farms and dairies can cause serious damage to the environment if they illegally discharge wastewater into nearby lakes, rivers, and streams. That is why EPA has made addressing violations by concentrated animal feeding operations an enforcement priority."
- Maureen O'Mara, Special Agent in Charge of EPA's criminal enforcement program for North Carolina
The Principal Defendant in this case is a farm corporation that raises hogs for market. Co-defendant is the President of the corporation, the individual responsible for the confined animal feedlot operation (CAFO), located in Columbus County, NC. The defendants plead guilty to felony violation of the Clean Water Act, for discharging raw hog manure from the premises to a creek leading to the Waccamaw River and White Marsh wetlands.
The defendants managed 4,800 hogs in Columbus County, responsible for handling approximately 6,720 gallons (~25.5 tons) of manure produced by the animals daily. Liquid manure was to be contained in two lagoons, settled and treated to the acceptable standard prior to discharge to the environment. Pathogenic bacteria e.coli notwithstanding, the average nutrient content emanating from this CAFO amounts to approximately 350 lbs of Nitrogen and 185 lbs of Phosphorous every day.
According to Dr. Rhonda Miller at Utah State University Ag Waste Management extension, "Runoff and direct discharges are some of the bigger issues for our surface waters." EPA guidance on nutrient pollution states, "Too much nitrogen and phosphorus in the water causes algae and algae-like bacteria to grow faster than ecosystems can handle, forming algal blooms. Significant increases in algae harm water quality, food resources and habitats, and decrease the oxygen that fish and other aquatic life need to survive. Algal blooms can severely reduce or eliminate oxygen in the water, leading to fish illnesses or deaths, often in large numbers. Some blooms consist of cyanobacteria that mimic algae in their appearance and ecological role. They can release toxins into the water that can make people and animals sick if they touch, drink, or eat contaminated fish or shellfish from the water."
Nutrient pollution is not only harmful in wetlands, creeks, rivers and lakes, excess nutrients and e.coli seep into the groundwater, contaminating drinking water aquifers. From the EPA website, "Nutrient contamination in ground water - which millions of people in the United States use as their drinking water source - can be harmful, even at low levels. Infants are vulnerable to a nitrogen-based compound called nitrates in drinking water."
In July 2011, the Department of Justice released a statement about this case, "North Carolina Corporate Hog Farm and President Plead Guilty to Violating the Clean Water Act".
"Owners and operators of concentrated animal feeding operations must comply with the nation's Clean Water Act for the protection of America's streams, wetlands, and rivers," said Ignacia S. Moreno, Assistant Attorney General for the Environment and Natural Resources Division at the Department of Justice.
The corporate defendant was sentenced to a five year term of probation, a federal fine of half a million dollars and and restitution one million, ordered to publish a public apology. The individual defendant was sentenced to a year in prison with six months probation.
Prison term: 12 months; Federal Fines: $500,000; Restitution: $1,000,000; Probation: 66 months
See last week's CrimeBox, "Oyster nursery impacted with repeated dredging, defendant sentenced to restore the coastal habitat", here.
CrimeBox briefs are compiled from EPA Criminal Enforcement records.
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