Chronology of Christmas Pollution -- Dec. 15 to the present (Jan, 2004)
(and lack of response from DEQ on holidays)

Following are ECCSCM email records/photos of the Vreba-Hoff, Bill White liquid manure applications & illegal discharges to Lime Lake (Dec. 15, 2003 -the present). ECCSCM sampled four of these sites for E. coli bacteria on Dec. 29, 2003 -- results from the lab were Too Numerous To Count. DEQ has still not responded or cited these operations for the pollution of Lime Lake. DEQ has still not developed protocols for response on weekends or holidays.
--Janet Kauffman 1-9-04

Dec 15, 2003

Lynn Henning email:
[photo] shows them also spreading north of Tamarack Road east side of Coman Road within 30' of the Lime Lake Inlet ditch, on muck ground with a 60% predicted rainfall on snow covered, frozen ground. The ground is frozen approximately 4" deep, the terragator can barely break the crust.

Dec 16, 2003

Lynn Henning email:
This is 1 1/2 miles west of the 127 facility on Tamarack Road and Coman Road. [photo] shows that they spread this field solid, there are two tile risers in this field, they remove the wire tops and spread right over where the tile risers are located. This is being done in several locations, and at other facilities. This field was spread within 30' from an open ditch that goes into Lime Lake, with 85 homes, there was no setback distance from tile risers, on snow covered frozen ground with an 80% predicted rainfall with temperatures reaching 45 degrees, this was called in today. Again to my knowledge no response from DEQ today.

Kathy Melmoth email:
Wondered if you wouldn't mind issuing another stench alert if you have time.
Talked to Lynn today and she says it was very bad over by Tamarack and Coman
from VH 2 spreading again yesterday and Bill White also spreading West on
Tamarack.

(posted on www.nocafos.org site --Janet Kauffman)
Stench Alert! Dec. 16 - intense stench, air quality concerns, from Vreba-Hoff and Bill White manure application, again, at Elm, Tamarack, & Coman Rds.

Dec 23, 2003

Kathy Melmoth email (including following 4 photos):
Met Lynn Henning at Tamarack and Elm today 12/23/03, 1 pm. I observed foul smelling water from field tiles and surface runoff from fields that had been spread with liquid manure on and 12/8/03 and 12/9/03 and 12/16/03 by Vreba-Hoff. Rain started late 12/22/03 and continued up to when pictures and observations were made.
We observed and smelled manure smelling water from following locations:
- Black tile on south side of Tamarack Rd. (Elm is nearest cross street), draining field on south side of Tamarack.

[a week later, this site--#76-- tested Too Numerous To Count for E. coli bacteria in sampling Dec. 29, 2003 --Janet Kauffman]

- picture of field south side of Tamarack Rd., midway between Elm and Coman, soil and water pouring onto road, smelled like liquid manure.

[this site tested --#77--TNTC on Dec 29, 2003 --JK]

...- picture of tile on south side of Lime Lake Rd. draining foul smelling water from field on north side of Lime Lake Rd. I believe this enters Prattville Drain and goes into Lime Lake.

[This site --#78--tested TNTC on Dec. 29, 2003 --JK]

- hidden black tile (under rocks), draining east side of field spread by Vreba Hoff on Elm Rd. at Lime Lake Inlet (West side of Elm Rd. and west side of Lime Lake Inlet).

[this site --#75--tested TNTC on Dec. 29, 2003--JK]

Lynn and I counted at least 4 sites where it appeared manure contaminated water was entering Lime Lake Inlet. This is a threat to the wells on Lime Lake and a potential health threat to the residents.

Kathy Melmoth email, 12-23-03:
...to me this is extraordinary. The fields were all spread by VH and we have at least 4 different sites of entry(discharge) into Lime Lake. That is a lot of manure going into LL and the Bean. And we are only 2 years into this. I see this as a huge risk and that is not exaggeration.

Dec 29, 2003

Kathy Melmoth email, 12-29-03:
Janet and I also sampled today and we sampled 4 of the sites off the fields that were so smelly on the 23rd. Water still pouring through the tiles. 4 of the sites today off those fields, 1.tile at Tamarack, West side, 2.Schaffner's ditch and 3.tile on Lime Lk all smelled bad 4. as did the tile on Elm on west side of Lime Lk. Not sure if our lab will pick up the e.coli. Lots of water running through but we had odor in all places we tested off those fields. I forwarded my email to DEQ enforcement folks today (same as one I sent you guys on 23rd) expressing my concern for the health of Lime Lake residents, no answer so far.

Dec 31, New Year's Eve, 2003

Janet Kauffman email to DEQ, 12-31-03:
After moderate rain overnight Sunday, Kathy Melmoth and I sampled 12 sites Monday morning, immediately downstream from CAFO facilities/manure application fields. 11 of the sites had E. coli counts in gross violation of Michigan's water standard of 1,000/100 ml. Bovee Drain was 47,520/100ml, and 10 other sites had bacteria levels Too Numerous To Count (TNTC). Sites starred below (# 75,76, 77, 78 ) all had manure odor in water sampled.

2 sites listed (#19 Rice Lake Drain and #58 Bovee Drain) are downstream from VanderHoff Haley Dairy, Lenawee Co (River Raisin)
All other sites listed are associated with Vreba-Hoff, Lenawee & Hillsdale Co (Bean/Tiffin Watershed)
note: #79 stormwater drain at US-127 is supposed to be uncontaminated stormwater
note: V-H tile sites are flowing directly from fields with recent manure application -- ECCSCM reported several of these same discharge sites to DEQ on Dec. 23, 2003, where surface runoff of manure was occurring and sub-surface field tiles were discharging manure-smelling water. A week later, serious discharges are continuing.

Application of liquid manure to tile-drained fields continues to be a horrendous problem for water quality. Even with moderate rainfall, extremely contaminated liquid discharges to our streams.

We appeal to DEQ to respond, cite and immediately fine Vreba-Hoff the required stipulated penalties for these multiple ongoing discharges.
--Janet Kauffman

-------- Original Message --------
Subject: surface water
Date: Wed, 31 Dec 2003 08:53:26 -0500
From: D&A <water@daenvironmental.com>

#19 Rice Lake Drain Haley Rd TNTC
#21 S Medina Drain Ingall Hwy TNTC
#30 Wetland Drain Dillon Hwy 0
#31 Durfee Crk Ext Dillon Hwy TNTC
#51 Tile Drain S of Donnelly 127 TNTC
#58 Bovee Drain Whaley Rd 47,520
#73 Blue Tile @ Bee Hives Donnelly Rd TNTC
#75* Tile to Lime Lk Inlet W side Elm TNTC
#76* Tile to Lime Lk Inlet W side Tamarack Rd TNTC
#77* Ditch to Lime Lk Inlet Tamarack Rd TNTC
#78* Tile Drain Lime Lk Rd TNTC
#79 Storm Water Dr VH2 127 TNTC


Happy New Year.
Deb Hayes-Wolfe, owner/consultant
D&A Environmental LLC
402 S. Brown St
Jackson, MI 49203
(517)783-3883
State of Michigan Certified Laboratory #9920

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