October 6, 2023
Contact: Terry Alber, Biosolids and Pretreatment Analyst, Terry.Alber@deq.idaho.gov
The Idaho Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) is issuing a public notification after finding Agropur, Inc. in Significant Noncompliance status for violations of the federal Clean Water Act.
DEQ issued Idaho Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (IDPES) Indirect Discharge Permit IDP000009 to Agropur, Inc., which was in effect from April 14, 2019, through March 16, 2022. The permit was issued to control the amount and type of pollutants discharged to the city of Jerome’s wastewater treatment plant. On December 5, 2021, Agropur, Inc. discharged approximately 9,000 gallons of discolored industrial wastewater to the city’s sewer system, which interfered with the treatment plant’s ultraviolet disinfection system and caused the city to violate its IPDES permit.
In response, DEQ issued a notice of violation to Agropur, Inc. On September 1, 2023, the company entered into a consent order with DEQ and paid fines totaling $29,605. This violation meets the criteria for Significant Noncompliance, per 40 CFR 403.8(f)(2)(viii)(C), which requires public notification.