did y'all hear about this?
A Loxahatchee Groves, Fla., man has been arrested by authorities with the Florida Department of Environmental Protection because he had allegedly collected around 20,000 cubic yards of horse manure, the South Florida Sun-Sentinel reported.
Agents said the man, Walter Duque, accepted horse manure for composting. Permits to compost or store manure are required by state law, and approved facilities are inspected to ensure no laws protecting groundwater are being broken, the Sun-Sentinel reported.
According to the report, Duque had mounds of manure covering several acres of his property. Some piles were 15 feet tall.
Neighbors complaining of the smell tipped off the authorities, who gave Duque three misdemeanor citations. His penalties could include $30,000 in fines and up to 18 months in jail, the Sun-Sentinel reported.
---------------------------------------------------------------------- article by the Sun-Sentinel:
Loxahatchee Groves man arrested for illegally stockpiling horse manure By Joel Hood | South Florida Sun-Sentinel
Law enforcement officers with the Florida Department of Environmental Protection have arrested a Loxahatchee Groves man for illegally stockpiling about 20,000 cubic yards of horse manure on his property. Walter Duque received three misdemeanor citations for the violations, which could result in up to 18 months in jail and $30,000 in fines.
"Environmental crimes, like illegal composting and manure storage, can potentially harm our natural resources and impact our quality of life, and will not be tolerated," said Henry Barnet, director of the agency's law enforcement division, said in a released statement. "Enforcing Florida's laws, particularly those that protect our environment, is an important part of DEP's mission."
Agents began investigating Duque after receiving complaints from neighbors about growing piles of manure on his property and the foul odors wafting through the neighborhood. Investigators suspect the man has been accepting loads of horse manure from nearby communities and illegally composting the waste without permits. Mounds of manure as tall as 15 feet covered several acres on the property.
The state requires special permits for composting and storing horse manure. Those permits require specific nutrient and stormwater management plans to help protect ground and surface water. Composting facilities are also inspected regularly to ensure compliance with all state laws.