Appeal filed to halt a Optima Dairy
Comet staff report

An objection to the issuance of a discharge elimination system for a proposed dairy farm in Liberty Township has been filed before the Indiana Office of Environmental Adjudication.

The petition for review and stay was filed by local attorney Courtney Justice.

The petitioners are Robert E. and Roberta Shaffer and Walter Jr. and Eva Keller, who own property adjoining the proposed dairy; and Thomas Anderson, M.D., a family physician who has practiced medicine in Carroll County for over 25 years and resides by Rock Creek, downstream of the dairy.

They are asking the court to review the Indiana Department of Environmental Management's (IDEM) approval to Optima Dairy for its pollution discharge elimination system.

Optima Dairy Leasing LLC plans to construct three open air, clay bottomed liquid manure lagoons and other buildings for the operation of a dairy with 2,201 cows and 40 calves on the Carroll-Cass County line.

The petitioners cite specific concerns over seepage of the manure lagoons into the ground water and the dangers of manure contamination to their drinking water and to those in the area.

They also ask the court to take into account the findings of Dr. Darrell I. Leap, Professor Emeritus of Earth and Atmospheric Science, Purdue University. Dr. Leap expresses in a study his concern that the land is not suitable for the dairy due to a high water table and poor drainage which could result in rupturing of the manure lagoon liners.

Vreba-Hoff Dairy Development LLC is helping Koen and Els Ally of Belgium relocate and start the new dairy on property purchased from Myron Sink at CRs 1000N and 300E.

Following a lengthy review process, IDEM approved the Allys permits for Optima Dairy on Dec. 10.

Vreba-Hoff is a Dutch family owned business with offices in Ohio and The Netherlands. The company helps bring dairy farm families from Europe to the U.S. to start new dairies. Once established, the company typically hands off ownership to the families.