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CJ Bio Fined $90K for Deadly Fish Kill
16 Jun
Summary
- A spill killed approximately 72,000 fish in Lizard Creek.
- CJ Bio America Inc. will pay over $90,000 in penalties.
- Preventative measures at the plant were deemed inadequate.
In April 2025, a significant spill at CJ Bio America Inc.'s Fort Dodge facility resulted in the death of nearly 72,000 fish in Lizard Creek. The incident occurred when a manufacturing byproduct accidentally overfilled a storage bladder, with an unknown amount escaping into a crop field and eventually reaching the creek through tile drainage. Elevated ammonia levels were detected downstream from the spill site.
CJ Bio has agreed to pay over $90,000 to the state of Iowa as part of a consent order with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources. This amount includes $73,819 for fish kill restitution, over $9,100 in investigative costs, and a $7,500 administrative penalty. The DNR noted that the facility's existing spill prevention measures were insufficient to prevent the toxic material from entering state waters.
To prevent future incidents, CJ Bio will implement enhanced safety measures. These include installing monitors in storage bladders, updating its stormwater pollution prevention plan, and working to install a gate valve in the affected field's tile line. The company has stated its commitment to evaluating and instituting further measures to avoid similar occurrences.
