Minnesota Mega-Dairy Faces Legal Challenge Over Expansion

Environmental organizations have initiated legal action against the state of Minnesota. Food & Water Watch and the Land Stewardship Project filed a lawsuit challenging the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency's (MPCA) decision to permit Riverview's West River Dairy to expand without requiring a comprehensive Environmental Impact Statement (EIS).

The proposed expansion would increase the dairy's capacity from 7,855 cows to nearly 19,000, potentially making it Minnesota's largest dairy operation. Critics, including the plaintiffs, express serious concerns about the environmental ramifications, estimating the expansion would generate waste equivalent to a city of 750,000 and add at least 66,000 tons of greenhouse gases annually.

Riverview maintains a commitment to responsible operations and environmental stewardship. The dairy plans to utilize the waste by spreading it on local fields as fertilizer. However, opponents worry about potential nitrate pollution in the Pomme de Terre River and an adjacent creek, which are crucial water sources, particularly for rural residents relying on private wells.

The MPCA previously determined that an EIS was unnecessary, citing no potential for significant economic impacts after reviewing an Environmental Assessment Worksheet. The plaintiffs argue this assessment was deficient and that significant environmental harm is likely. Beyond environmental issues, concerns are also raised about the expansion exacerbating consolidation within Minnesota's dairy industry, posing risks to smaller family farms.