Wisconsin Farm, Manure Spreader to Pay $242K for Pollution Violations

Wisconsin Attorney General Josh Kaul has reached a $242,000 settlement with a factory farm and a manure applicator to resolve pollution violations stemming from manure spills several years ago.

Kaul announced the settlements with K&D Manure Handling Inc., its owner, Kevin Hintz, and Wild Rose Dairy LLC in a news release. He brokered the deals earlier this month.

The settlements resolve state Justice Department allegations that Wild Rose and K&D caused manure spills in Otter Creek in Vernon County in 2017 and 2019, resulting in significant fish kills each time. The agency also alleged that K&D and Hintz caused a spill in Bostwick Creek in La Crosse County in 2019.

Republican lawmakers passed a lame-duck law in 2018 that requires Kaul to get permission from the Legislature’s GOP-controlled budget committee before he can enter into settlements.

Kaul got around that requirement by brokering the deals without filing a lawsuit.