STATE OF INDIANA		)	SS:	BEFORE THE INDIANA DEPARTMENT OF
		)
COUNTY OF MARION		)		ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT
COMMISSIONER OF THE DEPARTMENT					)
OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT,					)
					)
Complainant,					)
					)
	v.				)	Case No. 2019-26728-C
					)
FREEDOM PORK FARMS, LLC,					)
					)
Respondent.					)

AGREED ORDER

Complainant and Respondent desire to settle and compromise this action without hearing or adjudication of any issue of fact or law, and consent to the entry of the following Findings of Fact and Order. Pursuant to Indiana Code (“IC”) 13-30-3-3, entry into the terms of this Agreed Order does not constitute an admission of any violation contained herein. Respondent’s entry into this Agreed Order shall not constitute a waiver of any defense, legal or equitable, which Respondent may have in any future administrative or judicial proceeding, except a proceeding to enforce this order.

I. FINDINGS OF FACT

1. Complainant is the Commissioner (“Complainant”) of the Indiana Department of Environmental Management (“IDEM”), a department of the State of Indiana created by IC 13-13-1-1.

2. Respondent is Freedom Pork Farms, LLC (“Respondent”), which owns and operates the confined feeding operation with Farm ID #6778, AW #6323 located at 9706 S 100 E, in Claypool, Kosciusko County, Indiana (“Site”).

3. IDEM has jurisdiction over the parties and the subject matter of this action.

4. Pursuant to IC 13-30-3-3, IDEM issued a Notice of Violation (“NOV”) via Certified Mail on February 18, 2020 to:

Jennifer Sands, Vice President

Freedom Pork Farms LLC

3891 West Hill Lake Road

Claypool, Indiana 46510

United States Corporation Agents, Inc., Registered Agent

Freedom Pork Farms LLC

605 West Edison, Suite D

Mishawaka, Indiana 46545

5. Freedom Pork Farms, LLC is a wean-to-finish swine operation.

6. During an investigation including inspections on March 4, 2019, August 9, 2019, and December 9, 2019 conducted by a representative of IDEM, the following violations were found:

a. Pursuant to 327 Indiana Administrative Code 19-4-1(b), the owner/operator must comply with all terms and conditions of the CFO approval and this article, 327 IAC 19.

Pursuant to 327 IAC 19-12-3(a)(2), waste management systems must be located at least three hundred (300) feet from surface waters.

As noted during the inspections, Respondent failed to construct two (2) earthen surface water diversion swales, which were required by the original CFO Approval issued on August 22, 2013 in order to provide at least 300 feet of drainage control.

On March 3, 2020 a follow up inspection was conducted and confirmed that two (2) earthen surface water diversion swales were constructed.

On June 12, 2020, photographic documentation was submitted showing reseeding of disturbed soil areas where the two (2) earthen surface water diversion swales have been constructed.

7. Orders of the Commissioner are subject to administrative review by the Office of Environmental Adjudication under IC 4-21.5; however, in recognition of the settlement reached, Respondent acknowledges notice of this right and waives any right to administrative and judicial review of this Agreed Order.

II. ORDER

1. This Agreed Order shall be effective (“Effective Date”) when it is approved by Complainant or Complainant’s delegate, and has been received by Respondent. This Agreed Order shall have no force or effect until the Effective Date.

2. Respondent shall comply with the rules listed in the findings of fact above.

3. All submittals required by this Agreed Order, unless IDEM notifies the Respondent otherwise in writing, shall be sent to:

Jodi Pisula, Enforcement Case Manager

Office of Land Quality

Indiana Department of Environmental Management

100 North Senate Avenue

Indianapolis, IN 46204-2251

4. Pursuant to IC 13-30-4-1, Respondent is assessed and agrees to pay a civil penalty of One Thousand Two Hundred Dollars ($1,200.00). Said penalty amount shall be due and payable to the Environmental Management Special Fund in twelve (12) monthly installments. The first installment of One Hundred Dollars ($100.00) shall be paid within thirty (30) days of the Effective Date; the 30^th day being the “Due Date”, and the remaining installment payments shall be made every thirty (30) days thereafter.

5. The civil penalty is payable by check to the “Environmental Management Special Fund.” Checks shall include the Case Number of this action and shall be mailed to:

Indiana Department of Environmental Management

Accounts Receivable

IGCN, Room 1340

100 North Senate Avenue

Indianapolis, IN 46204

6. In the event that the monies due to IDEM pursuant to this Agreed Order are not paid on or before their Due Date, Respondent shall pay interest on the unpaid balance at the rate established by IC 24-4.6-1. The interest shall be computed as having accrued from the Due Date until the date that Respondent pays any unpaid balance. Such interest shall be payable to the Environmental Management Special Fund, and shall be payable to IDEM in the manner specified in Paragraph 5, above.

7. Signatories to this Agreed Order certify that they are fully authorized to execute this Agreed Order and legally bind the party they represent.

8. This Agreed Order shall apply to and be binding upon Respondent and all successors and assigns. Respondent shall provide a copy of this Agreed Order, if in force, to any subsequent owners, successors, or assigns before ownership rights are transferred.

9. No change in ownership, corporate, or partnership status of Respondent shall in any way alter the Respondent’s status or responsibilities under this Agreed Order.

10. Respondent shall ensure that all contractors, firms, and other persons performing work under this Agreed Order comply with the terms of this Agreed Order.

11. In the event that any terms of this Agreed Order are found to be invalid, the remaining terms shall remain in full force and effect and shall be construed and enforced as if this Agreed Order did not contain the invalid terms.

12. This Agreed Order is not and shall not be interpreted to be a permit or a modification of an existing permit. This Agreed Order, and IDEM’s review or approval of any submittal made by Respondent pursuant to this Agreed Order, shall not in any way relieve Respondent of the obligation to comply with the requirements of any applicable permits or any applicable Federal or State laws or regulations.

13. Complainant does not, by its approval of this Agreed Order, warrant or aver in any manner that Respondent’s compliance with any aspect of this Agreed Order will result in compliance with the provisions of any permit, order, or any applicable Federal or State law or regulation. Additionally, IDEM or anyone acting on its behalf shall not be held liable for any costs or penalties Respondent may incur as a result of Respondent’s efforts to comply with this Agreed Order.

14. Nothing in this Agreed Order shall prevent or limit IDEM’s rights to obtain penalties or injunctive relief under any applicable Federal or State law or regulation, except that IDEM may not, and hereby waives its right to, seek additional civil penalties for the violations specified in the NOV.

15. Nothing in this Agreed Order shall prevent IDEM or anyone acting on its behalf from communicating with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA) or any other agency or entity about any matters relating to this enforcement action. IDEM or anyone acting on its behalf shall not be held liable for any costs or penalties Respondent may incur as a result of such communications with the U.S. EPA or any other agency or entity.

16. This Agreed Order shall remain in effect until IDEM issues a Resolution of Case letter to Respondent.

TECHNICAL RECOMMENDATION:				RESPONDENT:
Department of Environmental Management
By: _________________________				By: _________________________
	Jennifer Reno, Section Chief
	Enforcement Section			Printed: ______________________
Office of Land Quality
				Title: ________________________
Date: __				Date: _______________________
				COUNSEL FOR RESPONDENT:
				By: ________________________
				Date: ______________________
APPROVED AND ADOPTED BY THE INDIANA DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL
MANAGEMENT THIS		______	DAY OF	________________________,	20__.
				For the Commissioner:
				Signed 9/22/2020
				Peggy Dorsey, Assistant Commissioner
				Office of Land Quality