The new owner of a local animal feeding operation has been penalized for failure to timely notify the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) about the change in ownership as well as failure to submit an updated manure management plan (MMP). According to an Administrative Order issued by the DNR last week, Chad Gehling purchased the operation in the 22000 block of 270th Street in Pleasant Valley Township from Matt Gehling in March of 2019. The facility houses an estimated 2,100 grow to finish hogs in confinement and 30 cattle in an open lot. The DNR says they were not notified of the ownership change until January of this year and the original MMP and fees had not been submitted to the field office. Gehling has been ordered to submit an original MMP to the field office within 30 days of the signing of this order and submit a $250 filing fee as well as fees of $252 for the 2020 and 2021 MMPs in conjunction with an $84 indemnity fee. An administrative penalty has also been levied against Gehling in the amount of $3,000.
