Woodstock dairy farmer fined after manure spill into creek

ADRIANUS LEONARDUS MARIA VAN LITH FINED $16,000 FOR CATTLE MANURE SPILL INTO MOON CREEK

WOODSTOCK – On July 8, 2010, Adrianus Leonardus Maria Van Lith plead guilty to two violations under the Ontario Water Resources Act for a spill of cattle manure into Moon Creek and for failing to notify the ministry of the spill.

The Court heard that Mr. Van Lith is the owner of a dairy cattle farm in Woodstock. On March 16, 2008, a citizen reported a spill of dairy manure into Moon Creek, to the ministry. On March 18, 2008, a ministry officer attended the scene and took photos. The officer confirmed the spill had occurred when the earthen manure lagoon overflowed and ran down a snow covered field to Moon Creek. Samples were collected and the analysis results showed that the manure was a polluting material and may have impaired the water of Moon Creek.

Mr. Van Lith was charged following an investigation by the ministry’s Investigations and Enforcement Branch.

Mr. Van Lith was fined $16,000 plus a victim fine surcharge (an additional 25% or $4,000) and was given 12 months to pay the fine.