There goes big government again, forcing us consumers to pay more for our hot dogs. South Dakota's Department of Environment and Natural Resources has fined John Morrell & Company $44,079 for violating its surface water discharge permit. The Sioux Falls meatpacker discharged too much ammonia, chlorine, fecal coliform bacteria, and suspended solids into the Big Sioux River on dozens of occasions since 2008.
Morrell's has agreed to hire an engineer to review its pollution control systems. The company has also installed lots of new wastewater management technology. DENR is requiring Morrell's to submit a plan for further improvements to avoid future leaks by March 15, 2012. Paying the fine and taking these other actions allows Morrell's to avoid litigation and admission of liability. (Only a corporation can pay a fine and agree to fix problems without admitting that it caused problems.)
That Sioux Falls paper reports that the federal Environmental Protection Agency is also getting on John Morrell's case. The EPA has found violations of the Clean Air Act in Morrell's ammonia refrigeration equipment. If the federal suit wins in court, Morrell's could pay as much as $37,500 for each violation.
I wonder: when will Rep. Kristi Noem ride to the rescue? After all, these darned regulations requiring Morrell's not to pollute our air and water are costing the company a bundle. Who cares about clean air and water if wieners cost another fifty cents a pack? If Rep. Noem can raise a fuss about non-existent EPA dust regulations to boost her political profile, surely she should want to crusade against existing regulations that are keeping Morrell's from processing pigs as quickly as a totally free market would permit.
Or maybe even our anti-regulatory Representative recognizes that government regulations keep us from drinking corporate pig poop.
Rep. Noem is obviously just another Morrell Installed Liability Fixer.