SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) - Nearly 30 odor complaints filed in recent months have been traced to a livestock nutrients plant in Sioux City’s former stockyards area, city officials said.
City staff confirmed that 17 new odor complaints since Monday have been traced to Kay Dee LLC’s processing facility, the Sioux City Journal reported . Kay Dee is an independent manufacturer of mineral and protein supplements.
City Utilities Director Mark Simms said this week’s complaints are in addition to 11 received over the past three months linked to the facility.
“We’re not trying to pick on anybody here, but that let us know the public feels that there is a nuisance,” Simms said.
Kay Dee has released a statement saying harsh winter weather has “caused unexpected problems” at the plant and that they’re cooperating with the city to fix the issue.
The number of verified complaints has passed the threshold required to designate the plant a “significant odor generator,” which means it could face civil penalties if it doesn’t follow the city’s odor compliance process. Under the designation, the plant could face a municipal infraction with civil penalties of $750 for the initial offense and $1,000 for each repeat offense.
Simms said the plant is expected to produce a plan to mitigate the odors by March 31. The plant will then be given time to carry out the plan.
Simms said the city hopes the issue can be resolved before penalties are necessary.
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Information from: Sioux City Journal, http://www.siouxcityjournal.com
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