The Environmental Protection Agency reports that Tennessee State Representative Andy Holt could be charged up to $177,500 in fines for multipleĀ violations of the Federal Clean Water Act.
WTVF-TV in Nashville first reported Thursday that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has filed the complaint against Rep.Ā Holt, a Dresden Republican and vice chairman of the House Agriculture Committee, following reports that Holt’s farm had beenĀ discharging hog waste into a nearby creekĀ without a permit.
Holtās farm discharged more than 860,000 gallons of waste from lagoons on the farm raising nearly 1,500 pigs without proper authorization. Rep. Holt claimsĀ he reported himself to the state of Tennessee after heavy rainfall had caused the lagoons to overflow.
Rep. Holt said that his farm ceased operation around December 2014.
News Channel 5 spoke with Rep.Ā Holt via telephone, wherein the representative said that he “loves a good fight, but the penalty is pretty stiff.ā
Rep. Holt also added that he is in the process of trying to settle with EPA, and that he believes the agency is targeting him as well as other farmers.
āWhether they are targeting farmers, terrorizing businesses, or simply trampling the rights of homeowners on their property, it is obvious that the EPA is an agenda-driven creation of big government,ā Rep.Ā Holt said.
Tennessee records show that Rep.Ā Holt operated his farm for three years before he was told he needed to turn in paperwork regarding proper permits in 2012. Holtās paperwork was eventually turned in uncompleted. No followup was reported.
Tennessee governorĀ Bill Haslam denies that Holt had received any special treatment. Last year, Haslam vetoed a bill sponsored by Holt because of what he called “an unintended consequence of reducing criminal penalties for pollution in Tennessee.”
āWe have to protect our land and water for future generations so it remains an attractive place for people to live, work and raise a family,ā said Gov. Haslam.
