State regulators have approved a permit for a large dairy near Hillsboro, North Dakota. On September 24, the North Dakota Department of Environmental Quality (NDDEQ) issued a Concentrated Animal Feeding Operation (CAFO) permit to Riverview ND LLP for its planned Herberg Dairy.
The permit sets clear conditions to protect water and soil. Manure storage structures must use clay liners to reduce the risk of leaks. Riverview’s nutrient management plan covers enough land to handle manure as fertilizer, but no fields in the 100-year floodplain were approved. Regulators made that decision after public comments raised concerns about flood risk.
Oversight will continue as the project moves forward. NDDEQ staff will inspect the site during construction and return at least once a year once the dairy is in operation. These inspections are meant to ensure Riverview follows all permit requirements over the long term.
Some issues remain outside NDDEQ’s authority. The department noted that concerns about the dairy’s water source and location were not part of the permit review.
Even so, NDDEQ Permits Program Director Marty Haroldson said the public comments shaped the final decision. “We greatly appreciate the feedback provided by the public and the flexibility of Riverview in addressing these concerns,” he said.
The full permit decision, fact sheet, and responses to public comments are posted online: Final Permit Decision – Herberg Dairy (PDF).
