Two responsible parties, the City of Postville and Iowa Turkey Products, Inc., have settled natural resource damages in the amount of $37,500 and $20,000, respectively. The Department of Justice and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency have pursued a civil action against a third potentially responsible party, AgriProcessors, Inc., for Clean Water Act violations relating to this case.

The Yellow River watershed is considered to be one of great ecological diversity. It has been designated as an Important Bird Area by the Audubon Society. Some of its attractions include the Yellow River State Forest, the Yellow River Valley Canoe and Heritage Trail, Effigy Mounds National Monument, and the Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge.

The Service, in cooperation with the National Park Service, the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, the Natural Resource Conservation Service, and other stakeholders, will use these settlement funds to develop and implement a restoration plan to compensate for these damages to the Yellow River ecosystem.

For more information, contact Ginger Molitor at (309) 793-5800 Ext. 212 or e-mail: Ginger_Molitor@fws.gov.