Great Lakes Wire

The 54th Circuit Court in Tuscola County has issued a preliminary injunction against Zimba Dairy, Inc. (Zimba), directing the concentrated animal feeding operation to cease discharging wastewater from its three locations into state waters, according to Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel.

The Attorney General lodged an amended complaint against Zimba in April, following an initial complaint filed in June 2023. The Department alleges that the operation neglected to secure a required wastewater permit, illegally discharged wastewater into surface water and groundwater, caused the death of thousands of fish in the North Branch White Creek in 2021, and unlawfully affected wetlands and inland streams with substantial damaging effects.

“This ruling marks a pivotal step in holding Zimba Dairy, Inc. accountable for its environmental impact and threats to public health,” Nessel stated. “My department remains committed to protecting Michigan’s water and natural resources.”

Zimba operates as a concentrated animal feeding operation with three locations and over 3,500 head of cattle, including more than 1,600 dairy cows. The company confines well above the regulatory threshold of 700 cows for part of each day and feeds their cows silage along with some pasture grass. Legally, Zimba is required to properly manage the waste it generates by confining such a large number of animals in a small space; however, the Department alleges that it has disregarded wastewater permitting rules and continued to contaminate Michigan’s water resources.

The next hearing at the 54th Circuit Court in Tuscola County will be on May 29th where motions for partial summary disposition filed by both Plaintiffs and Zimba will be heard.