The Kalona Cheese Factory, or Twin Counties Dairy LLC, closed Thursday. The business had 50 employees.
Jeff Staton is with Proliant Dairy in Ankeny, the majority owner of the facility located off of Highway 1. He says the plant would have required a substantial capital investment to meet environmental and food safety standards.
Kevin Baskins with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources says the facility has environmental violations dating back to the 1990s. The most recent incident occurred on January 30th of this year. According to Baskins, a damaged pipe at the factory released wastewater into Ramsey Creek. A notice of violation was filed by the DNR when the bypass went unreported. Baskins adds the case was turned over to the Environmental Protection Agency, who was already taking enforcement action.