Washington state congressman says EPA dairy study is flawed

YAKIMA, Wash. — A Washington state congressman says a federal study that blamed dairies for groundwater contamination was flawed and should not be used against them.

The Yakima Herald-Republic reports U.S. Rep. Dan Newhouse says the 2012 federal nitrate study named Lower Yakima Valley dairies as a source for contamination of rural, domestic wells.

Newhouse released a statement Monday asking the Environmental Protection Agency to suspend the study's use in enforcement until a peer review is conducted.

EPA and state Department of Ecology officials support the study and say a complete peer review was conducted.

The newspaper reports some dairy producers were required to change animal waste handling procedures following lawsuits by environmental groups.

Newhouse says the changes forced one dairy out of business and another to pay about $11 million.