Suffolk Downs Race Track Must Reduce Bacteria in Runoff

According to the U.S. EPA, Suffolk Downs is violating the federal Clean Water Act due to horse manure, urine, bedding material, and stable wash water that are entering the waterways through stormwater runoff.

The action is specifically an Administrative Order that the EPA has issued to the Sterling Suffolk Racecourse, LLC, requiring it to immediately make all practicable efforts to cease discharging pollutants to its storm drain system and Sales Creek.

The EPA order requires Suffolk to routinely inspect its facility for discharges to Sales Creek and the adjacent wetland and to collect a limited number of dry-weather and wet-weather samples from its outfalls.

The starting gate at Suffolk Downs (Photo by Elizabeth Alcinoe)

"EPA and our partners have invested a lot of time and effort in improving water quality in the Boston area, in the Charles River, in Boston Harbor and in the Mystic River," Varney said. "This action reflects our commitment to a clean and healthy environment."

The EPA order also requires Suffolk to submit an application for the appropriate discharge permit from the EPA. The race track needs a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System, NPDES, permit for a concentrated animal feeding operation, or CAFO.

This type of permit usually applies to facilities holding large numbers of animals for food production, but in this case, the EPA has determined that Suffolk Downs requires a CAFO permit.

In response to an information request and on-site inspections by EPA dating back to 2006, EPA has determined that more than 500 horses have been stabled at the facility for more than 45 days per year.

Suffolk reported that the facility discharges to Sales Creek and an adjacent wetland through several outfalls and two drainage swales. Consequently, Suffolk Downs is a concentrated animal feeding operation and needs an NPDES permit for any discharges to waters of the United States, such as Sales Creek.

EPA inspections have revealed that horse and stable wash water have been discharged repeatedly to the facility's storm drain system during dry-weather.

EPA inspectors observed stormwater contaminated with manure wastes and highly turbid, brown runoff being discharged from the facility to Sales Creek.

Sampling conducted at various outfalls discharging from Suffolk Downs indicates elevated ammonia, surfactant, suspended solids, biological oxygen demand, and bacterial concentrations being discharged to Sales Creek in both dry and wet weather.

Suffolk is required to develop and submit a plan for interim measures to eliminate or reduce to the maximum extent possible the discharge of pollutants until the required CAFO permit is issued to the facility.

Founded in 1935, Suffolk Downs has hosted Hall of Fame horses Seabiscuit, Whirlaway and Cigar, among others.

Copyright Environment News Service (ENS) 2008. All rights reserved.