Reps. Peter Abbarno and Ed Orcutt push to hold state game farms to the same groundwater standards as private operations
CONTACT: Jennifer Hansen, Senior Public Information Officer for Rep. Peter Abbarno | 360-786-7720
John Handy, Communications Director for Rep. Ed Orcutt | 360-786-5758
Reps. Peter Abbarno and Ed Orcutt push to hold state game farms to the same groundwater standards as private operations
Reps. Peter Abbarno, R-Chehalis, and Ed Orcutt, R-Kalama, have introduced legislation to protect Lewis County drinking water by requiring publicly owned or operated game farms to meet the same groundwater and manure-management standards already required of private agricultural operations.
House Bill 2343 responds to elevated nitrate levels detected in private drinking water wells in the Fords Prairie area. Groundwater monitoring conducted by Lewis County, the City of Centralia, and the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife identified nitrate concentrations exceeding federal safety standards, with investigations confirming multiple contributing sources, including manure generated at a state-operated pheasant facility.
“Clean, safe drinking water is not optional. It’s a basic responsibility,” said Abbarno, House Republican Caucus Chair. “Families who rely on private wells deserve the same protections regardless of whether pollution comes from a private operation or a government facility. If private operations are required to meet strict groundwater standards, the state should be held to that same standard. While we continue to advocate for relocating the game farm to a more appropriate location away from the critical aquifer, this legislation closes a regulatory loophole, strengthens accountability, and puts public health and local families first.”
While private farms that meet certain thresholds must comply with the state’s concentrated animal feeding operation (CAFO) permit program, publicly operated game farms are not explicitly included under current rules. HB 2343 closes the gap by requiring state-run facilities to obtain appropriate permits, implement manure pollution-prevention plans, and comply with groundwater monitoring, reporting, and enforcement requirements to prevent further contamination of residential wells.
State officials have indicated they plan to voluntarily participate in the Department of Ecology’s CAFO permit program and develop a manure pollution prevention plan for the facility ahead of spring 2026. HB 2343 establishes these requirements in law to ensure groundwater protections are permanent, enforceable, and not subject to administrative reversal. By placing the standards in statute, the bill provides Ecology with clear authority to oversee compliance and take enforcement action if permit terms are not followed, the same standard already applied to private agricultural operations.
“Failure to follow responsible management practices results in groundwater contamination, no matter whether from the government or private operations,” Orcutt added. “Impacts from government operations should be required to follow the same environmental protections as private entities. WDWF Director Susewind indicated that they could manage the game farm responsibly and protect against contamination of groundwater, but they haven’t. This makes sure they do until such time as we can get this operation moved to a more appropriate location.”
In addition to the proposed regulatory change, the 20th Legislative District delegation secured $5 million in 2025 for the City of Centralia and Lewis County to expand water infrastructure in the affected area, providing immediate support for local drinking water systems while strengthening long-term groundwater protections.
The bill ensures that publicly owned facilities with large concentrations of game birds are held to the same environmental safeguards as comparable private operations, reinforcing transparency, public trust, and long-term protection of groundwater resources. It focuses on preventing further nitrate contamination, protecting private wells, and ensuring the state models responsible environmental stewardship for the communities it serves.
HB 2343 is now before the House Environment and Energy Committee, where lawmakers will review the bill and decide whether to advance it to a public hearing.
