Resident alleges Heritage Meats is dumping slaughter waste; sheriff and DEQ say tests fell within limits

A Sheridan County resident raised concerns during staff reports that Heritage Meats is depositing slaughtering remains along a property fence, producing strong odors that staff at a neighboring business say have affected attendance and work. The complaint, relayed to the board as coming from Nick Patrick, owner of the local FedEx business, asked county officials to investigate and help resolve the problem.

Sheridan County Sheriff Levi said deputies visited the site and coordinated with the Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality, which conducted tests and “found it was all within the smell test firm,” meaning results did not exceed DEQ thresholds that would trigger enforcement. The sheriff told commissioners the situation “doesn’t statutorily meet the requirements of anything criminally” under state statute, though he and staff said they continue to explore other administrative avenues, such as whether the business holds permits that would impose additional restrictions.

Commissioners discussed possible next steps: asking DEQ for clarification, checking whether the facility is inspected by state or federal inspectors (USDA was mentioned), and conducting a site visit to observe conditions. One commissioner suggested the business could mitigate odors by covering a pit more frequently; another said the county needs an official determination from DEQ or a public-health inspector before taking enforcement action.

The board directed staff and the sheriff’s office to pursue follow-up—identifying the appropriate inspector(s), reviewing any permits or conditional-use approvals, and visiting the properties to gather more information. The board did not take formal enforcement action at the meeting.