Mason Joins PrairieChar Advisory Board
iSi's Gary Mason has joined the Board of Advisors for biomass waste recycling innovator PrairieChar, Inc.
iSi CEO Gary Mason has joined the Board of Advisors of PrairieChar, an innovative biomass waste recycling company. PrairieChar has developed an approach to converting biomass waste into valuable products such as organic fertilizer, phosphoric acid, and specialty phosphoric chemicals.
⚡ TL;DR: Feedlot manure poses a compliance minefield—nutrient leaching contaminates groundwater, phosphate runoff triggers toxic algal blooms. PrairieChar’s technology converts this liability into a profit center. Gary Mason’s board role signals iSi’s commitment to helping agricultural operations navigate water quality compliance while creating value.
PrairieChar is providing a management solution for feedlot animal manure that not only produces a profitable renewable product for both energy and agricultural markets, but reduces environmental impact.
⚠️ The Pain: Unmanaged feedlot manure violates EPA Clean Water Act standards. Nitrate leaching contaminates groundwater for years; phosphate runoff causes toxic blue-green algae blooms that close drinking water intakes and kill livestock. The fines are steep. The liability is deeper. And the damage to public water supplies is irreversible without remediation.
Mason said: “It is a great opportunity to be a part of the PrairieChar team. PrairieChar’s technology provides an environmentally sound way to manage manure that will protect our waterways from nutrient leaching and runoff. Nitrate leaching is hard to remove from our drinking water and phosphate runoff is the primary cause of toxic blue-green algae in our waterways.”
If you operate a feedlot or manage agricultural waste, your manure management practices are subject to EPA oversight. Most agricultural facilities we audit aren’t aware they’re operating under a compliance exposure until a spill or a state inspector arrives. A nutrient management audit costs far less than fixing groundwater contamination or defending against EPA enforcement action.
More information about PrairieChar can be found at PrairieChar.com.
Frequently Asked Questions
💰 Agricultural and feedlot compliance audits range from $2,000–$4,500, depending on facility size and waste management complexity.
Q: What is biomass waste recycling and why is it environmentally important?
Biomass waste recycling is the process of converting agricultural and animal waste into valuable products such as organic fertilizers and renewable energy. This approach reduces environmental impacts from nutrient leaching and runoff that pollute drinking water and waterways. iSi Environmental supports environmental compliance for facilities implementing biomass waste recycling solutions.
Q: What environmental problems does feedlot manure management cause?
Feedlot animal manure creates significant environmental challenges including nitrate leaching into groundwater and phosphate runoff that causes eutrophication and toxic blue-green algae blooms in waterways. Improper manure management violates EPA and state water quality standards, making compliant management solutions critical for agricultural facilities.
Q: How do phosphate runoff and nitrate leaching affect drinking water?
Phosphate runoff from manure and fertilizer promotes excessive algae growth in waterways, creating toxic blooms that contaminate drinking water supplies. Nitrate leaching from poorly managed manure percolates through soil into groundwater aquifers, creating contamination that is difficult and costly to remove from drinking water systems serving agricultural regions.
Q: What regulatory requirements apply to agricultural facilities managing manure and biomass waste?
Agricultural facilities and feedlots must comply with EPA Clean Water Act regulations regarding nutrient management, state-specific manure management standards, and local environmental regulations. iSi Environmental helps these facilities assess compliance with manure handling requirements and implement environmentally sound management practices.
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