Factory Farm emissions ruling sparks outrage

[Robbien]

Source: DesMoinesRegister

Environmentalists are fuming over a federal court decision that they say means more misery for Iowans and other Americans living near livestock farms - and a free pass for the operations to pollute without penalty for the next two years.

A three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia ruled last week that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency acted within its enforcement powers when it agreed to give 14,000 farms two years of legal amnesty in return for modest fines and help with a nationwide emissions monitoring program. Environmental groups had contended the agreements overstepped the EPA's powers and were equivalent to making a rule without the required public review.

"They are giving the (confinements) a sweeter deal than Scooter Libby," said Sierra Club . . .

Odors and gas emissions from livestock sites have created one of the state's most emotional and divisive issues as nearby residents complain of nausea, headaches, asthma and other health issues. Studies at ISU and the University of Iowa suggested the state should regulate emissions of harmful gases emitted from manure at the farms. The Iowa Legislature has blocked moves to set limits.

. . .

The National Pork Producers Council, which intervened in the case, agreed. "By working cooperatively with EPA to conduct emissions monitoring, we are developing the body of scientific knowledge on air emissions from animal agriculture that is necessary to design and implement effective mitigation measures," said Randy Spronk, chairman of the council's environmental policy committee.

Read more: http://desmoinesregister.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070726/NEWS/707260413/-1/SPORTS12

---

Pure propagandist writing style. Environmentalists are "fuming" and irrationally outraged while the EPA and Factory Farms are very considerate and rational. Trust the EPA and the Factory Farms to protect citizens' interests.

[madrchsod]

1. the judges should spend a week downwind of a hog farm..

one of those weeks where it`s 100 degrees,50% humidity,and no wind.....

[Robbien]

2. Really all it would take is about two seconds

one good whiff is enough to turn one's stomach and get the eyes watering.

[Mend]

3. those poor animals...pigs are highly intelligent beings and are being

tortured in those conditions. Please stop eating pork.

[fed-up]

4. if you want to help these people-DON'T by factory farmed food-nt

[JudyM]

5. 'Zactly!!! nt

[lynnertic]

6. Easier said than done, in some places it's all you can get.

[Trillo]

7. "University of Iowa suggested the state should regulate

emissions of harmful gases emitted from manure at the farms."

Gee, you'd think they could capture the gases to power a generator or something else.

[badgervan]

8. Even Worse....

... is the lack of oversight as to the disposal of the animal fecal matter and urine produced on these huge mega"farms". When you take tons of this waste, mix it with water or just spread it over the fields, it seeps into the groundwater and poisons the water supply for miles around - in many cases, people drink and wash with this stuff. Why nothing is being seriously done to hold these CAFO's to basic health standards tells me that profit matters more than public health to certain folks ( cough...repubs....cough ).
Something really has to be done about this before we have a more serious incident than the local, small incidents that have so far occured, affecting relatively small numbers of people.