Court Orders EEPA to Close Loophole re: CAFOs

Court Orders EEPA to Close Loophole re: CAFOs

Postby Oscar » Fri Apr 14, 2017 4:00 pm

Court Orders EPA to Close Loophole, Factory Farms Required to Report Toxic Pollution

[ http://www.ecowatch.com/epa-factory-far ... 97089.html ]

Waterkeeper Alliance 11 April 2017 – Ecowatch

The DC Circuit Court ordered the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Tuesday to close a loophole that has allowed hazardous substances released into the environment by concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs) to go unreported.

"We applaud the DC Circuit Court's clear decision to enforce this vital environmental safeguard to protect public safety," said Earthjustice [ http://earthjustice.org/ ] attorney Jonathan Smith, who helped argue the case before the court.

"In the words of the court, the risk of air emissions from CAFOs 'isn't just theoretical; people have become seriously ill and even died' from these emissions. But the public cannot protect itself from these hazardous substances if CAFOs aren't required to report their releases to the public. The loophole also prevented reporting of these toxics to local and state responders and the court held that plainly violated the law."

CAFOs are large-scale livestock facilities that confine large numbers of animals in relatively small spaces. A large CAFO may contain upward of 1,000 cattle, 2,500 hogs or 125,000 chickens. Such facilities generate a massive amount of urine and feces, which is commonly liquefied and either stored under the facility or nearby in open-air lagoons. This waste is known to release high levels of toxic pollutants like ammonia and hydrogen sulfide into the environment.

The court's decision closes a loophole that exempted CAFOs from the same pollutant reporting required of other industries to ensure public safety. Prior to the promulgation of this loophole at the end of the Bush administration in 2008, federal law long required CAFOs, like all other industrial facilities, to notify government officials when toxic pollution levels exceeded public safety thresholds.

"Corporate agricultural operations have always been well-equipped to report on hazardous substances," said Abel Russ of the Environmental Integrity Project. "Now they will once again be required to do so."

This ruling is the latest turn in Earthjustice's advocacy on behalf of environmental and animal advocacy groups including Waterkeeper Alliance, Humane Society of the United States, Sierra Club, Center for Food Safety and Environmental Integrity Project.

"People have a right to know if CAFOs are releasing hazardous substances that can pose serious risks of illness or death into the air near their homes, schools, businesses and communities," said Kelly Foster, senior attorney for Waterkeeper Alliance.

MORE:

[ http://www.ecowatch.com/epa-factory-far ... 97089.html ]
Oscar
Site Admin
 
Posts: 9079
Joined: Wed May 03, 2006 3:23 pm

Re: Court Orders EEPA to Close Loophole re: CAFOs

Postby Oscar » Fri Apr 14, 2017 4:00 pm

On Fri, 14 Apr 2017 16:13:07 +0000, John Fefchak <johncaresmore@hotmail.com> wrote: (Posted with permission)

Dear Premier Pallister;

This is what Canada and Manitoba so desperately need . . . . an Earth Justice Attorney to take factory barn hog producers and the province to cour . . . . on behalf of the public.

The stink and toxic pollution is the same in Manitoba from ILO's as the CAFO's in the United States.

The Horror and pollution from Factory Farms.

John Fefchak,
Virden, MB
Oscar
Site Admin
 
Posts: 9079
Joined: Wed May 03, 2006 3:23 pm


Return to Factory Production of Animals

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 3 guests

cron